Over the last year, the coronavirus outbreak has negatively impacted the US economy and the world. Regardless of what industry you’re in, the guidelines laid out by the government to combat the virus have resulted in a decline in revenue and custom.
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While the future may look bleak, restrictions are beginning to ease on what we can and cannot do during the pandemic. If you host business events and are passionate about the environment, doing what you can to keep attendees safe and protected from the virus is crucial. So, here are five strategies you can implement to make your event more sustainable in a post-COVID-19 world.
Ditch the Plastic
One of the biggest topics year on year is going plastic-free. Regardless of what kind of event you’re hosting, there are lots of things you can do to reduce the use of plastic, such as by providing durable cutlery and engaging with the venue holder. Plastic pollution is a serious issue that all business owners need to be aware of. So, if you want to be more responsible, creating a plastic-free event is key to helping the environment.
Reduce Carbon Footprint
Whether you’re hosting an intimate affair or a large-scale event, you need to have a think of how delegates will arrive at your event. Rather than using their vehicle that emits harmful fumes, encourage your attendees to take the subway. Doing so will reduce their carbon footprint and impact on the environment. Where you house your event matters too, so it’s advised to pick a venue that has excellent transport links.
Go Organic
If you’re providing food and beverages for your attendees, it’s recommended to go organic and source locally produced food. Doing so will slash transportation emissions and be more environmentally friendly. Should you be left with tons of excess food after the event has finished, rather than throwing it in the garbage, you should consider donating it to those in need.
Follow Government Guidelines
In a post-COVID-19 world, there will always be the threat of contracting the virus and falling ill. No matter what event you hold, you should follow government guidelines to help protect attendees. Whether it’s by maintaining social distancing, encouraging hand washing, or limiting capacity, you must do what you can to ensure everyone at your event is safe. Make sure you engage with your venue provider and place portable hand washing stations at the entrance and exits at your event.
Know Your Environmental Impact
If you have never thought about the environmental effects of your events before, now is the time to do so. Before you start planning your event, you should think about practices you’ve used in the past and how you can alter and build on the min the future. Above anything else, you mustn’t make the same mistakes twice. So, knowing where you have gone wrong and using new strategies can help you plan and run an eco-friendlier event.
Whether you’re hosting a corporate event, product launch, conference, or workshop, putting all the tips above into practice will reduce the risk of you, your staff, and your attendees contracting the coronavirus.