The 5 R’s
Anyone who has watched the cleanup after an event, knows just how large the carbon footprint of our industry is. In the corporate boardrooms worldwide mandates are being handed down with strict instructions to lessen the overall impact of events. If you are an event supplier or planner and do not have a green policy in place you will soon loose valuable business to competitors who are working green.
Many event managers and producers feel powerless to do anything, however quick examination finds the real power lies with them. That power is; spending power. These people make the everyday choices that can lessen the overall impact of events. By keeping in mind the 5 R’s (Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Reinvent) when designing and producing their events they not only will they help the industry they can also will increase their profits.
Refuse is about changing habits as well as finding green alternatives. Many conferences give large bound books with lecture notes from each lecture yet most attendees will only attend a handful of lectures. Why not have the notes available online for download? Why not give all notes on a branded USB stick? Both options save money and are environmentally friendly.
Reduce is about asking the questions. Do I need it? Is there an alternative? Decoration, can we use projection instead? Faresh Jowharsha of Events Asia recommends; “Use technology. Rather then invitations with reply slips, I like a web designer do an interactive flash invite and with a simple click, reply to say yes or no.”
Reuse simply requires a bit of forethought. How can I use this again? Do I have to put a date on it? Many conferences and exhibitions reprint the same backdrops and directional signage every year, these can be printed on a new reusable “fiberglass” board. Steve Tait, Technical Event & Operations Director for IME points out that…. “In a down turn economy when budgets are getting tighter, reusing materials is one of the most effective ways to cut production costs. This along with using higher quality mass products which are reusable vs. disposable not only heightens the sense of quality to the end user but also protects the environment…”
Recycle, in the US and Europe recycling has been going on for some time and is in a very mature state. In Asia we have some catching up to do. When choosing a venue ask what recycling programs they have in place. If they do not have any you can put it in your RFP. You would be surprised what venues will do to get your business; also they may keep the program in use after you leave.
Reinvent is a more enlightened stage of greening when you start looking at your events from a whole new perspective and coming up with new ways of achieving the old goals. In my proposals I have added an Environmental Impact study of the event. In this section I present a honest evaluation of the environmental impact and green alternatives. Guy Parsonage of Jack Morton Worldwide says….
All 5 R’s are about a way of thinking, a philosophy of looking at events with a green perspective. Educate yourself, start with the Convention industry Councils’ website (www.conventionindustry.org/projects/green_mtgs.htm) for some great tips on greening your event. Then create your own green mission statement, get buy in from your stakeholders. Only together can we lessen the environmental impact of events.
Robert Rogers is a special events consultant with over 20 years in the industry more green tips can be found on his website www.eventsman.com –resources.
