Event Greening

Event greening refers to making socially and environmentally responsible decisions when organizing or participating in an event. It involves incorporating sustainable development principles into all levels of event organization and aims to ensure that an event is hosted responsibly.

The vision of event greening is to reduce the consumption of resources, avoid damage to the local and global environment, protect biodiversity and human health, take ecological, social and economic aspects into account for future orientated city development and offer sustainable development options to the local people and economy.

Greening Benefits

Besides the social and environmental benefits, event greening usually has direct financial cost savings for the various role players. This is mostly achieved by reducing energy and water costs (through reduction in use and efficient technology), encouraging waste separation and recycling (this contributes to the development of local recyclers, and stimulates local economies) and through purchasing local products. Event greening has to address the triple bottom line including the financial cost, as well as the social and environmental costs. Event greening also raises the profile of the event and provides positive marketing opportunities.

Greening Process

The preferred implementation approach is through a consultative process where key stakeholders provide input into the initiative and buy-in can be secured. This raises awareness around the importance of greening the event, as well as guide the strategy and implementation plan for greening the event.

At a strategic level it is critical to ensure that the greening initiative is an integral part of the overall planning, management and implementation of the event in line with sustainable development principles focusing in particular on social and environmental issues. To be effective it requires high-level management and buy-in from all relevant stakeholders, sponsors and event organising staff.

At an operational level the following key focus areas should be addressed:

Waste avoidance, reduction and recycling
Water efficiency and conservation
Energy efficiency and renewable energy sources
Sustainable procurement of goods and services
Climate change and greenhouse gas mitigation
Appropriate transport
Cleaner technologies
Leave a positive legacy
From a process point of view the following needs to be outlined upfront:

Implementation plan with specific deliverables

Training and awareness raising
Research for a baseline study to ensure measurable interventions
Marketing and awareness strategy
Reporting and monitoring strategy
Greening Interventions

The following should be taken into account when determining the actions implemented through the greening strategy for the event:

Energy efficiency and renewable energy use

Conventional fossil fuel-based energy use has a direct link to global warming, and therefore both the reduction in energy consumption and the use of clean, renewable energy are important components of event greening. Reduction in transportation energy needs particular attention. A relatively easy intervention promoting renewable energy is the purchase of TRECs (Tradable Renewable Energy Certificates).

Waste avoidance, reduction and recycling

Waste reduction extends the life of increasingly scarce landfill sites, as well as reducing the resources consumed in the generation of products and packaging. It also reduces methane emissions from landfill sites - a powerful greenhouse gas.

Water efficiency

Being a water-scarce country, South Africa needs to ensure that the event is water efficient, including in the event venues and the hospitality industry.

Sustainable procurement

Significant equipment and goods are purchased by event organisers, and are made available to participants by sponsors. Considering sustainability criteria in such purchases can significantly improve the environmental impact of the event, such as purchasing FSC paper. Purchase of local products also promotes local economic development.

Green building

Buildings that consider ‘green’ or sustainability issues in their design and management will use significantly fewer resources (such as water and energy) over their lifetimes. Venues that implement cleaner development technologies should be supported.

Media and awareness strategy

Much of the environmental impact of the event is through the actions of participants and the staff. Awareness-raising is important to influence positive behaviour, as well as to highlight South Africa’s efforts to host environmentally responsible events.

Clear reporting and monitoring framework

 

It is important to establish a clear framework for measuring, monitoring and reporting the impact of the greening programme and the event as a whole. This enables performance to be assessed against clear key performance indicators (KPIs) and allows benchmarking of future events.

With thanks to Grace Stead - Steadfast Greening - Cape Town South Africa