How to Make Your Event Sustainable

Reducing waste from any source, including events, is a no-brainer for the good of the environment. A sustainable event works to combat the negative impact on the environment that the event might otherwise cause. This might involve removing plastic waste, using renewable energy sources, or saving water. Although you might be tempted to write off event waste as an unfortunate side effect of being a great host, this is not true — you can host a great event, and produce minimal or no waste. In this article, we break down how. 

1. Determine Impact
2. Hire Sustainable Suppliers
3. Consider Venue 
4. Arrange Travel
5. Use Paperless Access
6. Reduce Waste

1. Determine Impact

First things first, you need to determine the impact your event could have. Consider what you want to achieve, and pinpoint the areas that are most associated with environmental breakdown. Will you serve food? Will you need to use large amounts of single-use plastic? How will the venue be powered? How will people travel there? 

Once you’ve determined your problem areas, it will be much easier to fix them.

2. Sustainable Suppliers

Suppliers are responsible for a large portion of your event — from food and drinks, to decorations and transport. When choosing who to go with, you should consider suppliers who sell sustainable goods and champion sustainable processes as much as possible. If you go for a local supplier, this can also help to reduce transportation emissions.

When it comes to food and drinks, the ideal scenario is to serve organic and local produce that is sustainably sourced, and served in biodegradable or recyclable containers. To help reduce CO2 emissions derived from meat, consider a vegetarian or vegan menu. 

If you’re supplying for your own event, get your sustainable essentials from an eco-friendly shop. From the food you serve to the dish brush you use to wash up, sustainable swaps can make a real difference. Think biodegradable bamboo cutlery or reusable drinking straws, instead of single-use knives, forks and plastic straws, and opt for reusable napkins instead of disposable. 

3. Venue

The venue you choose is fundamental to the success of your event, but also to how sustainable it is. Try to find a venue that fulfils your aesthetic requirements, but that also promotes good, sustainable practices. This might include,

• Green energy and smart temperature controls, like key-operated lights. 
• Water-efficient appliances and water-saving processes. 
• Effective recycling system. 
• Minimal single-use plastic. 
• Reusable utensils and textiles, like organic hand towels.  
• Eco-friendly toiletries, toilet paper and cleaning products.
• Biodiverse gardens and landscape. 

You should also consider how easy it is to get to this venue, and if it is accessible by greener transport links (train or coach). Don’t forget accommodation, either. Will your guests be staying? If so, where is the nearest hotel? The closer your venue is to a hotel, the better.

4. Transport 

Hire coaches to reduce emissions from people travelling to and from your event, or encourage hybrid or low emission vehicles and ride-shares. If there’s a train station near, that’s another great option to reduce your guests' carbon footprint.

If your event is for work, or otherwise doesn’t require all attendees to be there in person, consider making your event hybrid. This allows people to join online, reducing the number of people who would need to travel.

5. Paperless Access

Where possible, encourage paperless access. Use an event website with all key information on, and provide e-tickets instead of paper ones. Does your website require a map? Share an online version instead — you can even work with the venue, or an external app, to create something more interactive. 

Don’t forget the pre-event planning stages, too! Use an app, instead of a notepad, to collate your ideas and plan out your event. 

6. Reduce Waste

The goal is to avoid bringing waste to your event altogether. However, this isn’t always possible. To ensure the waste that is at the venue is disposed of in a sustainable manner, you need to consider a few factors. 

• Are general and recycling bins available across the premises? 
• Can leftover food be composted, converted to leftovers, or donated to charity? Can kitchen grease be recycled? 

Need something sustainable to wrap your leftovers in? Beeswax food wraps are the perfect alternative to clingfilm. You can use them on most food, with the exception of raw meat and fish, and they keep your food fresher for longer — giving your guests the chance to enjoy their delicacies for days after. 

Wild & Stone's mission is to create stylish, easy to adopt and usable alternatives to common plastic products around the home. We source all our products sustainably, from raw material to final delivery. Shop our wide range today.

Share your plastic-free swaps with us at hello@wildandstone.com or tag us on Instagram #wildandstone.