How to organize an eco-responsible seminar?
Incorporating a CSR approach into the organization of professional events is now a constant concern for companies. Here are 10 tips for a successful responsible event.
1/ Prioritize your fields of action
Organizing a 100% CSR event that simultaneously addresses environmental, social and economic issues is a laudable and ambitious project. But the task is more arduous than it seems, as there are so many issues to consider. We'll have to take things one step at a time, and focus on certain actions rather than others. Choose your battles and your most coherent margins for manoeuvre.
2/ Choosing a certified responsible venue
The location of your seminar or event is particularly strategic in limiting its negative impact on the environment. It must be easily accessible, adaptable and in harmony with your sustainable development actions. Give preference to eco-labeled and ISO 20121-certified venues, guaranteeing exemplary commitment and expertise in hosting responsible events.
3/ Sourcing partners
Organizing a responsible event relies heavily on the active collaboration of your service providers. Audiovisual, decoration, maintenance... each item has its own environmental, economic and social issues. But solutions often outnumber problems!
Be demanding in your choice of partners, who must both respect standards and share your values and ethics. In short, ask everyone to show their credentials - or rather, their green credentials!
4/ Call in a professional
In the events sector, the fields of responsible action are numerous, complex and sometimes new for some organizers. The support of a consultant in this area is an undeniable plus. Listening, diagnosis, strategy, implementation and follow-up, the CSR consultant (internal or external to the company) helps you define your CSR approach by defining the issues and objectives at stake. Solutions are found collectively, in a workshop setting, and always with support.
5/ Federate, unite, engage
There's strength in numbers, so it's important to involve every participant in the group in a virtuous circle, both collectively and individually, through activities, team-building, actions to be implemented, and "responsible" reflexes to be adopted during the event - so that they become agents of change, and stakeholders in your sustainable development approach... both during the event and afterwards!
6/ Choose local and seasonal products
Catering is a major factor in the environmental impact of an event. In this area, play the local card, with caterers favoring short circuits and seasonal products, or turn to fair trade labels.
Waste management is also an important issue. For example, set up internal and/or external food redistribution systems, or choose locations that recycle their food waste on site.
7/ Sharing and recycling
Pooling is an excellent eco-responsible reflex. Think about public transport accessibility, carpooling, park-and-ride facilities... Rent rather than buy when it comes to furniture and decoration. Equipment is an important item that can easily be shared and reused from one event to the next, from one year to the next...
Recycling and sharing even extend to your event's signage: wooden panels, for example, can be easily sanded and repainted for each event...
In all areas, be ingenious and inventive.
8/ Focus on biosourced or 100% recyclable materials
Tableware, spoons, straws... As of January 2020, the production and marketing of certain disposable plastic products - with their disastrous environmental impact - are gradually being banned. Whenever possible, opt for reusable tableware. Alternatively, surprise your staff with reusable, bio-sourced or 100% recyclable materials, such as disposable plates and dishes made from palm leaves, reusable bamboo, biodegradable corn starch, or edible wheat bran...
9/ Beware of Greenwashing
In short, be sincere and transparent in your approach. To avoid falsely conveying a responsible image, be realistic about your challenges, consistent with your commitments and precise in your communications. If you have the slightest doubt about your choices of actions or communications, call on the services of a CSR consultant, or refer to the sustainable development recommendations of theAutorité de Régulation Professionnelle de la Publicité.
10/ Keeping a spirit of continuous progress
Being top of the class doesn't happen overnight. Be both ambitious and patient in your CSR commitments.
Take advantage of the post-event assessment to evaluate yourself and ask the right questions again. What impact did my event have? Did I achieve my objectives? Are my priorities still where they should be? Is it possible to go further? And how?
CSR is a field of continuous improvement in an ever-changing world. Even if we still have a long way to go, all our collective and individual awareness is one more step towards a cleaner, more ethical world with preserved resources.