Environmental Responsibility

Events are a burden on the environment, but if properly organised, they can also increase environmental friendliness and awareness. Reducing the environmental impact of an event and implementing it in a sustainable way can be achieved by paying attention to the choices and solutions that are made during event production. A responsible event organiser thinks sustainably during the whole event process.

Plan a Sustainable and Environmental Event

1. Choice of Venue
2. Logistics and Public Movement
3. Noise Prevention
4. Environmentally Friendly Procurement
5. Saving Electricity
6. Event Food Sales and Catering
7. Waste Management
8. Environmental Communication

Choice of Venue

Choose a venue that is suitable for your event and take care of the event environment during and after the event.

• Assess the environmental impact of the event in advance.
• Choose venues that have the necessary infrastructure in place for the event and the public.
• Choose an accessible location, considering public transport and pedestrian access.
• Plan the use of the venue in consultation with the site operator.
• Identify and minimise the impact of the event on the environment, soil and water.
• Ensure the cleanliness and final clean-up of the venue. Be aware that the impact of the event may extend beyond the event site.
• If the event causes harm to the area, ensure that it is properly cleaned up.

Logistics and Public Movement

Plan production logistics and public movement efficiently.

• Choose a venue with good and easy accessibility, such as walking, cycling and public transport.
• Inform the public about the accessibility of the venue, encourage visitors to walk, cycle, use carpools and public transport.
• Provide information on public transport timetables and routes, and on how to arrive by bicycle or on foot. Find out about the possibilities of shared buses and shuttles for people arriving from the same direction.
• Avoid unnecessary transport of goods and under-utilisation of transport capacity – plan transport and routes.
• Monitor the environmental impact of transport by keeping a record of kilometres travelled.
• Use new and low-emission transport equipment.
  Train drivers to drive economically, which also saves fuel costs.

Noise Prevention

• Ensure that noise notifications are filed and follow the Environmental Authority’s instructions on noise prevention.
• Position the performance platform away from residential areas.
• Inform local residents and operators about the event.
• Ensure that earplugs are available for staff and the public at the event.

Environmentally Friendly Procurement

Make environmentally friendly purchases and consider the reuse of materials.

• Make high-quality, long-lasting purchases. Choose products that have a long lifespan and can be repaired and reused.
• Choose products that are eco-labelled and sustainably and ethically produced.
• Carefully consider whether printed products for public distribution are needed. Focus event marketing on electronic channels. Event invitations, programmes and informational materials can be distributed electronically.
• When choosing suppliers and services, find out whether the company has an environmental management system or its own environmental programme.
• Pay attention to the transport distances of supplies. Is a similar product or service available nearby?

Saving Electricity

Save electricity, be energy efficient.

• Estimate the electricity demand of the event by mapping the equipment used and their electricity consumption.
• Identify the possibility of using renewable energy.
• Avoid unnecessary electricity consumption. Use communication to ensure that equipment is not left on unnecessarily.
• Favour electrical equipment with a low energy rating.
• Keep the electrical equipment used in good condition by regular maintenance.
• Favour energy-saving lighting solutions, including energy-saving and LED light bulbs.

Event Food Sales and Catering

Plan your event’s food sales and catering.

• Favour seasonal products and vegetarian food.
• Find out about food origin labelling, choose Fairtrade and organic products.
• Minimise food waste.
• Use a deposit system to encourage event visitors to return washable or recyclable containers.
• Prefer biodegradable disposable containers.
• Provide waste sorting opportunities in the food service area and provide sufficient bins.
• Ensure that clean drinking water is available in the event area and that you have the opportunity to fill your own water bottle.

Waste Management

Take care of waste management. The cleaner and more pleasant the event area remains throughout the event; the less rubbish people will want to leave there.

• Avoid littering and reduce waste by minimising unnecessary material.
• Choose sustainable materials and reuse them.
• Take care of waste management at the event, keep the event area tidy and make a waste management plan.
• Consider what kind of waste is generated at the event and organise recycling accordingly.
• Provide enough bins and place bins in visible places, such as near food areas and along walkways. Please also ensure that the permanent waste bins in the event area are emptied.
• Plan the number, placement and frequency of bins with the waste management company.
• Provide a sufficient number of toilets for the public and ensure that they are emptied and kept clean.
• Ensure that wastewater, such as hand-washing water, is properly treated.
• Include information about waste management in your event communication.
• Also mark the waste bins on the map of the event area.

Environmental Communication

Take care of environmental communication.

• Communicate your environmental work to the event’s stakeholders. Tell them what you are doing and why, talk and communicate about environmental issues.
• Engage your staff, contractors, partners and the event audience in environmental responsibility.
• Ensure that all staff and contractors are aware of the event’s waste management practices.
• Tell the public how to recycle at the event. Facilitate waste sorting with instructions, colour codes, symbols and sorting advice.
• Use signage and have staff on hand to guide people through the event.
• Communicate about the event’s environmental work on social media, on the website and at the venue.
• Thank the public and partners when everything has gone well.
• Share any success stories.

At the end of the event, a responsible event organiser will evaluate what has been done and achieved, learn from the experience and share good practices with other event organisers.

For example, for recurring events, an EcoCompass environmental certificate can be obtained to help with the planning, implementation and development of the event. Certificates are awarded to events that have been found to comply with pre-established environmental requirements and are committed to improving their performance.