Sustainable Green Event Management

There is a new trend in the events management industry to organize functions that are carbon neutral and eco friendly. The trend is called Sustainable Green Event Management and it is an event management system that addresses a number of problems that often arise during events such as environmental, economic and social issues. This means that every sustainable green event management function will incorporate socially and environmentally responsible decision making while using sustainable development principles and practices throughout the entire organization of the event. To ensure that the best practice eco friendly events management principles are adhered to the "greening" of the process needs to start right at the beginning and has to include contributors that understand and subscribe to the same event management principles. These contributors need to include all of the key members of the function such as the clients, organizers, venue owners and even sub-contractors.

Green Events of The Past

The first eco friendly events international events that were held were the 1992 Albertville Winter Olympics in France. This was followed by the first "true green Games" held in Lillehammer, Norway back in 1994. The 1994 games were so successful in fact, and adhered to the eco friendly ideals of the time so closely that the Lillehammer Olympic Organizing Committee was awarded the UNEP Global 500 Award. This award is only presented to companies or organizations that set new environmental standards.

The Benefits of Event "Greening"

Everything from product launches to vast international showcase events are very resource-intensive and often can have wide ranging and lasting negative environmental consequences for the venue and city in which they are held. Because of this most multinational companies and organizations are starting to make a concerted effort to host events in a responsible way and leave a positive and lasting legacy for the community in which the event is held.

The Benefits of Holding a Green, Eco-Friendly Event

There are a number of long lasting and positive benefits to holding an eco friendly or green event. Some of the biggest benefits are:

• There is a significant cost savings benefit as green events typically have a much lower energy need and help to reduce waste. This in turn helps to reduce costs.
• Green events have a positive reputation benefit as every green event is a visible demonstration of a companies or organizations commitment to sustainability.
• Eco friendly events management principles generally lead to environmental innovation. This is because greening efforts promote technological innovation that help companies and organizations use resources more efficiently.