Running a sustainable events business

RUNNING A SUSTAINABLE EVENTS BUSINESS.

By Flora Wallace

Word count: 1,470
Abstract
A practical look at running an event, putting sustainability at the forefront of event mangers decisions. Discussing why sustainability is important for a business’s future. How to go about changing business practices and how to communicate this to staff, suppliers and other stakeholder.

Table of Contents

1.0 Introduction 4
2.0 Running a sustainable events business 4
2.1 Existing research into sustainable events 4
2.2 The importance of policies and stakeholders 4
2.3 Benefits of sustainable practices 5
2.4 Alternative hedonism 5
2.5 Venues: saving energy 6
2.6 Transport: reducing carbon emissions 6
3.0 Conclusion 7
Bibliography 8

1.0 Introduction
“The day is not far off when economic problems will take the back seat where it belongs, and the arena of the heart and head will be occupied or reoccupied, by our real problems – the problems of life and of human relations, of creation and behaviour” (Keynes 1945). What Keynes describes is becoming more of a necessity to consider and more likely to happen. As ‘real problems’ like dwindling planetary resources and the globes ever increasing population take over our lives. Businesses and managers that don’t prioritize sustainability is some way will not survive, and it is argued, will not be worth saving. This report considers sustainably in the events industry specifically. Although the area lacks deep analysis, information from existing reports and publications has been gathered here and discussed in terms of and for use within the events industry.
2.0 Running a sustainable events business
Environmental sustainability is described as the capacity for the eco system to endure with increasing use (Goldblatt 1997). As events grow in popularity and number there is a relative increase in the negative effects on the environment, from the waste products they produce to the

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