Sustainable Event Management

Written by a leader in event sustainability management, this book is a practical, step-by-step guide taking readers through the key aspects of how to identify, evaluate, and manage event sustainability issues and impacts and to use the event for good – events of any style and scale, anywhere in the world.

Each year events of every shape and size are held globally: from community events, school fairs, and local business functions through to the largest festivals, music concerts, conferences, and sporting events. As well as encouraging celebration and giving voice to issues, these public parties can use up resources, send out emissions, and generate mountains of waste. But events also have the power to showcase sustainability in action, and every sustainably produced event can inspire and motivate others to action. Thoroughly updated in its fourth edition, this book reflects what event sustainability best practice looks like in this new era of the discipline: circular and net zero, reusables and renewable energy, climate conscious catering – stakeholders expect it and the solutions now exist. The new edition also features additional case studies, and an updated look at greenhouse gas emissions measurement, providing readers with practical guidance on how to manage events responsibly.

This is the indispensable one-stop guide for event professionals and event management students who want to keep up with industry best practices and who need a powerful, easy-to-use collection of tools to deliver events sustainably.

Table of Contents

Contents

List of Figures

List of Tables

List of Boxes

Acknowledgements

Introduction

1 SUSTAINABILITY AND EVENTS

Sustainability… of what?

Regenerative and Restorative

Is the Triple Bottom Line the Real Bottom Line?

Sustainable Development

2 EVENT SUSTAINABILITY AROUND THE WORLD

Drivers, Enablers, Catalysts and Barriers

Organisations Enabling Sustainable Event Management

Event Sustainability Knowledge and Resources

Event Sustainability Standards

Questions

3 EVENT SUSTAINABILITY MANAGEMENT

Sustainability Strategy

Identifying and Prioritising Event Sustainability Issues

Delegation of Duties

Sustainability Policy

Communicating Sustainability

Measurement, Reporting and Evaluation

Questions

4 STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

Who are your Stakeholders?

Internal Stakeholders

Organisational Culture

Production Stakeholders

Clients

Talent

Sponsors

Questions

5 DESTINATION, VENUE AND SITE

Assessing a Destination

Sustainable Event Readiness

Local Government

Tyranny of Distance

Outdoor Venues And Sites

Venues

Accommodation

Questions

6 SOURCING

Sustainable Procurement

Stewardship, Decommissioning and Dissolution

Ecolabelling, Standards, and Certification Programmes

Performance Reporting

Questions

7 BUYING WELL

Event Materials

Look and Overlay

Technology Enhancing Sustainability

Accreditation and Ticketing

Merchandise and Swag

Cleaning Products

Questions

8 EATING AND DRINKING

Sustainable and Regenerative Farming

Sustainable Food and Beverage at Events

Caterers and Food Vendors

Drinking Water

Food and Beverage Serviceware

Targets and Reporting

Questions

9 WASTE AND RESOURCE RECOVERY

Circular Economy

Zero Waste

You Can’t Do This Alone

What Waste at Your Event?

Waste Avoidance and Reduction

Waste Management in the Event Destination

Material Types

Waste Processing Options

At-Event Waste Segregation

Set Goals and Targets

Performance Reporting

Questions

10 WATER AND AMENITIES

Water Use and Events

Water Rights and Scarcity

Water Sources

Water Management Plan

Water Conservation

Wastewater

Toilets

The Event as a Living Lab

Set Goals and Targets

Performance Reporting

Questions

11 POWERING YOUR EVENT

Energy Sources

Temporary Power

Energy Planning

Energy Stakeholders

Temporary Structures

Audiovisual, Lighting and Technology

Energy-Efficient Catering

Set Objectives and Targets

Performance Reporting

Questions

12 MOBILITY

Freight and Deliveries

Site Vehicles, MHE, Machinery

Production Travel

Attendee Travel

Set Goals and Targets

Performance Reporting

Questions

13 EVENTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Our Climate is Changing ... The Science Is In

Carbon Neutral, Net Zero, Climate Positive?

Impacts of Climate Change on Events

Reducing GHGs

Event GHG Sources

Measuring Event GHGs

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Measurement Admin

GHG Accounting Methodologies

Carbon Compensation

Carbon Neutral Events

GHG Reporting

Questions

Index