If your business hosts meetings and events, offering a Green Meetings package can help you meet growing customer demand for more sustainable events while demonstrating your environmental credentials.
A Green Meeting is planned and delivered to minimise environmental impact while creating positive social and economic benefits for the local community. The key principles are simple: reduce greenhouse gas emissions, minimise waste, conserve natural resources and protect biodiversity.
Put Sustainability at the Centre
Make sustainability a clear part of your event offering. Use digital communications wherever possible, from invitations and registration to event updates and post-event reports, reducing the need for printed materials.
Your Green Meetings package should also highlight your sustainability credentials. If you hold Green Meetings or Green Tourism certification, or a recognised building standard such as BREEAM, make sure clients know. You can also showcase renewable energy use, recycling initiatives, waste management performance and other environmental achievements.
A dedicated sustainability contact can help coordinate sustainability before, during and after the event too.
Encouraging Sustainable Travel
Travel is often the biggest contributor to an event’s carbon footprint. Before delegates arrive, provide information on travelling by public transport, walking or cycling, along with practical details such as timetables, maps and local transport options. If guests are travelling by car, collecting information on journey distances and vehicle types can help measure the event’s environmental impact.
If accommodation is included, share details of your sustainability policy and any measures you’ve introduced to reduce your environmental footprint.
Choose Sustainable Catering
Food and drink are another important consideration. Prioritise local, seasonal and ethically sourced produce, while offering plenty of plant-based options, which generally have a lower carbon footprint than meat-based dishes.
Encouraging organisers to confirm delegate numbers in advance also helps reduce food waste. Providing tap water in refillable jugs instead of single-used bottles is another simple but effective measure.
Delivering a Lower Impact Event
Small operational changes can make a big difference. Maximise natural daylight where possible, manage heating and lighting efficiently, and make delegates aware of the sustainable choices being made throughout the event.
You can also highlight any partnerships with local charities or community projects, giving organisers and delegates the opportunity to support initiatives that leave a positive legacy beyond the meeting itself.
Add Value Through Reporting
Providing a post-event sustainability report is an excellent way to add value for corporate clients. Reporting on areas such as food waste, waste management and carbon emissions from travel accommodation and the event itself helps organisations meet their own sustainability and ESG reporting requirements.
Give Clients a Sustainable Choice
Every venue will have their own approach, but packaging your sustainability initiatives into a clear, dedicated offering makes it easier for customers to choose the more sustainable option.
As businesses increasingly look for venues that align with their environmental commitments, Green Meetings certification can help you stand out while supporting your own sustainability journey.
If you’d like to learn more about Green Meetings and how to achieve a Green Meetings Award, click here. We’re here to provide the guidance, support and resources you need to develop a greener meetings offering for your clients.
