Triennial arts grants program

Sustainability ideas

Waste

Reduce, reuse, recycle! Minimise thewaste produced at your event (including from promotions, stalls and food vendors) and ensure all remaining waste is reused or recycled.

Top tips:

  • Source materials with minimal packaging throughout the event
  • Encourage stall-holders and contractors to use products with minimal packaging
  • Provide recycling and composting facilities at the event
  • Use non-toxic, biodegradable cleaning detergents

Materials & Decorations

Materials and decorations are a major contributor to waste.

Top tips:

  • Source all materials, props and decorations with the intention of reusing them at other events
  • Use recycled items wherever possible eg reclaimed timber, rubber, foam, rope, wooden blocks. Often, local city councils will have details of transfer stations where items may also be available
  • After the event, give unwanted materials away to other groups or organisations for reuse where possible, and then recycle the rest
  • Consider limiting the number of ‘giveaways’ provided to attendees and make sure they are made from environmentally friendly materials (eg recycled and biodegradable)

Transport

To increase the chances of attendees using low impact transport (public transport, bicycle or walking) to and from an event, event organisers can:

  • Choose a venue that has good public transports options
  • Schedule any programmed activities at the event to coincide with public transport timetables
  • Provide incentives to people using low emissions transport, such as giving discounted entry to walkers and bike riders
  • Provide information on bike routes and bike parking
  • Discourage air travel by event participants and always encourage coach/rail as a priority

Event Venue

The venue can make a significant difference to the overall environmental footprint of the event.

Aspects of sustainability to consider when selecting a venue include:

  • Good access to public transport
  • Good access to bike paths and bike parking facilities
  • Energy use (is it a 5-star building?)
  • Equipment provided by the event (eg are the stage lights LED?)
  • Suppliers aligned to the venue
  • Does the venue provide a recycling and/or composting service?

Ticketing

Going paperless not only reduces the use of paper, but also reduces associated impacts such as postage.

Top Tips:

  • Go paperless! Online registration can remove the need for printed tickets
  • If using paperless tickets, remind people they do not need to print them out and bring them to the event
  • If using paper tickets, use post-consumer recycled paper or card
  • Another environmentally-friendly option is to use a carbon offset ticketing provider

Food stalls & catering

Food stalls & catering can be the most effective way of reducing an event's environmental impact.

When selecting stall holders for an event, focus on those who:

  • Use locally sourced produced to reduce carbon emissions from transport miles
  • Use limited packaging (any packaging should be recyclable)
  • Include vegetarian/vegan options as these use less energy and water

Drinking Water

The environmental impact of bottled water includes the oil used to make the plastic, the transport emissions, and the many impacts of landfill.

Top tips:

  • Provide drinking water stands for people to fill up their own water bottles
  • Book a venue with a kitchen and either put up signs directing people to the kitchen, or provide jugs of water at the entrance
  • Provide reusable cups

Printing and promotion

Choose to promote your event primarily via paperless means. For printing requirements:

  • Choose a commercial printer that adopts best practice in environmental printing (such as carbon neutral certification)
  • Request the printers to use ink made from soybeans or vegetable oil
  • Print on 100% post-consumer recycled paper

Education

Tell everyone about the sustainability initiatives implemented at your event!

Top tips:

  • Put up a re-usable sign at the event outlining the steps you've made towards improving your sustainability practice
  • Make sure all your staff and volunteers are aware of the practices and can communicate those to attendees
  • Include your environmental achievements in any electronic communication to attendees