We all like a celebration, do we not? But have you ever thought about bringing sustainability to something we enjoy so much?

With summer, the number of events (at home, at work, even festivals), starts to climb. We like celebrating life and making the most of special moments with family and friends.

It is worth remembering that a sustainable event is only possible if the organisers and the guests are both involved. By being more conscious, we are able to adapt our behaviour and make the difference for a greener party.

Group of four people socialising in a garden

According to Noah, Sustainability Associate at the GDS-Index, there are 4 central pillars in a sustainable event that set it apart from the rest: 

  1. relationships;
  2. profit;
  3. innovation;
  4. reputation.

He argues that relationships between the various stakeholders at a sustainable event are considerably better than elsewhere. His reasoning is that this kind of event requires organisers to get more and better involved, to listen and to communicate. Bringing everyone involved in the organisation closer together leads to a final result that genuinely matches what was intended.

There is a myth that sustainable products cost more and that costs will therefore be higher. But the aim is to cut waste and eliminate unnecessary use of resources and unnecessary purchases, which can bring costs down and improve quality, and, in turn, increase profit.

Innovation should always go hand in hand with sustainability. We are rooted in a society where the norm is still to consume, consume and consume. We love new things. It matters that we use innovation to reach new conclusions that help shrink our social and environmental footprint. Noah gave a few examples, from holograms and digital signage to vegan options and event apps for your phone.

Happily, more and more people are alive to how important it is to protect and care for the environment. Society is starting to change, and is increasingly attentive to brands that take on their environmental and social responsibility and actually put strategies in place for the environment. 

Reputation: society is demanding more and more responsibility and positive action from companies, associations and governments. Sustainable events allow organisations to follow suit and put their commitments into practice, with concrete actions and tangible results.

Today I am sharing a list of things that can make your events at home more sustainable:

  • Do not use plastic
  • Avoid disposable items
  • Recycle
  • (Re)use whatever you can
  • Avoid wasting food
  • Go for handmade touches
  • Use real flowers
  • Avoid buying what is not needed 
  • Cut consumption as far as possible
  • Use organic, seasonal, locally grown food
  • Make travel as efficient as you can 
  • And so on

If organising an event feels too complicated and you would like a specialist’s help, here are a few examples of companies that organise events, or that could help you with part of the party, and whose focus is on putting sustainable events together.

Table laid with homemade food and nicely decorated

Sustainable event companies

Green Party

Green Party sets out to “inform the Portuguese public and raise awareness of the best environmental practices during their celebrations, particularly through its blog, and to offer ecological alternatives through its online shop of natural, sustainable and, above all, environmentally friendly party goods.”

Having identified the countless factors that pollute the environment before, during and even after a party, the company created this project with more sustainable, more responsible celebrations in mind.

Examples of those polluting factors include disposable items, releasing balloons or confetti, and excessive use of resources. Very often these can be swapped for greener options where you can actually control where things end up and make sure the impact on the environment is small.

At Green Party you will find party and decorative items made from natural, 100% ecological and biodegradable materials, which can be personalised or adapted for different kinds of event, birthday parties, weddings, christenings or other celebrations.

Palmie

Palmie came about through Ana Palminha, who worked in event organisation and decoration and had carried a concern and care for the environment with her since childhood. 

Bringing together two important parts of her life, she created Palmie, “a concept in sustainable party design that aims to get as close to zero waste as possible and that is, inevitably, OF ITS MOMENT.” Her argument is that every day is a great day to do things differently. And I could not be more aligned with that motto.

They position themselves as the first sustainable, zero-waste party brand and are available for new events and challenges. At the moment they focus mainly on family occasions such as birthdays and picnics, and plenty more. All of them themed. You can find out more here.

Bosque Conceitos Florais

This project focuses on sustainable decorative work with dried flowers, which are the most sustainable kind, and which can be used as decorative elements at all sorts of events. 

It is an excellent example of how to give your event a more elegant, even refined feel while knowing you are respecting the environment. Take a look at their Instagram. They have fantastic options, and something for every taste.

Now that we know it really is possible to put on an event that is beautiful, affordable and sustainable all at once, shall we make our events more responsible together? Share your plans for your next event with me in the comments 🙂