Waste Management Policy Development for Events

Using a “start from where you are” approach as a leverage point for change: Any event, board meeting, workshop, group activity is an opportunity to showcase a shift in environmental practices, especially those with large numbers of attendees. For instance, a zero waste event can serve as a powerful platform for promoting environmental behavior change and raising awareness about the importance of adopting new behaviors. Use the activity to set a precedent for your company/school/government agency/organization and showcase your willingness to make a difference! For instance, practical steps to organize a zero waste event: 1. Set Clear Goals: Define specific and achievable zero waste goals for your event. Aim to minimize (or eliminate!) waste sent to landfills and maximize reuse, composting, and recycling. 2. Engage Stakeholders: Involve event organizers, vendors, sponsors, and attendees in the zero waste initiative. Use it as a way to build local relationships with businesses aligned with your values and/or get businesses you already work with on board to embrace sustainable practices and zero waste goals. Provide vendors with guidelines & support on waste reduction. 3. Waste Assessment: Conduct a waste assessment to identify the types & quantities of waste typically generated at similar events. This analysis is for tailoring your zero waste strategy. 4. Waste Reduction Strategy: Develop a comprehensive waste reduction strategy. Focus on reducing/eliminating single-use items and promoting reusable alternatives. 5. Recycling and Composting Stations: Set up clearly labeled reuse, recycling and composting stations throughout the event area. Make it easy (and fun!) for attendees to sort their waste properly. 6. Educational Signage and Outreach: Place educational signage throughout the event (learning opportunity!), explaining the zero waste initiative and guiding attendees on how to participate actively. 7. Volunteer Training: Train volunteers to assist attendees at waste stations. Watching others demonstrate and seeing others engaged in waste brings other people onboard 8. Collaborate with Local Waste Management: Work with local waste management companies to make a plan for waste diversion. 9. Post-Event Evaluation: Assess the success of the zero waste initiative. Analyze waste diversion rates, collect feedback from attendees and vendors, and identify areas for improvement. 10. Publicize Success Stories: Share achievements and positive outcomes of the zero waste event with the community and stakeholders. Celebrate your collective effort towards sustainability! 11. Continued Engagement: Encourage ongoing environmental practices beyond the event. Provide resources, tips, and educational materials to help attendees adopt sustainable practices in their daily lives. *Reach out if you have questions! #waste #ecoconscious #zerowaste #ecoliteracy #sustainabilityleadership #behaviorchange #environmentaleducation #sustainablebusiness

What do conference dinners and sustainability have in common? Imagine this: You're at a wedding reception, enjoying lively conversations as the main course wraps up. Then, The waitstaff arrives, balancing large trays of desserts. Everyone gets served simultaneously, and the trays disappear as quickly as they arrive. Efficient, right? But then you notice a familiar scene: untouched slices of cake, forgotten puddings, and a growing pile of waste. This isn’t just a wedding problem; it’s a sustainability challenge. In scenarios like these, Lean Six Sigma principles can help. By focusing on the entire lifecycle planning, forecasting, and execution we can turn these moments of excess into opportunities for smarter, more thoughtful processes. For example: -Forecasting attendance accurately could help caterers prepare the right amount of food. -Data analytics could reveal how many guests want dessert, avoiding unnecessary waste. -Applying a Just-in-Time (JIT) delivery system ensures desserts are served only when needed, improving quality and reducing waste. Beyond logistics, sustainability extends to choosing locally sourced ingredients to reduce transport emissions and engaging attendees in waste education initiatives. Imagine volunteers sharing how small changes like composting leftover food impact the environment and economy. The real lesson? It’s not just about better forecasting or logistics. Sustainability thrives on creating a culture of respect, humility, and continuous improvement. These ideas, inspired by the Toyota Production System, remind us to focus on people, not just processes. Here's a thought: Next time you plan an event, could you reimagine the experience to reduce waste and foster sustainability? Small steps lead to significant changes when we think holistically. What’s one sustainability practice you’ve seen at events that left a lasting impression?

18-20% is the average food waste at events globally. Here’s why: Food is a large part of any event experience. Over 60% organisers say that 40% of an event’s feedback is based on food. ( and I was thinking that’s just an India thing 🫣!) Hence a lot of focus on getting that right. Enter #FORO - fear of running out. An event organizers worst nightmare. And a PR catastrophe. To avoid that kitchens/ event caterers factor in an additional 10% on an average. For a 1000 people event which serves 3 meals and 20-25 options per meal, do the math! That’s a lot of extra food going directly to the bin 🗑️! This is real. Happens all the time and comes with huge carbon footprints. Yet can easily be managed and here’s how we suggest: 🍴Involve delegates from the onset. Tell them we are looking to minimise waste and ask them to share their dietary preferences so we can estimate better. Get the numbers right and make them a part of the goal. 🍴Design menus using local and seasonal ingredients. Work with the chef to create menus that’s are wholesome, great tasting yet low on footprints. Delegates don’t care where it comes from, as long as it tastes awesome. Including some ‘root to tip’ recipes would be a bonus ! 🤩 🍴Plan to manage excess food. Have a plan to manage the extra food - tie up with local services who are happy to have it collected and distributed. 🍴Share. Share. Share. Get every delegate invested in the cause- share why we are doing this , what did we do and what was the impact. Make them feel very good about the little choices they made and the big impact it had. Small steps. Completely doable. Huge impact. Good for the brand, people and the planet. So what are we waiting for? 🤷♀️😊 ************** At #RedBlue we reimagine events as they can be. We don’t do what’s easy, but what’s necessary backed by data and intent and most importantly your support! ❤️