As part of its customer events
programme, Workspace Group PLC wanted to bring together thought leaders and
industry shapers to discuss key issues facing London’s SMEs today. Workspace
Group events manager, Stacy Lyden-Sauppe shares each step of making the event
as eco-friendly as possible…
Our latest instalment of
London’s Brightest Businesses Breakfast series was hosted by TV presenter and
journalist Ben Fogle at The Old Dairy in Shoreditch.
Every aspect of the event
needed to be delivered as sustainably as possible due to the nature of the
topic. We were discussing how London’s small businesses were making a big
sustainable impact and therefore every element of the event needed to be
considered.
We started with the most
obvious - the food and drinks. Working with Cura Catering & Events, we
delivered a hyper-local, organic spread with seasonality and provenance in
mind. All suppliers were checked with the highest levels of welfare and
traceability. Wherever possible, food was served on reusable service ware, and
where single-use was necessary, these items were sourced from Decent Packaging,
100 per cent plant-based and fully compostable.
Our staging and backdrop were hired
to complete the space. As we were using an empty office unit which was due to
be let the following week. All AV and staging were temporary, but we ensured it
would have a second life post-event. We worked with AP Events to source carpet,
staging and flats, all of which could be used again.
The printed PVC backdrop was
created by Vuflux who works with a plastic recycling company to ensure full
recyclability. The backdrop will be reformed into second-life products such as
traffic cones, road barriers and even yurts.
Rather than offering guests
goody bags and takeaway items, that they may or may not use post-event, we
opted to display sustainable products from companies working within Workspace
(including natural and reusable deodorant, carbon-negative beer, and Dock &
Bay products) as optional takeaways. All products which were not taken by
guests will be used in future events.
Finally, the space design and
decor were provided by Workspace customer Muddy Trowel and included live
foliage which will be planted around our Workspaces post-event. A chalkboard
and reusable signage were used wherever possible and where printed signage was
necessary, we used 100 per cent recycled paper.
The most sustainable event
would be hosted virtually or not at all but in an industry where mass public
gatherings are rarely optional, it takes us all to do our part to deliver
briefs in the most sustainable way possible.
We will never achieve
perfection and there will always be ways we can improve our environmental
impact and footprint. But if 100 per cent of us aim to deliver 10 per cent more
sustainable events, we will make a huge impact.
