The future’s bright, the future’s regenerative
Do you know the difference between sustainable and regenerative events? Having passed their initial B Corporation assessment, Warwick Events strive to deliver events that match their sustainable ethos. But Jess Blackwall, their Marketing and Media Partner, was surprised to discover sustainability is no longer enough.
It’s a well know fact that greenwashing just doesn’t wash anymore. Events companies have to do more than accept claims that sound good on the surface but can actually do more harm that good.
For example, do you really know where your lanyards come from? While many suppliers quote misleading information so people believe their lanyards are made in the UK, the majority are only printing them. In fact, Warwick Events discovered that only one company manufactures them in the UK. For those based abroad, do their employees receive fair pay? Are their working conditions safe and healthy? What is the environmental cost of shipping them to the UK?
Another sustainable myth concerns compostable cups. When first launched, these seemed a great solution, but are event organisers aware of what conditions are needed for vegware to break down? Biodegradable cups only break down if using industrial composters. Are the majority therefore ending up in landfill or possibly worse still, contaminating recycling?
These are the questions that need to be asked to ensure events are sustainable, but Warwick Events are taking things one step further.
In 2020, an interesting article from The New York Times came onto their horizon and particularly resonated with the team, offering ideas beyond what is thought of as sustainability. The clarification that sustainability is just the process to keep things as they are and doing no further harm, led Jess onto researching the concept of ‘regenerative’, an idea from 2010, but more commonly being used from 2018.
Sustainability is essentially about causing no extra harm to your environment. Regenerative, however, goes a step further. Events that are regenerative give back to the local community; restore damage that has been done and leave our environment a better place than before.
For Warwick Events, the shift from sustainable to regenerative wasn’t a major change, just a natural clarification of their underlying ethos. To further understand the difference between sustainability and regenerative, do read their article: https://warwickevents.co.uk/journal/sustainability-is-the-past-our-futures-regenerative/
Jess Blackwall is the Marketing and Digital Media Partner for Warwick Events. With a passion for sustainable living, Jess’ aim is to share with others Warwick Events’ knowledge, successes, failures and frustrations. In sharing Warwick Events’ sustainable and regenerative experiences, she’s looking to help others to develop events that are better for our communities and are good for the planet.
Image: Flore Allemandou, AdaCamp SF lanyards, CC BY-SA 4.0
It’s a well know fact that greenwashing just doesn’t wash anymore. Events companies have to do more than accept claims that sound good on the surface but can actually do more harm that good.
For example, do you really know where your lanyards come from? While many suppliers quote misleading information so people believe their lanyards are made in the UK, the majority are only printing them. In fact, Warwick Events discovered that only one company manufactures them in the UK. For those based abroad, do their employees receive fair pay? Are their working conditions safe and healthy? What is the environmental cost of shipping them to the UK?
Another sustainable myth concerns compostable cups. When first launched, these seemed a great solution, but are event organisers aware of what conditions are needed for vegware to break down? Biodegradable cups only break down if using industrial composters. Are the majority therefore ending up in landfill or possibly worse still, contaminating recycling?
These are the questions that need to be asked to ensure events are sustainable, but Warwick Events are taking things one step further.
In 2020, an interesting article from The New York Times came onto their horizon and particularly resonated with the team, offering ideas beyond what is thought of as sustainability. The clarification that sustainability is just the process to keep things as they are and doing no further harm, led Jess onto researching the concept of ‘regenerative’, an idea from 2010, but more commonly being used from 2018.
Sustainability is essentially about causing no extra harm to your environment. Regenerative, however, goes a step further. Events that are regenerative give back to the local community; restore damage that has been done and leave our environment a better place than before.
For Warwick Events, the shift from sustainable to regenerative wasn’t a major change, just a natural clarification of their underlying ethos. To further understand the difference between sustainability and regenerative, do read their article: https://warwickevents.co.uk/journal/sustainability-is-the-past-our-futures-regenerative/
Jess Blackwall is the Marketing and Digital Media Partner for Warwick Events. With a passion for sustainable living, Jess’ aim is to share with others Warwick Events’ knowledge, successes, failures and frustrations. In sharing Warwick Events’ sustainable and regenerative experiences, she’s looking to help others to develop events that are better for our communities and are good for the planet.
Image: Flore Allemandou, AdaCamp SF lanyards, CC BY-SA 4.0
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