Just as with inclusion and accessibility at every event, sustainability must be chosen and planned for from the early stages of organization. This way, you will be able to address minor details that could potentially cause delay in certain aspects of the reunion. Additionally, it is an excellent way to spread the word not only amongst your team, but also to every attendee of the event, generating an increasingly positive impact that will contribute to the environment.

How to choose a green venue?

One of the primary considerations when embarking on this journey is to be realistic: no venue will be 100% sustainable, as this initiative is still in its early stages. Nevertheless, it is the responsibility of the event planner and the venue to establish communication to explore the options available and the potential benefits of their collaboration.

As a beginner's guide, we have compiled a list of sustainable practices you can discuss with your service provider to ensure that the potential space can be classified as a green venue:

• Accessible location
  Selecting an accessible venue reduces wait times for parking and shortens travel distances, thereby decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. By addressing location issues from the outset, you can consider where attendees are coming from and choose a central venue.
• Local resources
  If you choose to work with a venue who gets their flowers and food supplies from local stores and providers; the pollution originated by moving said supplies will be significantly reduced. Also, you will both be ennhancing local economy, which is one of the main parameters of sustainability.
• Unnecesary waste
  If the venue uses tableware instead of disposable items, recycles bottles and uses a certain amount of recycled products; their commitment with sustainability is evidently present. Some places have even started making compost out of the leftover food the attendees couldn’t eat, and some other providers donate them to organizations that give it to people in need, meeting more than one aspect of sustainability.
• Renewable energy
  The number of venues adopting renewable energy sources is continually growing. Whether it's solar energy or wind power, even partial usage of renewable energy makes a difference and encourages more businesses to become environmentally sustainable.

While making sure the venue of your choice follows at least a few of the aforementioned practices, you can also contribute as an event planner by keeping track of the carbon footprint of some of your activities related to the event, or by reating a pre-event sustainable campaign. Take some advantages from the wide range of possibilities the amazing creativity of the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) industry is offering to create an experience where ecological actions are listed as another attendee.

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