14 Aug ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY EVENT PLANNING

CUT DOWN ON YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT WITH YOUR NEXT EVENT

As new research has suggested that our planet is in serious need of our help, many business owners have found ways to improve their attention to the state of the planet and have encouraged their employees to do the same. When it comes to the demands of event planning, you’ll need to make a special effort to incorporate environmentally-friendly practices while still keeping your guests happy and entertained.

For many event planners, the stress involved with getting an event off the ground is enough by itself to make their heads spin. To relieve some of the confusion and stress involved with planning an environmentally-friendly corporate event, we’ve compiled a list of simple ways to increase the “greenness” of your next event.

BOOK MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY TRANSPORTATION

One of the main struggles with getting everyone to and from an event is the methods of transportation available for use. If everyone on your guest list drives themselves to your event, not only is there a higher chance of someone getting lost or needing a ride home after a few too many, the amount of fossil fuels and emissions produced by you group will be exponentially higher. Why not look into bulk transport to cut down on your group’s emissions and help ensure everyone finds the location and has a way home when the night ends? Booking a motorcoach or limo bus is an easy way to transport dozens of people at one time at a fraction of the fuel and emissions.

FIND GREEN VENUES

If you’re really dedicated to environmentally-friendly event planning practices, one of your first steps in planning a green event is to find a venue that is dedicated to the cause, as well. Whether it’s energy-saving practices, solar panels, bathrooms that cut down on waste or other helpful green policies, finding an impressive venue that is also working towards helping the environment is a worthwhile endeavor. If you happen to be hosting your event on Long Island or the surrounding areas, you can find a list of green vendors here.

ENCOURAGE RECYCLING AMONG YOUR GUESTS

One of the easiest ways to get your event attendees involved in the green effort is to make recycling available to them and effortless to accomplish. Setting up recycling receptacles throughout the venue space is an easy way to encourage recycling without impeding on your attendees’ enjoyment of the night. If you can, place the same recycling receptacles in the bathrooms, as well, so no matter where you’re attendees go in the venue space, they have the opportunity to responsibly dispose of their trash.

CHOOSE ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS DÉCOR AND SUPPLIES

Another easy way to up your event’s green rating is to purchase décor and supplies (like cutlery, plates, cups and serving dishes) that don’t add to the event’s amount of needless waste. If you can, avoid disposables that can be easily recycled or composted. Serving dishes should be washable and reusable. Avoid plastics; stick to cardboard or paper products that make easy recycling. While we understand that you don’ want to diminish your guests’ enjoyment by serving them on cheap-looking dishes, if you advertise the environmentally-conscious effort, they’ll be more than happy to enjoy their hors d’oeuvres and punch from spiffy, recyclable plates and cups. There are, in actuality, far more options for attractive recyclables than you might be aware of. Do a quick search of green stores like this one, and you’ll likely find a design style that perfectly suits your event’s needs.

However, you decide to increase the “greenness” of your next event, keep in mind the various benefits that doing so can offer both our planet and your consciousness. Whether it’s finding more environmentally-friendly transportation for you guests, incorporating recycling or changing the supplies and décor you purchase, these small efforts towards greenness can be a great example to your guests and employees and help make the changes we need to help our planet.

photo credit: __MaRiNa__ via photopin cc