Q. What are some practical ideas for greener events?
A. Green is “in” and it’s in demand! There are many ways to help minimize an event’s carbon footprint by “going green” and it will only make your event better. At Mango Events we love to plan eco-friendly events because we care about the future of the planet. By going green with your event you are making an impact for a greener tomorrow that will make a great difference over time. Be proud of your effort and let your guests know about the green aspects of your event. Perhaps they will be inspired to do a little to help the planet, too!
There are so many ways you can incorporate green initiatives in your event. To start, make sure you are working with local, environmentally conscious vendors that share your goals for a green event. The following are just a few of the eco-friendly ideas you can consider.
Invitations
If you are committed to going green, set the stage by introducing your event with an eco-friendly invitation. To be truly green, elegant emails are the most earth friendly way to go by reducing waste completely. But if you want the impact of a paper invite, there are a number of good options. I love plantable invitations made from tree-free, handmade papers with real, flower seeds – guests can actually plant the invitation in their garden. You may also consider recycled paper or paper made from hemp or bamboo, printed with soy or vegetable-based ink. You can also save trees by eliminating inserts and instead use websites to relay additional event information.
Venues
When reviewing venue options, always ask about the facilities’ "green" initiatives to ensure they match your own. Also, consider venues through which the local community will benefit from your site rental fee such as museums, galleries or other cultural organizations. These venues not only bring their own twist, but will also eliminate the need for physical decorations, saving you money and less waste.
If you are planning multiple related events and/or meetings, plan so they are at the same location or near-by, so that you can keep the need for transportation to a minimum to minimize the impact on our environment. An event site near public transportation is always a great option as well.
Transportation
If you have to use transportation, choose eco-friendly services. Hire a shuttle bus or hybrid vehicles to shuttle guests. Focus on low or no emissions by using a non-motorized vehicle such as a bike, horses, scooter, horse and carriage or just WALK! You might also consider encouraging guests to carpool to the event by offering a discount off admission for those who ride together or take public transportation.
Food & Beverage
Choose a caterer that use eco-friendly foods, such as organic, locally grown fruits and vegetables, free-range chicken and pesticide free beef. Organic cupcakes are very “green” today and can be made using wheat flour, fresh fruit filling and sweeteners like fruit juice reduction, maple syrup and brown sugar. Many bakers will use organic sugar, flour, butter and eggs.
Organic beverages and liquor are always a nice addition to a green event. Fresh juices, organic coffee and tea, organic wine and beer are great options. There are also organic hard alcohol options today such as tequila, vodka and rum.
Reduce food waste by being conscious of specific guest counts and donating all leftover food to local shelters. The donation of leftovers will need to be arranged with your cater in advance.
Decor
Instead of using flower arrangements as centerpieces, explore options beyond fresh cut flowers such as using potted arrangements. Other good options are paper flowers, fall leaves, produce, pine cones or sculptures created by local kids. After the event, send them home with guests or donate to a local nursing home or hospital.
Alternatives to Disposables
Try to avoid the use of all disposables, unless it is a biodegradable product, such as bamboo plates. Whenever possible, choose reusable linens, china, glassware, etc. Eliminate the use of disposable extras like stir straws.
Instead of disposable signage, use electronic options for directions and information. At conferences, replace printed handouts with memory sticks that include the speaker presentations.
Recycling
Hopefully by now, recycling is a no-brainer for everyone. But make sure you not only recycle every bottle and can, but also things such as your daily conference programs or notepads. Make sure the products you select to use can be recycled. Be sure to provide clearly-marked recycling bins throughout your event.
Budget Impact
Although there are so many advantages to going green, environmentally friendly alternatives are often more expensive, which is always something to consider when finalizing your event budget. The key is to prioritize. What items will you spend a little extra in order to go green (such as seedling invitations)? What items will you consider getting rid of altogether in order to make up for the extra costs of going green?
As the world becomes more green conscious, there are many eco-friendly options available, but keep in mind that sometimes the best option is not to have an item at all. Save resources and it will save you money and while helping save the planet.
