Topic: Sustainability at events - basic knowledge, best practice, outlook
Sustainability at events is becoming increasingly important and presents planners with new challenges. In which areas can emissions be reduced and where is this hardly possible? In the sixth edition of the free training format Convention Wiesbaden Campus, we will address this topic together with professionals from the industry.
What does the topic of sustainability mean for events?
In which areas can emissions be reduced, e.g. mobility, energy efficiency, catering, furniture, stand construction, communication, etc.?
How can event participants be involved in the process of avoiding emissions?
Are sustainable events more expensive than "conventional" ones?
What are the benefits of certifications, eco-labels and certificates?
6th event - Convention Wiesbaden Campus / State Capital Wiesbaden
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Learnings from the keynotes
Clemens Arnold
Expert for sustainability in the event, trade fair, congress and sports industry and partner at 2bdifferent
"Sustainability must be seen as a cross-sectional task in event management - and become an obligation for events."
How is sustainability measured at events? To answer this question, Clemens Arnold brought along a best-practice example from his experience - the 2019 German Film Awards Gala.
As the topic of sustainability was not yet sufficiently present in the film industry at the time, it was high time to take responsibility and take measures to make the event more sustainable:
- Reusing and recycling: green plants were supplied by the local nursery and distributed to guests after the event; red carpet was collected to be processed into raw materials - Catering exclusively vegetarian and vegan (14 tons of CO2 saved) - Travel and mobility: hybrid and electric cars, cargo bikes for errands in the city, cooperation with BVG for climate-neutral travel, using Deutsche Bahn instead of flying
Consultant for sustainable and inclusive events, certified trainer, speaker and book author
"Sustainability has long ceased to be a trend. Sustainability is a reality today - also in event planning."
Sustainable, diverse, inclusive - according to Kerstin Hoffmann-Wagner, this is how events should be designed. In her presentation, she focuses on the social aspects of sustainability - a stable society, human dignity, labor and human rights - which are reflected in fields of action such as mobility, location and communication.
Kerstin takes accessibility as an example and transfers its core principles to various fields of action. For example, the organizer must consider the accessibility of the individual train stations and stops in the vicinity of the event location as early as the planning phase and communicate this. At the venue itself, care should be taken to ensure that all participants have unrestricted access and are informed of this. Accessibility is also reflected in the communication: communication according to the 2-senses principle and the barrier-free design of the font and image contribute to this.
Chairman of the Management Board of Party Rent Group AG
"Those who share act sustainably. Just like us."
Rental furniture for events not only ensures a beautiful and varied design, but also more experiences. The organizer doesn't have to do without anything, but can experience more. And the best thing is that you are also doing something good for the environment, as all products are later reused by other customers.
In addition to the company's inherently sustainable concept, numerous other measures are taken to act in an even more resource-friendly manner. Party Rent attaches great importance to decentralized logistics and thus keeps transport routes to the customer as short as possible. The rental items are distributed almost throughout Europe via the small warehouses and delivered as required. An internal sharing system, a volume-optimized transport system and an auto-ID system (RDID/IOT) are further measures used by Party Rent.
Consultant, trainer and lecturer on the topics of sustainability and CSR, co-editor of the book "CSR in Hessen" and passionate SDG ambassador
"Sustainable development is a joint effort at the heart of which is education for all."
As a consultant, trainer and lecturer on the subject of sustainability and CSR, Sabine Böhling is convinced that sustainability is a major joint effort and only works if everyone really gets involved. She therefore takes us all with her and immerses us in the topic.
In her presentation, she addresses the three dimensions of sustainability - environment, society and economy. Sabine explains which goals are sustainable and emphasizes that you can only speak of sustainability if there is a balance between the three dimensions.
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which are to be achieved by 2030, should also be mentioned. They convey 5 core messages - People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnership, which in turn address the three dimensions already mentioned.
In order to achieve these goals, Sabine advocates immediate private measures, such as not buying everything new, leaving the car at home more often, not printing out too much, and so on. Once such measures have been established in the private sphere, they can also be implemented at work.
Managing Director Wiesbaden Congress & Marketing GmbH
"Sustainability means that something has a lasting effect. That's why we should all think carefully at an early stage before we act, because not everything can be regenerated. This applies in an ecological sense, but also in a social, interpersonal and economic sense."
Thomas Sante also addresses the three dimensions of sustainability. The ecological, socio-cultural and economic aspects are all highly relevant when it comes to sustainability.
In a short interview with Ulrike Theis, Thomas Sante discusses aspects of sustainability at the RMCC. A photovoltaic system on the roof that completely covers the RMCC's basic electricity needs, a wastewater pump that draws heat from the sewer running past the building, or water from a service water system with an external cistern that is used for flushing toilets, green spaces and a water level around the building. These are all examples of resource-saving measures that were already taken into account in the RheinMain CongressCenter during the construction phase.
The embedding of the building in the city, its architectural splendor, natural materials and plenty of daylight also contribute to the feel-good factor and thus fulfill a socio-cultural dimension of sustainability.
In addition to the RMCC's existing certifications such as DGNB Platinum, DMK Award 2019, FIABCI Prix d' Excellence International, Ökoprofit and Faipflichted, a further Green Globe certification is pending.
