Limiting the environmental impact of an event

Who says event says location. This is a crucial aspect to think about beforehand, when you start designing your event:

• Organise your event close to public transport infrastructure (trains, underground trains, buses, etc.);
• Take charge of coordinating carpooling, whatever the type of vehicle;
• Encourage the use of soft mobility for the last few kilometres (walking, cycling);
• Put in place incentives to encourage low-impact practices: smart routes, specific signage, reduced pricing, secure parking, etc.
• Plan team and supplier travel to avoid unnecessary journeys.

An event that is organised over several days, or that starts early or finishes late, means that accommodation must be provided for everyone who attends. This applies to all participants, speakers and service providers.

• Identify accommodation close to the event venue;
• Choose those with an eco-responsible label;
• Examine the possibilities for accommodation with local residents.

The technical equipment used at an event has a significant impact. Lighting and sound are major factors, as are all the infrastructure components (tents, stands, floor coverings, etc.).

Here is a list of best practices for responsible events:

• Pay close attention to infrastructure design, with a view to the circular economy, multi-modality and optimising the use of resources;
• Choose sturdy equipment for multiple uses and/or hire;
• Encourage the recycling of materials and the reuse of equipment – particularly for small items (crockery, badges, decorations, etc.);
• Give preference to High Environmental Quality (HEQ) buildings;
• Check the impact of outdoor supply and disposal (green energy / waste water treatment);
• Use Energy Rationally (UER): low-energy lighting, few or no generators, optimised sound systems, light strips, screens, etc.;
• Choose modular elements for the stand – easy to dismantle, no need for gluing and easy to store;
• Only use eco-labelled paints;
• Raise the awareness of the teams responsible for dismantling and storage and provide them with all the necessary instructions to structure their task.

The positive impact of healthy, local, seasonal food is obvious. Products from organic farming are therefore favoured for the health of the soil and human beings:

• Give priority to healthy, local, seasonal food, preferably organically grown;
• Favour vegetarian dishes, which have less impact on the environment and health;
• Contact local food aid associations to redistribute surpluses and avoid waste;
• Plan the sorting of containers and the treatment of water and grease;
• Manage the sorting of food waste (poultry/livestock, compost, etc.);
• Give priority to large packs for cooking and serving;
• Choose reusable or recyclable crockery and cutlery;
• Use low-energy heating and/or cooling equipment;
• Communicate the coherence of your approach to your audiences.

Decoration contributes to the appeal of a successful event. Here, more than anywhere else, recycling can have the greatest effect, provided it is designed by real skills.

For clever event decoration:

• Reuse and recycle to reduce the environmental impact of your event;
• Stimulate your creativity with materials from recycling centres, theatres and/or cinemas;
• Use local plants, which guarantee freshness and lower transport costs.

For responsible goodies:

• Decide to offer goodies only when they are really useful.
• Check that they come from a local eco-design network.
• Prefer a creative, sensory or taste experience, as an alternative.

The amount of waste from an event determines its success.

To treat waste properly:

• Identify channels for sorting, reuse and even reconditioning.
• Make sure that there are depots for each type of waste and organise the correct routing.
• Check for possible recoveries (financial or recycling).