A sustainable event is one that aims to reduce its impact on the environment.

Creating an event that is environmentally sustainable not only minimises its footprint in a world of diminishing resources, it can reduce costs, promote social responsibility and reflects well on the event and its organisers!

In planning for an environmentally sustainable event, all elements needs to be considered including the event’s location, food services, energy consumption, transportation, waste generation and disposal. Below you will find some tips to get you started.

Food

• Choose caterers or food providers who focus on sustainability i.e. who use in-season produce, food that is fairly-sourced, local and seasonal.
• Work with food providers to reduce single-use packaging and packaging overall and
• Incentive the use of recycled and recyclable packaging.

Water

• Don’t sell or give out bottled water
• Encourage participants to bring reusable water bottles and
• Provide water stations for people to fill up their bottles and provide clear directions to find the water stations.

Waste

• In the planning stage of your event, think about how waste can be avoided, what materials can be reused, what waste streams will be produced and whether they can be recycled
• Think about how the amount of single-use products can be reduced and
• Reducing the amount of waste generated and maximising the waste that is recycled will help reduce your waste to landfill footprint.

Proudly Plastic Free is the City of Yarra’s whole-of-community plan to reduce the use of single-use plastic packaging. Click here for more information and resources.

Bins

• Provide both general waste and mixed recycling bins and locate them next to each other
• Encourage food providers and stall-holders to recycle
• Arrange compost bins from your collection service
• Label and colour code the bins/waste streams to clearly differentiate them and
• Provide images of the types of items appropriate for each bin to assist.

Transport

• Provide public transport information to the event patrons
• Encourage attendees to walk or cycle to your event
• Provide suggested travel times and routes and
• Provide clear maps showing public transport options.

Electricity

• Get the right equipment for the number of people and the size of the space that needs to be serviced
• Turn all electrical equipment off when not in use and
• Calculate the carbon footprint and offset your event.