Sustainable Events

Venues

• Choose venues that are easy to get to
• Minimize the event’s impact on surrounding nature and water
• Follow possible weight limitations, grass and other soft surface materials may not be able to take the weight of heavier vehicles and structures.
• Clean up the venue and its surroundings after the event

Transportation 

• Encourage participants and guests to arrive on foot, by bicycle or public transport.
• Arrange for a supervised bike parking area for the event
• Arrange for extra buses if needed
• Use local providers, this minimizes the need for long distance transportation
• Avoid unnecessary transportation

Purchases

• Promote recycling and reuse, avoid the use of disposable products
• Where possible, use environmentally certified and sustainably and ethically sourced products
• Reuse signs, banners, employees’ outfits and other materials
• Repurpose unusable materials, such as old banners, flags and carpets. The materials can be used to make new products such as reusable bags
• Do not distribute flyers and other marketing paraphernalia that will often be thrown away

Food & Water

• Serve locally-produced seasonal produce and vegetarian foods
• Where possible choose organic and Fair Trade products
• Avoid disposable plates, cups and cutlery, charge a deposit for reusable dishes
• Arrange waste sorting in food service areas or plan food service in a manner that makes it possible to dispose of all waste from food service as organic waste
• Minimize food waste
• Provide clean drinking water and a water bottle refilling station

 Noise

• If the noise from the event causes disturbance, remember to submit a notification of noise
• Use fixed structures or the shape of the terrain to contain the noise within the venue
• Inform the people who live nearby and other affected people or organisations about your event
• Provide earplugs

More information on noise control

Waste management 

• Draw up a waste management plan for your event
• Arrange a sorting area and staff to assist with the sorting, make sorting easy for the participants
• Make sure that there are enough clearly marked waste bins in the area, place them along walkways and near food stands, and make sure they are emptied often enough
• Provide ashtrays in smoking areas
• Provide enough toilet facilities for your staff, participants and audience

More information on waste management

Event organisers can apply for the EcoCompass Event certificate that involves a commitment to long-term environmental performance and an environmental management programme with tangible measures to be taken.

Find out more about the EcoCompass environmental management system.