Sustainable, Green or Carbon Neutral Event - confused?

If you’re taking the first steps in planning a more environmentally responsible event you could be forgiven for being confused as to whether you should go sustainable, green or carbon neutral.  Or are we simply talking semantics? 

Last year saw many high profile ’carbon neutral’ events where the carbon footprint, ie the C02 emissions were calculated and offset through specialist companies; the G8 Summit, Live Earth..many companies, cities and even the Vatican, pop bands and celebrities are going carbon neutral.  

The true value to the environment of going carbon neutral depends on the amount of emissions that have been reduced and the way in which the offset companies are spending the funds.  (Did you know it takes 15 trees, 40 to 50 years to absorb 5 tonnes of carbon whereas 1 energy efficient lightbulb saves 1/2 tonne c02 in it’s lifetime?). 

But is going carbon neutral the best way forward?

By staging a sustainable event, you not only reduce carbon emissions and look to replacing the use of natural resources by investing in effective projects (ie renewable energy sources) but you also include considerations to minimise the negative ecological, cultural and social impact of your event on the environment.  Ie, how is your event going to make the world a better place - and make you money.

Later this year the new BS8901 Sustainable Event Management  will be launched.  It provides a much welcome starting point that enables us to look inward and take stock of the systems, processes and work practices we currently use and how we can begin to revise our approach and set the systems in place in order to work, quite simply, in a more environmentally responsible way.

If you’d like to see a copy of the draft of BS8901 just email us at info@paragoneurope.com.  (NB:the closing date for public comment has passed).