Sustainable events: the actions that really count
A company’s CSR (corporate social responsibility) commitment also shows in its events. The good news is that the actions that really reduce the impact of a seminar or a party are often simple, and rarely more expensive. You still need to act in the right places, rather than multiplying symbolic gestures.
Regulations and good practice 4 min read Updated on
Where should you start to reduce an event’s impact?
Not all actions are equal. Replacing plastic straws is visible, but it weighs little next to 200 participants each travelling by car. To act effectively, rank each area by impact and deal with the heaviest first:
| Area | Impact | Main lever |
|---|---|---|
| Participant travel | The heaviest at most events | A venue reachable by train, metro or tram, shuttles, car-sharing |
| Catering | Significant | Seasonal, local produce, the right quantities, vegetarian options |
| Waste | Significant and very visible | Reusable tableware and glassware, water fountains, sorting |
| Equipment and decoration | Moderate | Hiring rather than buying, reusable decoration |
| Energy | Moderate | LED lighting, equipment sized to actual needs |
| Objects and giveaways | Low but symbolic | Useful items, personalised on site, or nothing at all |
How do you limit the impact of travel?
The choice of venue decides how participants get there. In Marseille, venues around the Old Port, La Joliette and the J4 can be reached by metro, tram or on foot from Saint-Charles station. An estate in the hills, on the other hand, means driving, unless you organise a shuttle.
- Choose a venue served by public transport, and include directions in the invitation.
- Organise a shuttle from a central point if the venue is isolated: one coach replaces dozens of cars.
- Make car-sharing easy with a shared spreadsheet by site or department.
- For participants coming from far away, choose timings that work with the train rather than the plane.
- Use local suppliers: a DJ, bartender or technician coming from the other side of town travels a few kilometres, not a few hundred.
How do you make catering more sustainable?
Catering is the second big area. Three simple rules reduce its impact without taking anything away from the enjoyment: seasonal, regional produce (Provence has plenty), a larger share of vegetarian dishes, and above all quantities adjusted to the real number of participants. Waste almost always comes from overestimating; our article on quantities for a cocktail reception helps you get it right.
Ask your caterer what they do with surplus food: some work with charities that collect unserved dishes. For drinks, replace small water bottles with jugs or fountains, and offer a proper alcohol-free menu.
How do you reduce waste on the day?
- Reusable glassware: glasses that are washed and reused rather than disposable cups, even “compostable” ones.
- Water fountains and jugs instead of individual bottles.
- Undated signage: panels, roll-up banners and badges that can be reused from one event to the next.
- Sorting: clearly signed collection points, emptied during the event, and instructions given to the caterer and the venue.
- Digital materials: the programme on screen or via a QR code rather than printed for everyone.
Should you hire or buy event equipment?
Anything used only once should be hired: furniture, gazebos, decoration, technical equipment. For lighting, LED spotlights use little power, and battery-powered models avoid running cables or a generator outdoors. Hired plant decoration, or potted plants given away after the event, make a good alternative to cut-flower arrangements. Finally, size the sound system to the real size of the room: an oversized installation uses more power and tires people’s ears.
What keepsakes can you offer instead of giveaways?
Mass-produced giveaways often end up in a drawer. Two alternatives that go down well: a keepsake made on site, such as a keyring engraved with each guest’s name during the event (live keyring engraving), or a digital keepsake, such as the photos each guest finds with a selfie using PicShot, without printing everything.
What about the social side of the event?
A responsible event is also one where everyone feels welcome: a wheelchair-accessible venue, free and visible water, a well-crafted alcohol-free menu, organised transport home for those who have been drinking, and a reasonable sound level. These points are as much about safety as about CSR. To measure what you have achieved, see our article on measuring the success of an event.
How do you talk about it without greenwashing?
A responsible approach deserves to be explained to participants: it gives meaning to the choices made (a more plant-based cocktail menu, a shuttle rather than the car park) and makes them easier to accept. But it quickly loses credibility if the words go further than the actions. A few rules of caution:
- Say what you did, not what you would have liked to do: “shuttle from Saint-Charles station”, “glassware washed and reused”, rather than “carbon-neutral event”.
- Avoid absolute terms (“zero impact”, “100% green”) that nobody can guarantee.
- Involve your suppliers: ask them what they actually do, and mention it if it can be verified.
- Share the review after the event, including what didn’t work: that is what makes the approach credible the following year.
Questions we are often asked
How can you make a corporate event more sustainable?
The most effective levers are, in order: a venue reachable by public transport, local suppliers, seasonal catering in the right quantities, reusable tableware and glassware, and equipment hired rather than bought. Participant travel is generally the biggest source of an event’s impact, so that is where to start.
Is there a standard for sustainable events?
Yes, the international standard ISO 20121 defines a sustainability management system applied to the events industry. It mainly concerns organisers and venues that want to structure their approach. For a one-off event, you can draw on it without aiming for certification: set objectives, choose committed suppliers, measure and review.
More advice
A more responsible event
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