Sustainability & Event

Trends
Learning Objectives

 Define sustainability as it pertains to meetings and events

 Identify sustainability practices in the meetings and events industry
 Discuss current trends
Definition for Business Ethics:
 “. . .Ethics are the principles of conduct governing individuals or groups.
These principles are based on the business culture that is accepted at the
time of the action. Although ethics are personal decisions, they are
guided by group behavior and group acceptance.”
- Joe Goldblatt, Special Events: A New Generation and the Next
Frontier (Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2011), p. 410.
The Vision:
 “An industry where meetings and events contribute positively to
communities and cultures, and the business of meetings is conducted
ethically; a future where meetings and events are realized within the
regenerative capacity of the Earth; where meetings and events are
successful at achieving their objectives and provide better value to
stakeholders than alternatives.”
Why CSR?
The four main reasons why organizations implement CSR
are:
 Sense of moral obligation
 Supporting sustainability (people, planet and profit)
 It confers a social license to operate in the community
 It enhances organizational reputation.
Meetings and Events as Conservers, Creators, and
Catalysts:

Conservers Creators Catalysts

• Conserve • Create • Inspire future
natural positive action
resources, change in through
energy and communities education
funds. and the and
environment. motivation
The How Dimension:
Refers to the sustainability decision points related to the triple bottom line of
people, planet and profit generated by use of service providers

Audiovisual technologists (money, training, policies,

Where sourcing, labor rights)

Hotels (Money, training, policies, sourcing, human &

What labor rights
Event
Meeting venues (money, training, policies, sourcing,
How human & labor rights

Caterers (money, training, policies, sourcing, labor

Who rights)

Decorators (money, training, policies sourcing, labor

rights)
The Events Industry Council
Definition for event sustainability:
“Sustainability for events means taking action towards
preserving our natural environment: promoting a healthy,
inclusive society; and supporting a thriving economy”.

The four principles of event sustainability address all 17 of the

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Principles for sustainable events. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2020 from https://www.eventscouncil.org/Sustainability/Sustainability-
Pledge
4 Principles of Event Sustainability - The
Events Industry Council
1. Event organizers and suppliers share responsibility for
implementing and communicating sustainable practices to their
stakeholders
2. Basic environmental practices include:
1. Conservation of resources, including water, energy and natural resources
2. Waster Management
3. Carbon emissions reduction and management
4. Supply chain management and responsible purchasing
5. Biodiversity preservation

Principles for sustainable events. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2020 from https://www.eventscouncil.org/Sustainability/Sustainability-Pledge
4 Principles of Event Sustainability - The
Events Industry Council (continued)
3. Basic social considerations include:
o Universal human rights
o Community impacts
o Labour Practices
o Respect for culture
o Safety and security
o Health and well being

Principles for sustainable events. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2020 from https://www.eventscouncil.org/Sustainability/Sustainability-Pledge
4 Principles of Event Sustainability - The
Events Industry Council (continued)
4. Sustainable events support thriving economic practices
through:
o Collaboration and partnerships
o Local support, including small and medium enterprises (SME’s)
o Stakeholder participation
o Equitable economic impact
o Transparency
o Responsible governance

Principles for sustainable events. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2020 from https://www.eventscouncil.org/Sustainability/Sustainability-Pledge
The Sustainable Development Goals Video
https://youtu.be/0XTBYMfZyrM
Not Your Average Survey: The UN Wants to Hear from Meetings Industry
. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2020 from https://www.pcma.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/UN-Sustainable-Goals.png
Government Site

 https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/agen
da-2030.html
Exercise 1

 Using the Canadian Government site, you have been assigned 1 SDG goal.
Summarize the goal.
 Does this relate to events/hotels/conventions? Why or why not?
Why?
 It’s good for business
 Its’ good for the environment
 It improves your reputation
 It reduces costs
 It spreads sustainable best practices
 It creates social benefits
So, how do we do this?
 Reduce paper products that are generated in meetings
 Agendas, name tags, daily news bulletins

 Partner with those venues that use clean energy

 Look for hotels/conference centers that have green
initiatives/environmental certificates
 Eat local
 Farm foods, plant heavy menus

 Walk or travel smart

 Locations easy to get to via transit
Image by Sven Hilker from Pixabay
Green / Greener Events

Greener Events:
Greener events can be defined as special events
that continually endeavor to provide superior
experiences through environmentally friendly
strategies.
Fair Trade

Fair Trade:
Fair trade requires that businesses purchase their
products from manufacturers and growers who are
fairly rewarded.

Video:
https://youtu.be/PLKTGWH398Q
Event Pollution
Types of Event Pollution:
Waste, traffic, air pollution, land use, water and noise
pollution.
Waste to Avoid

Waste Products from Planned Events:

 Styrofoam plate
 plastic cutlery
 confetti blast
 helium balloons
 paper or plastic tablecloths
 items that are not reused are essentially wasted
Friendly Event Practices

5 Friendly Event Practices:

1. Go paperless
2. Turn off the lights
3. Turn down the heat
4. Go greener
5. Use silverware
Carbon Offsetting

Carbon Offsetting:
Carbon offsetting is when an individual or organization
purchases carbon offset credits. These credits are used
to help repair and restore the environment. Many
airlines offer carbon offset credits to counter the
negative environmental impacts of airline travel.
Sustainable Menu Tips
 Fishery Management
 Vegetarian
 Organic gardens
 Local products

Sustainable menu tips from around the world. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2020 from
https://insights.eventscouncil.org/Full-Article/sustainable-menu-tips-from-around-the-world
Giving Back Ideas
Go Wild Grow Wild @ WFD
Exercise 2

1. In FOL you have been assigned a link.

2. Read the link and provide 3-5 tips in hosting a sustainable event
3. Write your tips in the handout provided
4. You may work with a partner

5. You have 10 minutes.

Green Living Show – Toronto

• Green Screen process

• Misshaped veggies donated to be
cooked by show chefs
• Show uses 100% green energy
• Plates, bowls, cups & cutlery are
from Bullfrog Power
• Show signs are madecompostable
from
biodegradeable• material
Show guide printed on FSC
• Volunteer t-shirts certified
made from paper
• Rooms booked using Green Living
recycled materials
• Show carpeting madeTravel
from
Page allow measurement
recycled fibre of travel carbon footprint
• See:
www.greenlivingshow.ca/green-
initiatives/
Trends
Food Trends
 Regenerative Agriculture
 Meat Plant Blends
 Zero-Proof Drinks
 Heathier single serve snack options
 Beyond Soy & Flour
 Unique Flavours
 Wedding Trends
 Green Weddings!
 Micro Weddings
 Magical Mysticism
 Inclusive Menus
 Trending Hues
 Lighting the Mood!
 Edible Florals
 Table Remix
 Statement Wedding Decor

The top wedding trends of 2020. (n.d). Retrieved on March 31 from:

https://www.theknot.com/content/new-wedding-trends
 Conference Trends

 Personalization for attendees

 Continued focus on sustainability
 Increase need for event security
 Unique venue experiences
 Wearable techs

Endless Events (n.d.) Retrieved on March 30, 2020 from: https://helloendless.com/2020-event-trends/

Due Tonight!

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC

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