There are things people can do every day to reduce the waste they generate and protect the planet. These are small things that, over time, add up to big changes. But what about when you’re planning an event?
There are a few times when it’s more important to look for ways to reduce waste because a big event generates so much. The smaller your footprint when bringing large groups together, the better.
What are some of the best ways to reduce waste and protect the planet?
Why Reducing Waste Is Important
Cutting back on the waste you generate daily is essential for conserving natural resources, limiting pollution, and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. These efforts become even more important when many people are gathering and have the potential to generate a lot of waste.
By minimizing the waste your event generates, you keep material out of landfills and bodies of water. You also reduce your event’s harmful impact on wildlife and the ecosystem in general. Reducing waste also means your event will consume less energy, making it more sustainable and, in many cases, less expensive.
If you’re looking for ways to reduce waste, as well as your event’s impact on the environment, consider the following tips:
Choose a Sustainable Venue
Planning a green event begins at the start of the planning stage. Selecting a venue with eco-friendly certifications is one of the best ways to get things started on the right food. Some of the most common green certifications to look for include LEED-certified buildings, Water Wise, and WasteWise.
At the very least, look for venues that prioritize energy efficiency, offer recycling, and try to conserve water. If you struggle to find the right indoor venue, consider hosting your event outside to reduce the need for air conditioning and artificial lighting.
Go Paperless
Another way to reduce the environmental impact of your event in the early stages of planning is to commit to going paperless. Going paperless means no paper entry tickets, no paper RSVP cards if you’re requesting RSVPs, and no paper programs for the event.
The internet offers a variety of options for going paperless, including digital invitations, event websites, and social media pages that include event details.
Minimize Single-Use Plastics at the Event
In addition to reducing waste when planning your event, you can accomplish the same goal by doing several things during the event. Reducing or eliminating single-use plastics is one of the most impactful.
If you’re serving food or drink at your event, consider utensils, plates, and cups that are compostable and/or reusable. If you must use single-use items, avoid plastic and choose eco-friendly materials.
You can also encourage event attendees to bring their refillable water bottles and set up water refilling stations at your event. This way, nobody has to throw away anything – bottles or cups – and they can stay hydrated without concern for their environmental impact.
Sustainable Food and Beverage Choices
Not only do the choices you make for serving food and drink at your event impact the environment, but the foods and drinks served matter, too. It’s essential to choose foods and beverages that are locally grown, seasonal, and organic.
This way, you save money and protect the environment by not having foods shipped in from all over the country or world. If your event is catered, choosing a catering service that follows sustainable practices is a good idea. Ask if they compost food waste, recycle, and use disposable packaging.
Waste Management
One of the most significant ways to reduce your event’s environmental impact is to ensure that any waste you generate is managed and disposed of properly. Ensure your event has labeled recycling and compost bins throughout your venue. It can also be helpful to partner with a local waste management company so you have a plan for handling the waste at your event.
Eco-Friendly Supplies
Do you plan to decorate your event or feature informative signage for attendees? Choosing eco-friendly decorations and supplies is a great way to reduce the event’s environmental impact.
The best materials to consider include bamboo and recyclable or compostable paper. You could also consider renting instead of buying items. There are also many creative ways to decorate your event using natural elements.
Transportation
Finally, if you’re planning transportation logistics for your event, you’ll want to find ways to reduce their impact as much as possible. Encourage people to carpool to your event or use public transportation.
When choosing your venue, consider if public transportation will be an option for event attendees. You can also look into partnering with ride-share services to offer discounts. At the very least, make sure your event is organized and has a marked and convenient location for pickups and drop-offs.
Planning Your Next Green Event
If you’re looking for ways to plan an eco-friendly event, we can help. We can provide you with water refilling stations that reduce the impact of waste on your event. We make it easy to protect the planet, even when you’re planning a large event attended by many people. Book a quick call for more information or to see if we’re a good fit for your next event.