As outlined in its roadmap at COP 27, Net Zero Carbon Events (NZCE) has produced seven guidance documents to ensure the events industry is net zero by 2050. We took a look at what’s in store you if you are planning a read.
1. Measurement
Information here includes sustainable sourcing and purchasing and sustainable food strategies with
a waste checklist for venues, organisers, and agencies. You’ll also find practical resources for venues, caterers, and organisers in subjects such as switching to plant-based menus and reusable tableware, educating and engaging your clients and suppliers, and focusing on your supply chain and procurement.
2. Carbon Offsetting
With a definition of carbon offsetting this document demonstrates the difference between carbon neutral and net zero. Carbon offsetting purchase, claims, and communication; and an FAQ can also be found in this chapter. A helpful graph details the steps of improving your carbon footprint from offsetting, replacing high carbon activities with lower solutions, reducing high carbon activities, then avoiding carbon intensive activities.
3. Travel & Accommodation
Looking at the carbon footprint of travel and accommodation; aviation; carbon offsetting for travel and accommodation; best practices; case studies and success stories and sustainable aviation fuel. Best practices are broken down into types of events, the advice for corporate events includes requesting information about preferred travel methods to support the measurement of travel, including travel comparison services into the RSVP to provide sustainable travel suggestions, and implementing a reward system for organisers and travellers to incentivise sustainable travel with price reductions or on-site perks.
4. Food & Food Waste
Addressing smart production, the key principles and best practices of waste management, relevant waste management terms to familiarise yourself with, and includes a materials library. You’ll learn how to use online or digital tools such as floor plans to your sustainable advantage and the principle that you can only manage what you can measure when it comes to waste management.
5. Logistics
Look here for remote and last mile logistics; on-site logistics; traffic management and smart cities; barrier identification for the implantation of best practices; and future actions. Detailing in-depth the decarbonisation of warehousing, storage, and delivery while also explaining how to reduce the number of trips to and from sites and using flexible time schemes to reduce traffic volume.
6. Venue Energy
NZCE details that tracking energy usage is good for a venue’s cost management, environmental impact, performance benchmarking, regulatory compliance, energy efficiency improvements, and stakeholder communication. Some advice it gives includes switching to LED lighting, using light sensors, and implementing sustainable IT strategy.
7. Smart Production & Waste Management
Addressing smart production, the key principles and best practices of waste management, relevant waste management terms to familiarise yourself with, and includes a materials library. You’ll learn how to use online or digital tools such as floor plans to your sustainable advantage and the principle that you can only manage what you can measure when it comes to waste management.