Green events. Why the Ukrainian event industry ignores global trends of sustainability?

The іmplementation of the principles of sustainabilе development into the activities of business world, into the culture and life of society – is no longer a PR story of big business with a main point to increase the value of the company’s shares. And it is no longer the speech of scientists from distant USA. It’s a global movement of the states, businesses, world organisations, scientists, ordinary people for saving and improving life on planet Earth.

The industry of events among all industries both in Ukraine and in the world occupies environmental impact with its annual volume of $ 1,1 billion according to Allied Market Research. Thousands of public events, hundreds of thousands of business and corporate events, exhibitions, sport events, entertaining big and small events – as a result around the world -these are multi-million events, which consume millions of kWh of energy and after which there are tons of garbage, especially plastic.

For more than 10 years global event industry puts sustainable system implementation in event industries first among priorities of development. In USA and Europe the percentage of Green Events is increasing every year.
For instance, the festival organizers monitor generator load, use sunny generators, biofuel or hybrid technology that helps to decrease the using of fossil fuel, expenses and associated emissions.

Almost 100% of events use separate garbage collecting system. Undoubtedly, it’s not the organizer’s merit. The matter is that event organisers have to follow the law according to the garbage sorting is a must. The point about garbage sorting – is only a part of all eco-activations, which are used in event organisation.

Unfortunately, we do not have all-Ukrainian statistics, but for example in our agency for 2019 the number of requests for green events or implementation of “green solutions” has doubled compared to 2018, it is about 5% of all events that we organize. But, these are tiny numbers for such a big market as Ukraine. We all know what kind of environmental problem we live in and how important it is to be treated with care in all possible directions.

In my opinion, there are two main stereotypes that exist in the Ukrainian event industry and hamper the development of mass use of green technologies for the organization of any event.
1. Green events are big money
2. Green events are complicated.

The first stereotype is easy to cope with. For example, Ukraine does not have yet a centralized garbage collection system, but there are many companies that collect separate garbage and the cost of these services is not space, as it was 5 years ago.
For example, the cost of separate garbage collection is somewhere around 15% higher than the cost of non-separated garbage collection. Using organic products from farmers for catering is about 20% of the difference. But this is not a problem either, because it is possible to plan an event and budget in such a way that the use of green technologies will not have a critical impact on the budget. It is always possible to find more affordable alternatives for other ” non-ecological components “.

But by the second stereotype, it’s much more complicated. However paradoxical it sounds, the Ukrainians are mostly still a conservative nation, which is hard enough and slowly changes its attitude to everything unusual and new, and swings very long to change something.

But I would like to note that eco-activities are no longer complex hydraulic machines, but are simple enough to implement and useful in terms of respect for the environment:
1. Separate garbage collection. In all major cities of Ukraine there are companies that collect and recycle separate garbage.
2. Paperless information materials. Replacement of paper printing with digital materials (flash cards, applications, web storage, etc.). For example, it is very easy now to make QR codes and lay out the materials in digital format so that participants and guests can download them directly at the event.
3. Information paper materials made from recycled materials. So, if it is critical for your guests to have materials in paper form, make them from eco-materials.
4. LED badges with electronic names of the event participants instead of plastic and paper materials
5. Digital room decoration
– Projections of conceptual solutions of the event on walls, ceiling, floors
– Light photo zones
– Interactive walls
– Digital decor of the main stage and the program of the event
6. Floristic decor of dry flowers or eco-artificial instead of rubber balls. There are already many solutions with such flowers. Even professionals find it difficult to distinguish from natural flowers. It is not only much more elegant, but you can then decorate your company premises with these flowers, or use them for other events.
7. Live flowers, trees, trees in pots with ground for decoration, which can be planted in the park, in the woods or on a farm in the garden instead of flowers that fall into the garbage immediately after the event.
8. Eco-products from farmers for the delicious part of the event. This is not only about caring for the health of your guests, but also about the opportunity to develop the farmers’ movement in Ukraine.
9. Eco dishes made of natural materials for summer and open air events.
10. Dispensers for water from glass or paper dishes instead of plastic bottles. Almost zero waste.
11. Economical LED lamps for light photo-zones, digital decoration. Such bulbs “eat” much less electricity.
12. Solar mobile batteries/lamps for evening lighting, mobile phone charging stations. Well suited for open-air events.
13. Involving participants and guests in promoting the “green movement”. Make “sustainability” a part of your concept and communication with guests, for example:
a. Turn off all lights and equipment for 1 minute to save power. You will be surprised when you calculate the benefits of this minute activity
b. organize a fundraising/lottery for a Ukrainian local environmental initiative, one of the lots could be potted flowers decorating the event, for example
c. Invite participants to come with their cups/bottles of coffee/water and reward them with additional delicacies or gifts.

These are just examples of small steps that can help develop a culture of caring for people and the environment. And there are already many more solutions. Small steps are the beginning of a long journey. And we know how the “big way” can change the life of society from our own experience.

Author: Ivan Khorosh, Owner and Founder Bee Bee Event Agency
Specially for “Novoe Vremya”. Link to the article

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