Dine at the top table and get thrills from the top drawer.
From Michelin Green Star dining to city centre action - sustainability requires zero dilution of the experience.
Sustainability is all about our impact on the destination, as well as the wider world. If we dine at a restaurant chain, then we create some local jobs, but little more. Sustainability means enhancing the destination by supporting its suppliers. In practice this means dining in restaurants that are indelibly linked to a destination, whose wealth stays there, and supply chains nourish the local economy. This way, the joyoous experience of a regional menu is sustained for future visitors and generations.
As well as the economic and cultural impacts, locally sourced apples that appear on restaurant tables in the form of cider help to lower carbon emissions. Sustainability is about culture, regional identity, and local employment opportunities. Hosting a meeting in a local cultural venue adds to the revenue stream of that institution, ensuring it continues to play a role in the destination, today and in the future. Activities are often tied to a local population - take surf lessons in a local community and this nourishes the whole socio-economic system.
SUSTAINABLE EVENT ACTIVITIES & DINING - WHAT TO EXPECT
SUSTAINABILITY CREDENTIALS
To be clear, for an event to be sustainable, a wide range of social, economic, and environmental factors must be addressed. That said, environmental factors feature heavily in the UN sustainable development goals, the cornerstone of all credible eco-label, sustainability awards. Environmentally sustainable events are about moving by electron (wherever possible) rather than explosive gases, where the electricity grid is mostly or fully decarbonised, and where land and sea-based activities have minimal impacts on the ecology of the terrain. Accommodation, activity, entertainment, and dining providers can obtain sustainability accreditation where their activities are recognised to minimise their environmental impacts.
SUSTAINABLE PLEASURES
Environmental sustainability is about changing behaviours and in many cases the outcomes are as good for the client experience as they are for the environment. London to Paris, Rotterdam, or Amsterdam by air - really? In this case sustainability is not kill-joy, far more so a wake-up call – save time and whole world of queuing & stress by going from the centre of one European capital to another. Work, read, eat, and drink, whilst slashing carbon footprints. Hotels, restaurants, resort taxis and coaches running on electrons are all joyously harmonious. Try a Norwegian fjord cruise, perched on a vast diesel motor, then sample one powered by electricity, where nature and the sound of waves are audible and the air breathable – life changing moments!
WHY PLAN A SUSTAINABLE EVENT?
As well as being truly inspirational, sustainable corporate events are increasingly important to align with organisational values. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) policies operate in most enterprises, with supply chains being particularly relevant for event planners needing to meet CSR criteria – ensuring that these supply chains operate in accordance with the values prescribed in the organisation’s CSR policy.
Environmental social responsibility (ESG) is another driver of sustainability in the event planning process. ESG is recognised for its measurable sustainability outcomes, with these impacts particularly relevant for an organisation planning an event, with all the associated travel and consumption requirements.
MORE SUSTAINABILITY CONSIDERATIONS FOR EVENT PLANNERS
Truly credible sustainability accredition, in the form of national eco-label schemes all have the UN sustainable development goals as their starting point.
As well as the environment, social and economic factors determine the sustainability of an event. You can find more information on sustainability frameworks and topics below.
Organise a sustainable corporate event with Jagged Horizons.
Email or call us on +44 (0) 20 8123 7817.
Provide a little information as to your sustainable event brief and we can begin to develop some initial ideas for you.