A Guide To Sustainable Meetings And Events: The Burning Q&As

When it comes to implementing sustainability practices into meetings and events, there is no time to waste. Individuals, corporations, and governments recognize the importance and opportunity a more sustainable future can bring. And with benchmarks and regulations already in place, the journey towards a greener industry is well underway.

We know that navigating this landscape can be challenging, so to help you get started, we’ve compiled some of the most pressing questions we’ve encountered recently and provided insightful answers to guide you on your journey towards more sustainable practices.

Q: How can companies start to measure and approach sustainable meetings and events?

BCD M&E has a portfolio of resources available, beginning with its Sustainability Toolkit. Key areas to examine are travel emissions and venues’ green credentials. Using our toolkit as a guide, companies should pick the top 3-5 items that are most important to their own company goals and put a tracking mechanism in place to measure and monitor progress in the venue selection process. As there are no universal industry standards for venues, it’s important for organizations to set their standards and create a baseline to measure and show impact.

Q. How can we truly get to net zero as an industry?

The short answer is we can’t if travel is factored in as a measurement. But rather than focus on unrealistic big goals, take it one step at a time and concentrate on positive steps your company can take immediately.

Q. What are some smart decisions to make regarding event design?

It all begins with site selection. Try to pick a destination that is easily accessible for most of your attendees. Then aim to keep as much of an event in one venue as possible to reduce additional travel. Selecting local talent to assist as volunteers and in other capacities also saves environmental and economical resources

Q. What type of suppliers does BCD M&E recommend for making events more sustainable?

Start with vendors that have readily available data regarding their sustainability efforts (one example is how they help eliminate food waste). It is always a good idea to work with local organizations to support host economies and to eliminate long-distance travel for produce and goods. Engaging in conversations in these key topics with suppliers is a good starting place.

Implementing sustainable practices in meetings and events is a continuous process that evolves with new insights and technologies.

For in-depth insights check out our 2024 Sustainability Guide, which covers the latest trends and best practices for meetings and events – helping you drive sustainable actions.

Originally published August 20, 2024 7:00:00 AM