When I was asked to write this article, my first reaction wasn’t excitement. It was anxiety. I started sweating. My instinct was to redirect the request to someone else who specializes in this topic — someone who could speak to carbon offsets and waste audits with real authority. Sustainability is, without question, the subject I know the least about. But shying away from what we don’t know isn’t going to help any of us grow. So I decided to…
In today’s events landscape, sustainability is no longer a nice-to-have — it’s the baseline. As delegates seek to make a positive impact within values-driven organizations, business leaders and meeting planners must design gatherings that deliver more than memories. Destination Canada and cities across the country are leading this charge, committed to ensuring meetings hosted in Canada — and around the world — leave a positive handprint, not a negative footprint. From coast to coast to coast, Canadian destinations are…
With the economy and tariff issues taking up more than their fair share of the news cycle, the environment has often been pushed off the radar. Thankfully, Earth Day is upon us and serves as a timely reminder that sustainability needs to remain a priority for individuals, companies and all levels of government, and of course, our events sector. From large festivals to intricate and intimate gatherings, we who work in the events space generate our fair share of…
In an age where urbanization and technology dominate our lives, there is a growing desire to reconnect with nature. Biophilic design, a concept that brings elements of the natural world into our built environments, has been a significant trend in architecture and interior design for some time. However, this design philosophy has now found its way into the realm of event planning, leading to the concept of biophilic event design. This innovative approach aims to create unforgettable and sustainable…
In the realm of event management, where experiences are crafted and memories made, sustainability has emerged as a critical focal point. As the world grapples with environmental challenges, the event industry is undergoing a transformative shift towards embracing sustainable practices. At the heart of this movement lies the concept of sustainable food, where conscious choices and innovative approaches are revolutionizing the way events cater to attendees’ appetites. In this article, we explore the intersection of food and sustainability within…
Sustainability has become an important factor today in deciding how and where to host an event. For Explore Edmonton Corporation, event sustainability a top priority. Dramatic improvements were made in its sustainability efforts in 2022 with the implementation of several local social, environmental, and economic causes and programs. “Explore Edmonton proudly launched six new sustainability content-based training courses over 2022 with the goal of helping provide staff with a more in-depth knowledge of sustainability, its practices, and what Explore…
As an event professional, I have a love-hate relationship with travel. I get a lot of joy out of the opportunity my job provides me to visit other places. At the same time, I feel significant guilt about the carbon impact of the flights I take. For a long time I rationalized these trips. They’re “only” 2 per cent of carbon emissions, I’d say (a figure that doesn’t include the full warming potential of all emissions from aviation). And…
As event professionals, focusing on our future is essential. We learn from the past, observe in the present, and then design our upcoming events based on our experiences. What we have learned from the past, and continue to observe in the present, is that sustainable event design and social impact are essential considerations for the future of our industry, and for the industries and communities we serve. Business events create environments for innovation, they act as an economic engine and…
Second Harvest works with thousands of food businesses from across the supply chain, and across the country, utilizing logistics and technology to reduce the amount of edible food going to waste. Our inclusive model ensures this healthy surplus food is redirected to thousands of charities and non-profits across the country, providing millions of Canadians experiencing food insecurity access to the nourishment they need. Through our work with the hospitality industry and specifically events teams, we have learned some best…
Corporate lingo for “mind the planet” is constantly changing. Start feeling comfortable talking about “sustainability” and “CSR”, and suddenly it’s all about “carbon neutral” and “net zero.” As challenging as it can be to keep up, it is important for event professionals to stay on top of what these terms mean if they are to deliver value and avoid liabilities in the corporate event space. So what do you need to know to speak confidently about net zero? To begin,…
