Six ways to make your event more sustainable

Planning an on-campus event is no easy feat—there are so many factors to consider. However, events can produce a lot of waste and use a lot of energy. So, there is a big opportunity to incorporate sustainability into your planning and shrink your event’s environmental impact.

From considering the right venue and catering to encouraging attendees to do their part, there are many ways to organize a sustainable event without overwhelming your to-do list.

Here are six ways to get started.

1. Have no fear, go digital

From event websites to electronic registration and tickets, don’t be afraid to go paperless. You can use websites such as Eventbrite or ​Cvent for event management and ticketing. This is also a great opportunity to build a strong and polished brand for your event with digital materials and social media marketing.

2. Get out into the great outdoors

Plan an outdoor event where you can take advantage of natural light. The energy reductions will significantly cut your event’s carbon footprint.

If hosting your event outdoors isn’t an option, opt for a sustainable venue. Consider factors such as:

• proximity to public transit
• secure bicycle parking stations
• availability of compost bins
• water refill stations
• accessibility
• energy efficiency
• renewable energy generation
• water efficiency

3. Make waste-free your goal

While planning your event, think about how you will reduce landfill waste.

For food and beverages, look for caterers who use reusable ceramic dishes and supply reusable utensils.

For décor, eliminate disposable, foam, and plastic pieces by opting for biodegradable or post-consumer paper decorations instead. When buying décor, look for items that have less packaging, or make sure that the packaging can be easily recycled. Consider using natural décor like potted plants that guests can take home instead of flower arrangements.

For waste collection, ensure your event is set up with separate bins for recycling and composting to divert as much waste as possible from the landfill. Having trained volunteers available to help attendees sort waste at your event can help prevent waste from ending up in the wrong bin.

4. Go for local

If you’re going to have entertainment at your event such as a speaker or performer, try to source locally to reduce travel emissions and support local artists. There is certainly no shortage of talent in Toronto! If finding local entertainment isn’t possible, consider using technology to allow speakers to attend remotely without losing engagement.

5. Think thrifty

Does your event need lanyards or badges? Be sure to collect them at the end of the event so that you can reuse them in the future. You can get biodegradable badges or lanyards made from recycled materials.

6. Ask for feedback

Ask your event attendees for feedback about what worked well and what didn’t and crowdsource ideas on how to make future events more sustainable.