We're challenging people to think more innovatively, actually ask:
a. Do we really need this to put on the event successfully?
b. Is there an alternative way of delivering the desired result?
This leads to new ways of doing things 'sustainably' – economically, socially and environmentally.
Asking the questions, I believe, is the first step that all event organisers - no matter how big or small - can take.
A great example, that most people will have experienced, is handouts. How many people will actually read a 100 page document given to them during a conference? I know I certainly wouldn't have time to read it during the event and I would certainly prefer to have an electronic copy post-event so I can adjust the magnification of the document to the size font I like to read.
Gifts are a similarly interesting topic for an events team. Are they really needed….? Wouldn't people going to an event prefer to know that money and potential waste have been saved by them not having a desk toy they might play with once and then throw away?
Our approach to this and other challenging aspects of delivering more sustainable events are outlined in our Guidelines.
We will take lessons from our experiences and update our Guidelines in due course. This is an important part of following the BS 8901 sustainable events management system we are adopting for ensuring we deliver the most sustainable Games to date.
