Overview
Before booking a meeting room or venue, it’s important that you think about how to reduce the climate impact.
If you're using a third party to deliver your event, consider using this list as requirements for your supplier as you go through the procurement process.
Location or venue
Things to consider include:
- holding the meeting online instead
- if you need to hold the meeting in person, chose a venue that’s accessible by public transport
- asking the venue if they provide a recycling service (including food waste)
- asking the venue if they use renewable energy or if it’s carbon neutral
- asking if the venue or organisation if they disclose their actions to reduce their impact on the environment
Travel
Things to consider include:
- encouraging delegates to travel by walking, cycling, using public transport or using the Essex DigiGo service
- if you’re providing the transport, consider electric vehicles
- if travel by car is necessary, encourage car sharing
Food and drink
Things to consider include:
- providing vegetarian as default catering
- ordering food according to attendance to prevent wastage
- sourcing food from local suppliers
- not using plastic bottles of water – provide jugs and glasses
- not using plastic wrappers
- not using single-use items including disposable cutlery, coffee cups, plastic cups or plastic straws
Materials
Things to consider include:
- avoiding giving out freebies such as pens and plastic wristbands
- electronic versions of materials and information by using QR codes and supporting website pages
- keeping printed materials to a minimum if these are needed
- using 100% recycled paper and recycling this at the end of the event
- using recycled name tags or reusing these at another event