We’re feeling a bit green today, and it’s all thanks to the topic of sustainability in events! That’s right, the third edition of our bite-sized pieces of wisdom is here. Our partnership with MPI at IMEX America is the gift that keeps on giving. And while we’ve already covered leadership and safety, there’s no shortage of hot topics to go around. Which is why this week, we’re tackling yet another conversation that’s near and dear to our hearts. Sustainability in events has been covered several times by our team. But because you can’t get too much of a this important topic, we have even more tips for you.
Our incredible host sat down with four very special guests. Fiona Pelham, Roger Lehner, Guy Bigwood, and Courtney Lohmann joined us for a little chat on a massive topic. And they had quite a few bits of wisdom to share when it comes to implementing and promoting sustainability in events. Check out the interviews below, and join us on this quest to ride the green wave!
Strategic Thinking: How To Move Sustainability In Events Forward
If you’re an avid follower of Endless Events, then Fiona Pelham is no stranger to you. One of our favorite go-to’s when it’s time to talk about sustainability in events, Fiona has been featured in several episodes of #EventIcons. She’s the CEO of Positive Impact Events and the person behind MPI’s Sustainable Practitioner Certificate Program. Once again, she’s ready to share her thoughts on the role of leadership in planning sustainable events.
Sustainability In Events – Where Do We Stand?
We’ve covered before the United Nations’ Sustainability Development Goals. There are 17 of them, and it covers everything from gender equality to climate change. “For all of those goals to be met, people need to come together”, says Fiona. “To innovate, and to create. That’s what our industry does! So, we have a real strategic opportunity to reframe the way we speak about meetings and events. And to say that we are the industry that will cause the sustainability goals to be met”.
Fiona gives particular emphasis to the fact that we need to change the way we talk about our industry. “We do have a threat on the horizon. Because when people think about meetings and events, they think about travel. And they think about the practical elements like the food waste and plastic water bottle use”, she explains. “We need to reframe the conversation so that people don’t just think about the negative impact. But they’re understanding they brought 500 people together and they learned something”.
Read the full interview on sustainability in events with host Will Curran.
