The Rise of Sustainable Event Venues

In recent years, there has been a noticeable surge in the demand for sustainable event venues in the UK. While the convenience of traditional venues often tempts event organisers, the alarming amount of waste generated during events is driving them to seek eco-friendly alternatives. Consider, for example, a single trade show, which can produce a staggering quantity of waste including paper, plastic, food, and general refuse. This calls for a shift towards embracing sustainable practices.

What a Sustainable Venue Has to Offer

Sustainable venues not only offer suitable event spaces but also incorporate various eco-friendly components. They make use of sustainable energy and water sources, implement efficient waste management systems, and can even provide sustainable or zero-waste catering services.

Benefits of Choosing a Sustainable Venue

While finding a suitable sustainable venue may present a challenge, the increasing awareness within the industry has made it easier to find such options. By knowing where to look, you can discover venues that align with your sustainability goals. By incorporating sustainable practices into your event planning, not only can you make a positive contribution to the environment, but it can also be a beneficial move for your business. With proper planning and budgeting, opting for sustainable event venues demonstrates your commitment to environmental responsibility while providing a unique and memorable experience for attendees.

Economic Implications and Overcoming Them

As mentioned previously, budgeting is a very important component when it comes to planning a sustainable event. Unfortunately, choosing more sustainable and eco-friendly options isn’t always the cheapest, which can lead to many organisers going with traditional venue choices for their events. However, there are long-term benefits to using a sustainable venue. Sustainable venues often find smart ways to reuse resources, which can reduce your event’s impact on the environment and save you money over time. By selecting these venues, you not only support a greener future but also demonstrate your commitment to financially responsible event planning. This not only enhances your event’s financial prospects but also attracts attendees, sponsors, and partners who appreciate economical and eco-friendly practices.

Sustainable Venues in the UK

The UK has a selection of sustainable venues to choose from. For example, the Business Design Centre in London is B Corp Certified, meaning that they have a high standard of social and environmental impact and actively incorporate sustainable practices in their venue. Another venue in London is The Crystal in City Hall. The Crystal sets a great example with its sustainable building design as well as its Outstanding BREEAM accreditation and Platinum LEED accreditation. These accreditations are the most widely known and used to rate sustainable designs of buildings. Another London-based venue well-known for its sustainable practices is the Barbican. The Barbican is committed to actively reducing its emissions while also bringing the current climate crisis to the forefront of its business by providing a platform for artists to showcase their climate-related art pieces.

The above are just an example, and, fortunately, these days more and more venues are adopting sustainable practices and are making a conscious effort to positively impact the environment through the use of their event spaces.

Partner with companies and vendors that share your vision

From a business and environmental standpoint, getting involved with like-minded people who share your values is always a great idea. It’s an opportunity to connect with eco-conscious companies in various sectors like catering and waste management to work with you on your event. For instance, food waste is a significant concern for event organisers, with overproduction and the use of disposable containers and cutlery being significant contributors to the problem. That is why partnering with a sustainable, eco-friendly or zero-waste catering company can be a real bonus if you are trying to host a greener event. The same can be said for your exhibitors. If you are promoting sustainable and eco-friendly practices through your event, it would be a good idea to hire suppliers that reflect that lifestyle otherwise, it could be seen as a contradiction.

You can also do your part for the environment by hosting your event in a sustainable venue. As a company that is based in a business park dedicated to being environmentally friendly and sustainable, we find that this helps to be surrounded by like-minded people and those who share the same eco-friendly values as us.