Building a Sustainable Event Community from the Ground Up

It’s refreshing to see that sustainability has become a top priority for events. Organizers and attendees alike recognize the significance of minimizing their environmental impact and embracing sustainable practices.

However, nowadays we also need to talk about how sustainability goes beyond just the environmental piece. There's a big social element as well. Many of us are embracing that and bringing voices forward that need and deserve to be heard and giving their story the limelight.

This is all part of what we discussed during this engaging session I did with SwapCard in their new series. We explored the approach I took while at Informa’s Waste360 group – characterized by a combination of strategic planning, collaboration, integrated content, and a deep commitment to sustainable practices.

Photo cred: SwapCard

Stay curious and add a heavy dose of collaboration and partnerships

It takes a village to drive change effectively. And engaging with suppliers, venues, and your own community allows for the exchange of creative ideas and successful implementation. Establishing partnerships with sustainability-focused organizations provides valuable resources and expertise, enhancing the community's collective efforts toward sustainability.

One way to do this without a big budget or staff is to find out what your venues and partners are already doing and go all in. You’ll find that you can become a sustainability advocate within your organization regardless of size.

Simply ask how you can tell your sustainability story. If your operations person doesn't have the answer, contact the convention center, hotel, or food provider to find out what they're doing. By keeping up your curiosity, you will discover fascinating impacts and be able to tell a great story.

Help people do what’s right. (hint, they want to do good in this world!) 

People innately want to do what’s right. So, I can’t stress enough the need to educate and engage attendees on sustainability practices during events. Engaging attendees as active participants in the sustainability journey fosters a sense of ownership and a lasting impact beyond the event itself. You can cover it within the content/conference program, offer solutions on the show floor, and even give them hands-on experiences to highlight sustainability alternatives.

Using content to elevate your community is grassroots sustainability

Statistics are great, but they don’t tell the whole story. Highlighting the people in your audience who are doing great work is the true unlock. After all, they’re what this is all about. It’s why you build your events, write your content, and create experiences for them.

Let them shine and trust me, your events will as well.  

Read the full SwapCard article here or watch the session to dive deeper with specific examples and Q&A.