How to Make Your Event More Green in 2015!

February 8, 2015

Shane Shirley

Shane Shirley is CMO for SBS Brands, a 90-year-old global brand leader focused on creating digital and print business solutions that offers traditional and eco-friendly customized promotional products to accelerate trade show marketing.

A new year means new ways to make your events even more green. Going green is a constant progression and as technologies change and your goals transform there are going to be new ways to up your green game. From incorporating tech aspects to engaging your customers and finding ways to use recycled materials, here are some ways you can make your event more green in 2015.

Create an App

Whether your goal is to make the ordering process easier or just to engage with your customers an app will get the job done and cut down on paper in the form of order forms, handouts and catalogs. Creating an app gives your customers a way to interact with your brand, learn about your business and your green goals.  It’s not as difficult as it might seem and I have a great team that specializes in app development. Find a good team and the process will actually be fun and will leave you with a great green ROI.

Spread the Word and Engage Your Customers

You can easily spend a lot of time making your event green, and there is no reason why you shouldn’t let everyone know! There are several perks to transparency: first, your customers know that you don’t just talk about being green, but you actually are green and second, sharing your green story can also inspire others to follow your lead. Reducing your environmental impact clearly helps the planet, but if you can motivate others to incorporate green changes into their events and daily routines that will extend your green impact even further.

Utilize Reusable Takeaways Made From Recycled Materials

When you can get a branded takeaway into your customer’s hands it will continue to engage your clientele and keep you relevant and strengthen the relationship long after the show is over. When this takeaway is made from recycled materials it will reduce your company’s environmental impact while also finding a new use for previously discarded materials. Reusable takeaways will increase your brand awareness and recognition since your customers will be exposed to your branding info on a regular basis, and it will also help your customers incorporate green changes into their lives.

Create a Green Plan That Fits Your Company’s Needs

Ultimately, you need green improvements that are suitable for your brand and your needs. Look for areas you want improve a processes to streamline and when brainstorming solutions to these issues, consider ways to incorporate green resolutions. If you need new flooring, furniture or framing look for items made from recycled or sustainable materials. If you want to find a better way to demonstrate your product line or illustrate the services you provide try to work in green options whenever possible, maybe that means you reduce the number of staff members attending the show and you have key team members attend via video conference.

There are a lot of things you can do to make your event green, but you need to find the solutions that best work for your brand and the show you are attending. Remember that even minor green improvements can add up and have a huge impact. 

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HERE, hosting responsible meetings and caring for our communities are top priorities. Through its 'Focused on What Matters: Embracing Humanity and Protecting the Planet' philosophy, MGM Resorts commits to creating a more sustainable future, while striving to make an impact in the lives of employees, guests, and the communities in which it operates. Water Stewardship Efforts MGM Resorts understands the importance of using water efficiently, especially in the desert destination of Las Vegas. Conserving water has always been part of the mission, but MGM Resorts has expanded its ambition into water stewardship. In 2022, MGM Resorts President and CEO Bill Hornbuckle signed the CEO Water Mandate—a UN Global Compact initiative mobilizing business leaders to advance water stewardship. MGM Resorts International was the first gaming company to take this important step. MGM Resorts replaced 200,000 square feet of real grass with drought-tolerant landscaping in Las Vegas. MGM Resorts pledges to reduce water withdrawal intensity by 33% by 2025 and by 35% by 2030. From 2007-2021, use of more than 5.6 billion gallons of water was avoided because of conservation efforts. Caring for One Another MGM Resorts’ Food Donations Program collects and preserves unserved food from conventions held at MGM Resorts properties, then safely donates to food insecure people in the community. Since the program’s launch in 2016, more than 3.7 million meals toward a 2025 goal of 5 million meals have been donated into the community. Donations include: Unserved perishable prepared foods from events Perishable unprepared food from MGM Resorts’ kitchens Nonperishable food items from minibars and warehouses The collaboration with Southern Nevada’s primary food bank, Three Square, has developed the infrastructure needed to safely collect, transport, and store food from MGM Resorts properties in Las Vegas, reducing food waste while serving the community. Fostering Diversity and Inclusion To MGM Resorts, a diverse and talented workforce is essential to success. By cultivating innovative strategies that consider multiple perspectives and viewpoints, the company creates an inclusive workplace culture that benefits its employees and community. MGM Resorts takes pride in being a welcoming home for veterans, individuals with disabilities, people from diverse backgrounds, LGBTQ+ community members, and more. This commitment to inclusion is reflected in the company's recruitment and hiring practices and its social responsibility initiatives. From the workplace to the community, MGM Resorts' commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion remains unwavering, and its efforts continue to create a more equitable and sustainable world for all. MGM Resorts understands its responsibility to contribute to the social and economic progress of the communities in which it operates. HERE, we embrace humanity.