Many people already take the topic of sustainability for granted when planning meetings and events. Our environment benefits from this and so does society. At the same time, costs can be saved in many areas. Sustainability does not only mean to consider the ecological effects of one's own actions, but also to pay attention to social aspects, such as fair working conditions, inclusion and gender equality, and to bring this in line with justifiable economic aspects. It is time for change and innovative ideas - and who is more predestined for this than the event industry! We have summarized central fields of action, which will give ideas for a more sustainable event organization.
Most importantly, waste should be avoided wherever it is possible. This means questioning packaging and printed products and considering the reuse of materials. For the correct disposing of waste, the Waste Management Company of the city of Nuremberg gives clear regulations.
Eliminate disposable tableware and plastic. Also, provide reusable containers so participants can pack up leftovers and take them with them.
Reduce electricity and heat consumption for heating, cooking, cooling, and lighting as much as possible. Vacant rooms do not need to be heated, otherwise, a room temperature of 20 to 21 degrees is sufficient, and in hallways, it can be less. Make sure to use energy-efficient appliances (Label of "Blauer Engel", Eco-Label, etc.) and switch to LEDs for lighting. It may be worthwhile to involve an energy consultant.
Green electricity can reduce a significant part of the CO2 emissions caused. Thus, electricity consumption that cannot be reduced does the least harm to the environment.
The design of logistics is of key importance at an event. Make sure to work with local service providers and use low-emission vehicles such as cargo bikes or electric cars. Especially for transporting products to and from the event, such as booths, tables, advertising, and food, this can help protect the environment and strengthen local vendors.
Monitoring consumption is important to make success measurable and to identify potential savings. The actual consumption during the event, which could not be reduced, can be compensated by CO2-offsetting. Make sure to select trustworthy projects or support institutions nearby.
Travel to and from events is responsible for the largest proportion of CO2 emissions and therefore represents the greatest lever for savings. Encourage your event participants to travel by train. The Deutsche Bahn offers an event ticket (https://www.bahn.de/bahnbusiness/tickets-und-angebote/business-tarife/veranstaltungsticket) that allows participants to travel to and from the event at a low cost. Other incentives can also motivate participants to avoid traveling by car. Think about a competition about the longest journey by train or a fundraising campaign linked to the total number of train kilometres.
For transportation within Nuremberg and the surrounding area, you can check whether the VGN Kombi-Ticket is an option for you. This includes the free use of public transport in the event ticket. If the event takes place at different locations, offer a bus that takes the participants to the next location to reduce individual traffic.
When choosing your catering, make sure to offer vegetarian and vegan options. You may even be able to provide a completely vegetarian meal. If the food tastes good and you communicate your motives for the menu selection accordingly, hardly anyone will miss meat. It avoids animal suffering and counteracts the high CO2 emissions associated with meat production. The proportion of organic food and seasonal products from the region should also be as high as possible. Especially the "Knoblauchsland" around Nuremberg - one of the largest vegetable growing areas in Germany - offers the best conditions for this. Products from more distant regions should be fair trade, if possible.
The quality of drinking water in Nuremberg is very high, so it makes sense to offer tap water in carafes. In terms of taste and appearance, it can be enhanced with lemon or cucumber slices, mint, or other herbs.
How much leftover food was generated at your last event? Always question how much is actually necessary and make sure to plan according to needs. To do this, you can ask for food requests in advance and, if necessary, reduce the amount ordered from the caterer, which also has a positive effect at the financial level.
Offer the possibility to take leftovers home. Your participants will be happy to have a snack for the ride and you will have less effort for disposal. You can provide snack bags for this purpose or indicate in advance to bring reusable boxes. If you're a business that regularly has leftover food, consider joining "Too Good To Go" for your business. Through the app, customers can buy leftover food for a small price and save it from going to waste.
Trustworthy environmental labels include the "Blauer Engel", the European Eco-label, Fair Trade seals, or energy-saving labels.
Rollups and decorative items do not have to be disposable products. Refrain from printing a specific date and check if reuse is possible.
Question what you need for welcome bags, what has added value for participants, and how you can make the products more sustainable. For example, look for certifications and regionality. With a reusable box as a giveaway, for example, you can reach two goals with one measure.
Accessibility has many facets and plays a central role in terms of social sustainability. When measures are taken to improve accessibility, it is usually not only people who depend on it who benefit. Consider wheelchair accessibility (no steps, accessibility of the stage, wheelchair-accessible toilet facilities, and wide passages), but also accessibility of documents (e.g. easy language) and measures for people with visual or hearing impairments. Under the following link, you will find a checklist for more accessibility at events: Checklist for more accessibility at events
You can look out for the "Reisen für Alle" label on suppliers and service providers, especially on locations. The label stands for transparency and reliability in terms of accessibility, because detailed and reliable information about the usability and experienceability of offers is essential as a basis for decision-making for participants. You can find certified businesses in Nuremberg under the following link: https://tourismus.nuernberg.de/en/information/travel-for-all/
Make sure your language is gender-appropriate so as not to exclude anyone. Also, when it comes to speakers, make sure that genders are represented in a balanced way.
In times of a shortage of skilled workers, it is more important than ever to attach importance to the satisfaction of your own employees. Therefore, pay attention to fair working conditions and the health of employees. Also, check the working conditions of suppliers and service providers to avoid working with exploitative companies.
Give something back to the local community through your event. Events are the ideal setting to generate support for social projects. In Nuremberg, there are numerous institutions that are socially committed, such as the initiatives of Noris Inklusion or Bluepingu e.V.
Sustainability is something that cannot be implemented by one person alone. The topic must be thought of holistically and supported by all stakeholders in the organization. Therefore, sensitize your employees to more sustainable behavior, for questioning things, and for contributing their own ideas.
Do good and talk about it. It is important to present what measures you are implementing to make your event more sustainable. By doing so, you show responsibility and create a good feeling among your participants - a real added value. You also create awareness and acceptance for possible changes. Sustainability communication must not be greenwashing. It is important to transparently present what you are already doing, where you want to develop, and where challenges currently still exist. This is how you achieve credibility and trust.
What effect do your measures have on the environment? Numerous online tools help you measure the carbon footprint of your event. The German Federal Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt) offers a free calculation platform for this purpose. This allows you to see what impact your event has on the climate and measure yourself against it. Another free tool isGET, through which you can check the sustainability of your event. Think about also creating a sustainability report to transparently communicate your commitment.
Ergänzen Sie das Rahmenprogramm Ihrer Veranstaltung durch eine Zusammenarbeit mit Initiativen und Projekten aus Nürnberg. Je nach Ausrichtung kommen beispielsweise Corporate-Volunteering-Aktionen, die Unterstützung sozialer oder ökologischer Projekte sowie Stadtführungen zu Themen wie Stadtökologie, Klimaanpassung oder gesellschaftlichem Engagement infrage.
The “Einmal ohne, bitte” label and the corresponding sticker displayed at shop entrances, bakery, cheese counter and butcher’s counters, as well as in restaurants, supermarkets and many other stores, point customers towards packaging-free shopping options. An interactive map on the website provides information about all participating businesses.
The “Zero Waste Helden” project explains how waste can be avoided and reduced in everyday life. It presents practical options for waste prevention, reuse and reusable systems, along with concrete tips for putting them into practice. In this way, the project supports the long-term goal of significantly reducing the amount of waste generated in the city.
Refill Deutschland is a network of refill stations. At participating locations, visitors can refill their own drinking containers with tap water free of charge. This allows them to avoid buying water in single-use plastic bottles and helps reduce plastic waste. A sticker on the door or at the entrance identifies participating businesses.
“Too Good To Go” has created a marketplace for surplus food. Through the app, users can purchase surprise bags containing unsold but still edible food at a reduced price. This gives food that might otherwise have been discarded a second chance.
The “beach cleaner” initiative provides information on ways to reduce the use of single-use plastic and the amount of plastic waste generated. It highlights practical alternatives for everyday life and organises clean-up events at beaches and other public places.
The open innovation laboratory JOSEPHS presents products and services from various companies that are still in the testing phase. Visitors can try them out and provide feedback free of charge. Through its co-creation approach, JOSEPHS actively involves interested members of the public in the development process and helps turn concrete ideas and suggestions into improvements.
Nuremberg has been active as an “Organic City” since 2003. The city supports projects that promote organic farming, raises the profile of regional organic products and provides information about organic food and sustainable agriculture. Educational programmes for schools explain how organic farming works and how organic products can be identified.
Since 2010, Nuremberg has been committed to fair trade through the “Fairtrade Town” initiative. This includes supporting local initiatives, providing information and increasing the visibility of fairly traded products. The shopping guide provides information about suitable shops and products.
Since 2009, Bluepingu e. V. has been implementing socio-ecological projects in public spaces across Franconia. The association provides information about waste prevention, resource use and other ways of making everyday life more resource-efficient. Its projects include activities to green and revitalise urban spaces. The initiative involves local residents and supports activities that improve the quality of public spaces and urban life.
The “Türen öffnen” project creates opportunities for encounters and cooperation with social initiatives in Nuremberg. Visitors can take part in workshops, get to know local projects and participate in selected activities. The programmes address topics including social participation, integration and civic engagement. They are aligned with the relevant Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, particularly the SDGs specifically referenced in each programme.
Der „Weltacker“ ist ein Bildungsprojekt, welches sich mit der globalen Ackerfläche in Relation zur Gesamtbevölkerung beschäftigt. Daraus ergibt sich eine Fläche von 2.000 Quadratmetern, die jeder Mensch theoretisch zur Verfügung hat, um anzupflanzen, was ihn ernährt und versorgt. Der „Acker“ bietet eine Plattform mit kulturellen und interaktiven Lerninhalten, die zur Auseinandersetzung mit den Themen Klima, Umwelt, Gesundheit, gerechte Verteilung sowie nachhaltiger Konsum und Produktion einlädt.
Here you will find further links and guides that can support you in planning and implementing your event:
