Sustainability has moved from a nice extra to an expectation. Attendees, clients and employees increasingly notice how events are run, from the catering to the giveaways, and they remember the organisers who get it right.
The good news is that making an event greener does not have to mean making it duller. Here are five practical changes that reduce your impact while improving the experience for everyone who attends.
1. Rethink the goody bag
Branded freebies are one of the biggest sources of event waste. Much of it is plastic, much of it goes unused and very little of it is remembered. Swap the goody bag for an experience or a single high quality item people will actually keep. A donation to a relevant charity on behalf of each attendee is another option that often goes down well.
2. Go reusable or compostable
Single use plastic cups, cutlery and plates add up quickly, especially at events with hundreds of guests. Reusable crockery is the best option where possible, and compostable or biodegradable alternatives are a sensible fallback for larger crowds. Clearly labelled recycling and food waste bins help make sure the right items end up in the right place.
3. Choose local, seasonal food
Catering is a significant part of any event’s footprint. Working with local suppliers and seasonal produce cuts transport miles, supports nearby businesses and usually tastes better too. Offering more plant based dishes and planning portions carefully can also reduce food waste significantly.
4. Power activities with people, not plugs
Interactive features are a great way to keep attendees engaged, but many rely on screens, generators and electricity. Activities that run on human power make a much stronger statement about your values.
Smoothie bikes are a brilliant example. Each one is a stationary bike with a blender fitted over the front wheel, and around a minute of pedalling turns fresh fruit into a smoothie. No electricity, no fuel, just people having fun and getting something healthy at the end. Served in biodegradable cups, it is about as low impact as a crowd pleaser gets.
They also draw a crowd. People love watching friends and colleagues race to blend the fastest smoothie, which makes them ideal for festivals, conferences, open days and community events alike. A professional setup with two bikes can serve up to 50 people an hour from a space of around 3m x 3m, and the bikes can often be branded to match your event.
Organisers interested in smoothie bikes hire should look for a package that includes fruit, biodegradable cups, transport, insurance and a staff member to run the activity, so there is nothing extra to source or manage on the day.
5. Make travel easier
Travel is often the largest single contributor to an event’s carbon footprint. Encourage attendees to use public transport, car share or cycle by sharing clear travel information in advance. Choosing a venue with good transport links makes a bigger difference than almost any other decision you make, and offering secure bike storage is a simple way to show you have thought about it.
Telling the story
Once you have made changes, share them. A short note in your event programme or a few social posts explaining what you have done helps attendees appreciate the effort and encourages other organisers to follow suit. Sustainability works best when it is visible, practical and part of the fun rather than a lecture.