When planning a big event, there are so many factors to keep in mind. You have to sort out the venue, then there’s the lighting, and what are you going to serve those guests who are allergic to gluten, dairy, and eggs? With all this in mind, it’s probable that you don’t have much time to figure out where your trash is going or what light bulbs your event venue is using.

However, with Earth Day just a few days behind us, we would like to share a few of our favorite tips for reducing the environmental impact of any event. Whether you’re planning a wedding, conference, or outdoor music festival, a few simple swaps go a long way in making your important day a little greener. Creating a successful event that’s good for Mother Earth is as simple as: Plan, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Offset.

• PLAN

Like with everything in the events industry: If you don’t plan it, it’s not going to happen. Scrambling for sustainability at the last minute is likely to result in a mishap. The best way to go green at your event is to plan green. Be intentional throughout the planning process to incorporate eco-friendly strategies. Make sure to engage your vendors, caterers, and designers with your efforts in order to maximize your success. No matter the size or type of your event, intentionality is absolutely essential.

• REDUCE

Paper, plastic, and gasoline all negatively impact our planet. By reducing your event’s consumption of these resources, you can save a significant amount of cash in addition to locking down a few green initiatives. We call that a win-win.

• Go paperless on your invites. Swap invitations for e-vites and save money on postage.

• Choose a location that’s easily accessible by public transport or by foot. If that’s not possible, encourage your attendees to carpool, or even set up a shuttle to transport your guests!

• Local and seasonal food is always more environmentally friendly, and tastes more delicious.

• Ditch plastic straws in favor of a more eco-friendly alternative. Paper, bamboo, and wood are all preferable options.

• Look for event spaces with solar panels to power your event with sunshine.

• Event apps > event binders. Everyone is looking at their phone anyway.

• Reduce food waste by giving your caterers as exact estimations as possible. Get a more precise sense of your guest count by looking at previous events.

• REUSE

It’s no secret that events consume a lot of resources, many of which end up in the dumpster the next day. A few small changes could make a big difference of how much of your big day ends up in a landfill. Investing in re-usable products will save you money in the long run and make planning your next event even easier and more economical.

• Skip the plastic water bottles in favor of water coolers or pitchers. Encourage your guests to bring their own reusable bottle, or provide branded bottles as an event favor.

• Class up your floral centerpieces and decorations with reusable glass vases. Floral foam takes hundreds of years to break down in a landfill.

• Re-use decorations from a previous event, or ask your event management company what they have in stock.

• Send your guests home with party favors like reusable water bottles or canvas shopping bags.

• Forgo any cheap plastic plates and instead invest in reusable dishes, utensils, and cloth napkins.

• Bring unopened box lunches or unserved meals to a local food pantry or soup kitchen instead of tossing them. Even though food waste is technically “biodegradable”, it will not biodegrade in a landfill. Food waste in a landfill produces methane gas, which is 20x more damaging to the environment than carbon dioxide.

• RECYCLE

Everyone knows it’s important to recycle, but one of the biggest obstacles is accessibility. Most people only spend a fraction of a second deciding where to discard their waste. There are real temptations to toss waste into the nearest bin, but there are ways you can make sure that your event attendees get it right every time. 

• Make sure your trash can, recycling bin, and compost are all physically attached. Your guests are much more likely to recycle if they don’t have to go searching through your event space for the nearest recycling bin.

• Make sure your bins are clearly delineated and easy to read. Your guests should be able to toss whatever they’re holding without missing a beat of their conversation.

• OFFSET

Even if you don’t follow any of the tips listed above, there is still more you can do! It’s possible to help counteract the harm you create. Trees and other greenery actually consume the carbon in the air, and can help neutralize your impact. There are fun and creative ways to incorporate this into your event.  

• Instead of thanking your speakers with a gift basket, make a donation to an environmental organization.

• Consider donating a portion of your event’s proceeds. You can make a big impact by supporting a local community garden or non-profit environmental organization.

• Green gifting – send your guests home with party favors like house plants or seeds.

• Show your guests of honor your appreciation by planting a tree in their name.

Even implementing one of these tips is a great start. The events industry has a long ways to go in making our work more environmentally friendly, but we can do it if we plan ahead and work together. Contact Wizard Studios to get started today!