Lisa Nesti’s Post

Sustainable Swap: Reusable instead of Disposable At a recent 500-guest conference, I asked the caterer to provide real cups at their coffee cart instead of disposable. At first, they were reluctant. They’d never had that request before, and with other events happening throughout the venue, they were nervous about running out of cups. ☕️ So we compromised and did a 50/50 split. We also asked the baristas to only provide lids to those who asked. We put a sign on the cart to advise guests and it’s safe to say there were no complaints, the bins were a lot less full and the venue is now a lot more open to doing this as standard! This proves small changes can make a big difference 🎉 Other swap ideas include: *Other reusable crockery and cutlery options *Water jugs & glassware instead of plastic bottles *Generic signs and branding that can be reused in the future *Swap balloons for hired, reusable decorations *Rethink single-use gifts and giveaways that’ll end up in the bin *Off-the-shelf expo booths, signage frames and furniture instead of custom-builds Any I missed? Want to chat further about your sustainability efforts for events? You know the deal, get in touch! 🌏

Have you ever been to an event and thought “What happens to all that wasted food”? Maybe you’ve pondered why only bottled water is available, and had trouble finding recycling bins? Or been dazzled by lighting displays but glad you’re not paying the energy bill? Such thoughts suggest there are lots of opportunities to make events more sustainable! Any event can be planned with sustainability in mind. If you're organising one, make it your goal to cut carbon, protect natural resources, minimise waste, eliminate plastic, and make a positive contribution to the local economy. Start by looking for easy ways to make a difference. The areas of most impact will depend on the event type, scale and purpose. For instance, top contributors to a conference or wedding's carbon footprint are travel, number of guests, food type/waste and decor. Inevitably, a small, informal local wedding is much more eco-friendly than an exotic destination wedding. Similarly, an online or hybrid event has a lower carbon footprint than a face-to-face one. Negative environmental impacts also result from using materials like confetti, plastics, and balloons. Where do you think a balloon ends up when it flies off into the sky? Sadly, often in the stomach of wildlife. Alternatives include paper streamers, cloth flags, natural objects, or bubbles blown using eco-detergents. Regardless of event type, organisers can have a positive impact on sustainability by making thoughtful decisions. Choices about the time of year/day will impact the energy needed for lighting and heating or cooling. Timing and location also affect who can attend, especially if the event clashes with family responsibilities or finishes too late for public transport. Select a venue with easy access to transport and cycling/walking routes, and offer group transport options like carpooling or minibuses. Catering is another key aspect. Minimise food waste through effective planning, partnerships with food charities, and composting leftovers. Provide reusable or compostable eating implements and containers. Offer local, organic, seasonal food with lots of non-meat options. Rather than plastic water bottles, provide water refilling stations. If it’s a formal or themed event, why not insist people wear something they already own rather than buying or hiring a new outfit? That will save resources (and money!). For décor, choose reusable props and decorations made from compostable materials. Look for local, seasonal flowers from florists who don’t use unsustainable floral foam. If you’re giving away freebies, choose genuinely useful items made from recycled or sustainable materials. Rather than physical gifts, you could offer experiences that give back to the community (e.g. plant a tree, or lay a paving stone). These are just a few pointers. For more about planning sustainable events, read Green Street's latest ‘Inspiration’ post, or sign up free to access the event planning guide in the Resources section.

Next time you go to a conference, workshop, festival, party, wedding or other event, take a look around. Try to assess how sustainable it is. Personally, I hate seeing bottled water, wasted food, plastic bags, tacky decorations, and a car park full of single-occupant vehicles. Informed decisions about timing, venue, travel, food, decor and promotion will boost an event's sustainability. This article has a few suggestions to get you started.

Are you involved in event organisation? Then making your event more sustainable is likely to be high on your agenda! Name badges and lanyards are event essentials and whichever option you choose to identify your attendees, there are so many fantastic sustainable alternatives available. We love these recycled and reusable chalkboard name badges made from 100% waste materials such as old yoghurt pots and the inside of fridges, the flecks you can see are from the recycled products used to create them! Use a chalk pen to write your guest names on, and then remove and use again for your next event – simple, effective and wonderfully sustainable! And they are UK-made and biodegradable too🌍 If you prefer the lanyard option, our fantastic seed paper lanyards create a great talking point at the registration desk, and then after the event, attendees get to take them home, and plant them and watch wildflowers grow🌼 Check out our blog to see more great ideas on how to make your event more sustainable including branded event clothing, backdrops and banners. https://lnkd.in/e46xPyk5 If you are organising your next event, get in touch! 📞+44 (0) 20 8569 2250 ✉ uksales@geiger.com #events #conferences #festivals #eventorganisers #swag #workwear #promotionalmerchandise #sustainablemarketing

🌟 Exciting News for the Homes & Businesses Industry! 🌟 Are you looking for a sustainable and cost-effective solution for your large events? Look no further! I just came across a fantastic article from Event Cup Solutions discussing the benefits of using reusable plastic glasses. 🌿 Environmental Impact: By using reusable plastic glasses, events can significantly reduce their carbon footprint and minimize waste sent to landfills. It's a win-win for both sustainability and your organization's image. 💰 Cost-Effective Solutions: Say goodbye to frequent glass replacements and excessive waste management costs! Reusable plastic glasses are a smart investment that can save your business significant amounts of money in the long run. 💪 Durability for Large Events: These glasses are designed to withstand the rigors of large events, ensuring they remain intact and functional throughout the festivities. No more worrying about accidental breakages! 🧼 Hygiene Matters: Maintaining high standards of hygiene is crucial, especially in busy event environments. With reusable plastic glasses, cleanliness is a breeze. They can be easily cleaned and sanitized, providing peace of mind to both organizers and guests. 🖌️ Endless Customization: Make your event stand out with customizable reusable glasses! Add logos, branding, or event-specific designs to enhance the overall experience and leave a lasting impression on your guests. ✈️ Easy Logistics: Managing the logistics of reusable glasses is a breeze. They can be transported and stored effortlessly, making your event planning a smoother process. ♻️ Reduce, Return, and Reuse: After the event, simply collect the glasses and reuse them for future events, further minimizing waste and saving money. Implications for our Industry? This reinforces the growing demand for sustainable alternatives in the hospitality and events sector. Businesses that embrace these environmentally friendly practices are not only contributing to a cleaner planet but also differentiating themselves as industry leaders. 📢 Let's drive the conversation forward! What are your thoughts on the benefits and challenges of implementing reusable plastic glasses for events? Share your insights and experiences in the comments below. If you're interested in exploring sustainable solutions for your upcoming events, visit Tritan Glassware Company's website at tritanglassware.company. Together, let's make a positive impact on our environment while ensuring successful and memorable events. 🌍💼 #SustainabilitySolutions #EventPlanning #ReusableGlassware #IndustryLeadership Link to Company Website: https://lnkd.in/gijtdaDe

"Help! I´ve booked a tradeshow! What now?” (Part 2) 🎉 Congratulations! You’ve booked a small patch of cold grey concrete that costs more than a weekend for two in the Swiss Alps…⛷ So... 📆With good planning and the right partner (React Sustainable Expo) you can maximise your ROI, whilst minimising your impact on the environment. But what more can you, as an exhibitor, do to go one step further? Here are a few tips from us… 🚉Travel to the show by train, bus, bike or underground. Leave the car at home. Even if its an international show, you can (often) still travel by train.  Slower, absolutely, but with good planning, who needs to rush? 🍀Encourage your clients and visitors to do the same. Make it a “thing”. Give a prize for the longest train journey. Remind them of their own responsibility to make a difference. 🚚Plan your freight. If you are sending products to the show, send them all in one shipment and use a freight company with a clear environmental profile. Talk with your trade show partner. The right partner will always be able to help. Refreshments.  ❌Ban bottled water. It just leads to more plastic waste. More and more venues are offering refill points. ❌Ban single use plastics. End of. There are paper alternatives for everything. ☕️Coffee? Fair trade of course. 🍐 Offer in-season fruit or locally produced juices. Take responsibility for the waste you produce. Think. Then think again. Giveaways… 🖊Who really needs another pen? Another bag? Lipsills??? Whatever you choose, think about how much of it is going to end up as rubbish, and then think again. There are some great alternatives... 🍏We’ve had clients that have branded apples or given away home baked cookies (seriously). And if you must give away a product, ensure that it is responsibly manufactured and certified. What you give says a lot about your values. 🌻How about a paket of seeds for a patch of Bee-freindly garden? 🌲Or why not plant a tree for every lead you get? They all beat yet another throw away pen... 🤔Interested? We can help with all of the above (apart from home-baked cookies). 🗺 Choose a partner that knows how to bring life to your brand (and feet to your stand). A partner that not only guides you from A to Z, but can ensure that every choice is made with the best possible outcome for you and for the environment. Who? React Sustainable Expo 🌍 Naturally. #reactexpo #sustainability #reuseyourstand

As festival and concert season is upon us, it's time to reflect on the sustainability of the promotional merchandise we see so often at these events. I am continually puzzled by the persistence of brands in choosing plastic giveaways and polyester t-shirts when there are far better alternatives available. Materials such as cork and recycled ocean plastics offer environmentally friendly options that reduce waste and pollution. These materials are not only sustainable but also innovative, aligning with the growing consumer demand for eco-conscious products. We should focus on creating products that people will actually use. Practical and durable items, like reusable bottles or tote bags made from organic or recycled materials, can offer value long after the event is over. Regarding the ubiquitous €1 plastic cups, their purpose often falls flat. While intended as a sustainable choice, the reality is that most end up discarded, adding to the plastic waste problem. Many times, festival-goers take them home where they accumulate or simply dispose of them when exchange points are closed. A better system is needed—one that emphasizes collection, washing, recycling, and reintroduction into the supply chain. Implementing a closed-loop system for these cups can significantly reduce waste and encourage responsible consumption. It's time for brands and event organizers to take responsibility and innovate towards sustainability. Let's prioritize quality over quantity and ensure that our choices reflect the values of our audience. Making these changes not only benefits the environment but also enhances brand reputation and consumer loyalty.

Do you offer food and drinks at your event? Here is a list of recommendations for sustainable cultural and sporting events put together by SAUBERE-VERANSTALTUNG.CH, a Swiss leading organization in guiding event planners and organizers in sustainability measures for their events. ► Serve drinks in reusable cups with a deposit. Where safety regulations allow, glasses or porcelain cups can also be used. ► Make sure that all recyclable disposable threads (PET, glass, etc.) are completely recycled. It is recommended to work with deposit chips. ► Hand out food in reusable dishes with a deposit. Where safety regulations allow, traditional porcelain dishes can also be handed in. ► Separate waste/recyclable materials in the audience and backstage areas into PET, cardboard/paper, glass, aluminum, organic waste and residual waste. ► At food stalls without seating or when selling food across the aisle, do not use any kind of plate mat. Instead, use the "pack in the bread" system or give out a maximum of one napkin. ► Avoid disposable products such as (compostable) disposable tableware, aluminum cans, disposable glass bottles, tetra packs, decorations, etc. ► Dispense mustard, mayonnaise and ketchup from a dispenser. Serve drinks that have been filled from large containers into reusable cups or mixed from concentrate (tap system). ► Agree with sponsors that they will refrain from distributing disposable products (free samples and flyers). Do you expect that large amounts of waste will be generated at the event? ► Place enough waste bins in the public area . Make sure that the waste bins are emptied regularly and that cleaning staff are present during the event. Rule of thumb: place waste bins 25 metres apart. ► Collect the waste (audience area and backstage) separately according to PET, cardboard/paper, glass, aluminum cans, organic waste, residual waste, etc. and ensure that the collected materials are disposed of or recycled correctly. Where does the Arboloom cup fit? If you are planning to start using our cups for your event, the wooden cups are placed under the organic waste category due to its biodegradable element. Learn more about our nature shaped cups at www.arboloom.com. #WoodCup #Cleantech #Packaging #Sustainability

With the growing awareness of single-use plastic pollution and the shift towards sustainable practices, reusable cups and bottles have emerged as popular, sensible alternatives. They help reduce waste while serving as effective marketing tools for businesses looking to enhance brand visibility and sustainability credentials. Your organisation’s sustainability journey is something your business partners are also very interested in. They want to know that you have considered regulatory requirements and resource efficiency. They want to know that your actions support their sustainability goals. In this short blog we will explore how to do this and suggest some replacement drinkware. We will also discuss the benefits of incorporating eco-friendly promotional drinkware into your marketing strategy to build brand recognition: https://lnkd.in/dWPyhbzx

In the 2024 Moxa World Earth Week, my favorite activity was the " Earth-friendly dining experience🌍+🧋". The second lesson I learned is: sustainable communication can bring about "awareness or behavioral change" through "EXPERIENCES". [Experience Planning]: What can we do in our company? I believe it's about leading by example. So, we challenged the headquarters in Taiwan, spanning 3 locations with 1000+ employees, to experience ordering "circular afternoon tea" or "circular lunch boxes" to reduce plastic waste/ disposable food containers. [Execution]: During the process, members of employee welfare committee from each department brainstormed to find suitable vendors and menu items. The actual implementation exceeded my expectations. We saw tofu pudding delivered in metal containers, Starbucks drinks in circular cups, sustainable lunch boxes from new eco-friendly delivery platforms, and catering without disposable containers. [Feedback]: Below are real feedback received after the event: 💡  I had never used Starbucks' reusable cup before. It was more convenient than I imagined. In the future, when buying drinks, I'll consider using reusable cups as well as bringing my own. 💡  Making my own tofu pudding with toppings was fun. I also discovered that afternoon tea can be customized with tofu pudding toppings, adding a lot of variety. 💡 The company already provides reusable cups and cutlery, so I don't have to bring my own. It's actually less troublesome than I imagined. -  It's meaningful in the long term. Can we have this kind of afternoon tea regularly? 💡  Starting with the company, can corporate events like xx activity also reduce disposable items? 🤩 These feedbacks were formed through "EXPERIENCES ", leading to " awareness" and "potential behavioral changes", and even creating opportunities for us to push for more initiatives within the company. So, the next time you plan internal sustainability communication, why not start with "creating experiences" in mind? Feel free to share with me what initiatives and activities your company has undertaken as well! 在2024 Moxa世界地球週活動裡，我最喜歡的是 「來點地球塑身餐」的活動，我學到的第二課是：永續溝通可以「藉由體驗」帶來「意識或行為的改變」。 【觀察】：我觀察到就像許多企業，都愛訂購下午茶、飲料，每天也都會訂外送便當。但可能這每天/每週/每兩週在做的事，卻對環境造成很大的負擔，台灣光是紙容器台灣一年可以消耗約82億個，飲料杯則可以用掉40億個。 【體驗規劃】： 在企業裡，我們能做什麼? 我想就是讓公司「帶頭體驗」了。 所以我們挑戰讓台灣總部跨三個地點辦公室、1,000+位員工，以既有福利預算，來體驗訂購 「循環下午茶」或「循環餐盒」為地球塑身、減塑。 【執行】： 過程中，各部門福委絞盡腦汁找適合的廠商和餐點，最後大家的實踐真的是超乎我所想像。我們看到了用鐵盒送來的豆花、星巴克的循環杯飲料、永續外送平台的循環餐盒、不使用一次性容器的外匯。當然最辛苦的還是自願性服務的福委，必須了解各服務的訂購眉角、讓大家吃到想吃的。 【回饋】： 下面為活動後的真實回饋 💡  以前沒有使用過星巴克的循環杯，比想像中的方便，以後買飲料除了帶自己的杯子，也會考慮使用循環杯。 💡 自己挖豆花加料很好玩，飲料也可以加豆花的料，多了很多變化 💡 公司本來就有餐具跟自己的環保杯，不用自己帶，雖然要一直清洗，但其實比想像中不麻煩 💡 要長期才有意義，可否定期有減塑午茶? 💡 減塑從公司開始做起，公司的xx活動是不是也可以減少提供一次性的用品? 這些回饋是在「經歷體驗」後，「思考或反省」所形成的「自發性意識」與「行為改變」，甚至促成了機會，讓我們有機會推動公司做的更多。 所以下一次在規劃永續內部溝通時，不妨從「創造體驗」來設計~ 關於這個活動執行，其實有不少挑戰與克服，有機會再與大家分享。 也歡迎大家跟我分享，你們公司做了那些倡議與活動~