Within our lifetime, our planet and the way we live is already changing and it will be unrecognisable for the next generation if we continue to operate the way we are.
We are in a climate emergency and doing nothing (Or very little) and hoping for the best is not an option anymore.
Drastic and wholesale change, in the big and small decisions we make every day, is needed and exactly as we approach event risk assessments, we need to apply these principles to our climate impact: focus on activity with the biggest impact (flying) and / or the most likely to happen (food).
However, we cannot let perfection stand in the way of progress!
There are a multitude of free, creative and easy changes that can be made across the event landscape that, when replicated around the world would gain that vital 1%
Brightspace has ambitions to become a B-Corp certified company but that takes time.
In the meantime, here are the changes we have made / are making to reduce our negative impact and, where we can, to take it a step further and use our business and our events as a force for good in the world.
NO-FLY COMMITMENT
Flying is, without question, the most damaging and dangerous thing we do and we will:
- No longer attend networking events, educational trips or trade shows that involve flying
- Take trains whenever reasonably possible (particularly for mainland Europe)
- Always assume site inspections will be virtual or conducted by local partners
- Build local delivery teams to reduce numbers who need to fly from the UK
If we HAVE to fly for event critical reasons or because the alternative would seriously impact on the quality of delivery we will:
- Always fly economy, fewest travellers as possible, fly direct, look at fewer, longer trips if appropriate
- Use researched carbon offset schemes
EVENTS & SUPPLIERS
Clients have the final say but we will:
- Include ‘impact’ information on destinations / venues at proposal stage
- Focus on destinations that reduce travel impact for attendees
- Actively seek out and propose venues who are making positive changes
- Suggest meat free or vegan menus
- Interrogate our supply chain and pass on the message that this matters
- Suggest local providers, research small businesses and support ethical businesses
- Prioritise working with suppliers who have made similar commitments
- Call out ‘greenwashing’ when we see it to encourage best practice
EVENT STUFF
- Remove or reduce stuff produced for events
- Focus on re-usable if that’s not possible
- Choose recycled and recyclable materials if possible
- Consider airmiles and production impact of all stuff as well as waste
- Use or provide waste and re-use or recycling solutions for food and stuff after the event
OUR CLIENTS
We will:
- Prioritise working with clients who genuinely share our passion
- Seek to educate and shift their priorities to include reduce impact
US
We will:
- Constantly research and share the latest ideas and best practice
- Change to electric vehicles when vehicles used for company business need replacing
- Arrange virtual meetings
- Review all business policies and procedures through a ‘sustainability’ lens
At Brightspace Events,we’re already sharing joy and happiness with 2023’s class of corporate Christmas party organisers. From venue finding, to entertainment sourcing, to taking care of every intricate detail imaginablefor fabulous, future forward festivities, we’ve got your back.
Check our our sustainability hub for tips and tricks, to suppliers who share our passion and information on ‘no fly’ destinations and programmes, this resource is a hub of useful links and references. We’re also collecting and unravelling all of the acreditations and organisations springing up to help with our goals.
Need help and advice? get in touch, and we’ll help if we can or point in the right direction.
