Make your event and its impact sustainable!
Where the sky used to be the limit when it comes to events — anything was possible and nothing was too crazy — clients and event agencies are nowadays increasingly concerned with what an event should really deliver. It's about content, return on investment and the “what's in it for me?” Expectations are higher and, as an organization, you have to anticipate them over and over again. That's why it's good to look to the future now. To trends, developments and very carefully to things we would like to change. Want to do it with colleagues, want to introduce yourself to clients and want to share with visitors. Making your event so sustainable that the impact is not short-term, but has a long-term effect on your visitors and their environment. “How?” are you wondering? The choice is huge! We share a few of our favorites. Surprising, impactful and affordable!
The location
Society is constantly being encouraged to become a little greener. Slowly but surely, the event industry also seems to be going along with this. So-called circular event locations — focused on recycling, green values and with sustainability as a top priority — are becoming increasingly common. In addition, the owners of locations themselves are also increasingly paying attention to their environment. “Locations with Added Value (n)” encourages a bit of pay it forward by freeing up money for a donation to the cause with each booking. As a customer of the location — the customer, in other words — you can choose which charity the amount released through your booking goes to. We like!
The catering
A hot, hot topic in the event industry is food waste, especially combating it. On the one hand, prevention is better than cure and we need to pay serious attention to preventing no-shows. The effect group* also has this on its radar, and is looking for opportunities to increase awareness among clients and visitors. On the other hand, there is the possibility of turning a need into a virtue. More and more catering parties are developing in the field of responsible enjoyment. In some cases this means vegan, in other cases it involves preventing or using food waste, with the top of the bill: Instock. What would be thrown away elsewhere because it was purchased too widely is transformed by the food rescuers into special menus and impressive lunch dishes. Do you want a good snack or simple lunch? Then the boys are from The Second Youth the way to go: they transform stale bread from bakeries into divine sandwich creations. Anyone who thinks food waste is tasteless is wrong!
The program
There's absolutely no reason to just think about the open bar and a good sound system when you want to do something fun with your colleagues or guests. There are plenty of options when it comes to group activities that help you contribute to a beautiful world. Up and coming is Plastic Whale, an Amsterdam initiative where you don't “just sail”, but in the meantime remove some plastic from the water here and there. What's needed, and the recovered plastic will be used again for a variety of creative purposes. Festival Digital is a spectacular, big and popular event and is the most sustainable dance festival in the world: a circular food court, urine recycled into drinking water and eco-coins to reward sustainable behavior. A little more green for the world, a little more drink for you. Sometimes it can be that simple.
Are you willing to make the activity even more about volunteering and thus create a sense of belonging among your employees? There are endless great alternatives. This is how you and your team can Jarige Job Foundation help with wrapping birthday gifts, or can you during NL does a day at work at the local retirement home. Help yourself, help someone else, so to speak.
The big common denominator
No matter how you get used to it, the big common denominator in this story is doing good for someone else, while enjoying it yourself or, in some cases, maybe even getting better from it. And there is nothing wrong with that. It is a wonderful idea that can be tackled in various ways. As a client or agency, do you dare to pioneer and propose a payment per ticket sold? Or do you already have a sustainable and responsible event to your name? We are proud. We also contribute and have been co-initiators and organizers of the sponsor event for five years. 'Running for Lyme' been.
But we're also curious! There are so many ways to make a green, responsible and authentic impact when organizing an event. How does the sustainable trend really come into its own in our beloved event industry? Share it with us, and with each other.
