How Can Event Technology Make My Event More Sustainable?
As sustainability continues to become increasingly critical for businesses and individuals, this too has been felt within the events industry.
As event planners, we need to consider the three key areas within sustainability to cater for the increase in demand for sustainable events: Environment, Social and Governance (ESG).
We need to aid businesses and individuals in hitting their sustainability targets within their events. Event organisers are now more conscious than ever of the impact that their events can have on the environment.
Here are some key elements of corporate sustainability:
- Environmental sustainability: reduce carbon footprint and other environmental impacts through efficient use of resources. This includes waste reduction and the adoption of renewable energy sources.
- Social sustainability: treat employees, customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders ethically and responsibly.
- Economic sustainability: operate in a financially sustainable manner, promoting long-term value creation for shareholders. Contribute to the sustainable development of the communities where they operate.
- Transparency and accountability: be transparent about sustainability practices and performance, and be accountable for impacts on the environment, society, and the economy.
When planning an event for a corporate client, the above elements need to be considered. They need to be considered across the board, however.
We’ll explore some of the digital tools we can all incorporate to make our events more sustainable. We all need to recognise the vital part that event technology must play.
In this article, we’ll discuss how event management tools can make your events more sustainable and reduce their overall carbon footprint.
Plan Your Event Technology From The Start
The foundational step towards making your event sustainable is diligent planning.
Without it, you will almost certainly increase your costs and reduce your chances of achieving optimum sustainability.
Event technology comes in at this very early stage.
Many organisations use event technology after planning their event instead of using it from the start, simply to ‘tick the sustainability box’.
Instead of offsetting the environmental impact after everything is planned, almost as an afterthought, doesn’t it make much more sense to do this from the beginning of, and throughout, the planning and implementation process?
Delegate Management and Venue Booking
Delegate management and venue booking are two critical aspects of event planning that can be made more sustainable with event technology.
You can use event technology to find a sustainable venue for your event, taking into account all of the angles that contribute to your event’s carbon footprint.
Choose a venue that has good, efficient and sustainable transport links and is in a suitable location that is ‘central’ to delegates.
Also, look at what the venue does in the way of sustainability; does it use renewable energy, and how does it manage waste?
There are a lot more elements to consider when choosing a venue which we’ll get into in more detail below.
Delegate Management: Use Technology For Your Event Registration
Using digital tools to aid in your delegate management is one of the most beneficial ways of using event technology.
One way of doing this is through the use of a purpose-built event app.
Through an event app, you can build a specific event registration functionality that requires guests to sign up to attend your event.
This way, you have access to key information in the planning of your event – the number of confirmed guests, down to the specifics of where they are travelling from, who they work for (if applicable) and more.
This information is critical when planning your event and can aid you in making critical decisions on what needs to be at your event.
You can choose how simple or in-depth the registration is, which will be based on the amount of information required.
Having a central area where guests have signed up also helps you keep everyone up-to-date and in the loop. You can send out update emails and notifications or periodic announcements to keep the ‘hype’ around your event.
The digitalisation of this area of your event also reduces paper waste and makes the process massively more efficient.
Live event apps boost event engagement too. Keeping delegates informed, engaged and involved throughout the event.
We can create a purpose-built event app tailored to your event’s needs. We’ll equip the app with interactive features, live event information, and your brand’s identity.
We can also incorporate clever functionality, such as QR codes, which your guests will be able to access key features such as:
- information about shows, talks, entertainment
- route planning
- live polling
- Q&A sessions
- digital agendas
- real-time notifications
Whether your event is a sports event, festival, fan zone, conference, or exhibition, we’ll customise the mapping system to provide the best service for your attendees.
All this, whilst virtually cutting out the need for printing paper guides and brochures altogether.
Virtual Design Studio For Sustainable Events
When choosing a venue and designing your event space, imagine how much time and fuel you’d save if you could minimise countless trips to your event venue.
This is now possible by making use of our virtual design studio. We’ll generate 3D designs and renders of your event space, allowing you to visualise exactly how your event will look in advance.
Our 3D Design Services Cover:
- Ideation and concepts
- 3D visualisations and renders
- CAD and technical illustrations
- Branding and artwork
Integrate Virtual Aspects Into Your Event
One great way of reducing the carbon footprint of your event is by incorporating virtual aspects into your LIVE event.
This can be through a hybrid event (an event that uses both LIVE, in-person elements and virtual, online elements) or through a fully virtual event.
By incorporating virtual and hybrid models into your events programme, attendees can participate in the event remotely, reducing the need for travel and therefore reducing the carbon footprint.
This approach works perfectly for companies who want to put on a conference, but their staff are from several locations around the world.
A hybrid or fully virtual approach makes your event much more accessible to an audience like this.
Integrate Metaverse Technology
Metaverse technology – fully immersive solutions where users can create and navigate their own avatars around the event space.
Our tech designers can digitally replicate for you any event space, making it an excellent option for hybrid events.
By replicating the in-person event space, we can create a seamless synergy between the virtual and in-person components of your hybrid event – all of which helps towards sustainability goals.
Immersive Technology: AR and VR
Try using augmented reality and virtual reality to create immersive experiences for attendees, reducing the need for physical displays and materials.
Food Waste
Food waste is a significant contributor to environmental degradation. You can consider making use of many sustainable catering options. By carefully planning the menu and portion sizes, you can reduce the amount of food that goes to waste.
Julia Charles Event Management – Your Sustainable Event Partner
Event technology has an essential part to play in making events more sustainable.
At Julia Charles Event Management, we lead the way in this sustainable events sector.
We’ll support your sustainability goals by integrating sustainable event technology from the start.
By using cutting-edge event technology, such as the virtual design studio, live event apps, Metaverse technology, and immersive reality, we’ll ensure your attendees enjoy an unforgettable event.
We’ll also enable you to do so in a sustainable way.
Find out more: How a Sustainable Events Agency Can Reduce Your Event’s Carbon Footprint
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