Hailed as Asia’s events capital, Hong Kong has an action-packed yearly events calendar, which inevitably generates a large amount of waste and carbon emission in a short time. Sustainable event management has become increasingly important as we face the threat of climate change and environmental challenges.

Key to Success

1. Maintain close communications with participants and partners. Explain your green goals to them!
2. Buy-in from the work team is very important.
3. Early planning.
4. Set goals, collect data and review the results.

We summarise the following Green Events advice for beginners to take the painless first step of sustainable event planning.

1. Waste Reduction
2. Carbon Reduction
3. Reduce Ecological Impact

Set up specific targets according to the needs of your event.

(e.g. energy conservation targets, waste reduction targets…)

Each event involves various stakeholders. Each of them is playing crucial roles in determining the success of green measures implementation. You are advised to explain the green objectives, goals and policies utilising various channels, e.g. introduction seminars, notices and work instructions, targeting different stakeholders like teammates, partners and participants.

Stakeholders could be: decision makers, work teams, participants, volunteers, sponsors, venue providers, cleaning service companies, recyclers, product/ service providers, exhibitors, etc.

Things to consider when choosing an event site, apart from meeting your requirements, should include the following green objectives:

• Able to provide reusable equipment (stage and installation, electronic screen, setup equipment, water dispensers, etc.) to reduce one-off waste.
• Able to provide proper recycling facilities and services.
• Able to provide energy monitoring system (EMS).

All Purchase

• Following the principles of waste and carbon reduction.

Applicable for promotion, venue setup or any event materials:

• Refuse & Reduce – Produce based on needs, no wastage.
• Reuse – Choose reusables as the priority.
• Replace – Eco-friendly production as an alternative.
• Recycle – Resource recycle.

Reducing carbon emissions to promote sustainability has been popular as a way to combat climate change

• Utilise natural light and ventilation.
• Choose energy efficient equipment/ venue.
• Formulate energy-saving instructions for the team.
• Choose a venue reachable by public transport or provide shuttle buses for the participants, to avoid driving their own cars.
• Have web conferences if there are overseas participants to cut down air mileages.
• Plan your logistics in advance to minimise delivery and transportation.

• Make an inventory list and examine the recyclability of each item. Some may need special recycle facilities, which will increase your cost. You will have to decide whether to replace the unrecyclable with easily-recycled items or use them less.

• Set up recycle facilities at the event venue and give clear instructions. You are advised to have green ambassadors to help participants recycle.

• Work with reliable recyclers to save your effort. To find out how the recyclers handle recyclables in advance, and ask for receipt and recycle data after the event.

• Who to trust? List of recyclers.

• ‘Can it be recycled?’ Index of Recyclable Items.

Before the event:
Set green goals (e.g. amount of waste and carbon emissions to be reduced, recycling rate to be achieved, etc.)

During the event:
Collect various data (e.g. electricity consumption, water consumption, waste generation, amount of the collected recyclables, etc.)

After the event:
Analyse data, compare goals, review and record recommendations for the next event. Report and share results with the management, partners and participants.

Every event has its particularity. You may apply the above-mentioned advice according to your needs. If you need more comprehensive consultation:

The Green Earth has provided green support for more than 110 events, big and small, to help event organisers be environment-friendly. We provide tailor-made waste reduction plan, education and promotion support, recycling support, coordination of onsite recycling and resource optimization, reliable recycling channels, event review and report, volunteers to help with environmental education on site etc. Contact us to know more.

In 2020, we launched Jockey Club “Events Go Green” Programme to provide free green support – Waste Reduction Support for Green Events and Waste Audit Service – for charity or non-profit events.

Regardless of the size of the event, for it to successfully promote green messages and actions in the event, volunteers’ participation is often the most indispensable.

The Jockey Club ‘Events Go Green’ Programme provides free environmental education training for volunteer groups (not limited to charity events).

Contact Us
Telephone Number: 37088380

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