Sustainability is on everyone’s lips, and the events industry is also focusing on resource-efficient event management. Green events and green meetings are just two terms that stand for taking climate-friendly and social aspects into account from the planning stage right through to implementation. You can find out more about this complex topic in the fiylo event encyclopaedia.
What is a ‘green event’?
In the events industry, a green event refers to an event that is designed and implemented with various climate-friendly aspects in mind.
The sustainable orientation of the event takes not only ecological factors into account, but also social and economic aspects in its planning and execution. In the conference industry, the term green meetings is more commonly used for a wide variety of business events.
Green events in German-speaking countries
Although the term is used internationally, there are currently no binding and uniform guidelines. In Austria, event organisers have been able to obtain the eco-label for their events since 2012 if they meet the requirements. Since 2014, it has also been possible to obtain certification for green locations.
In Switzerland, the ‘Swisstainable’ sustainability programme was launched in 2023 to provide guidance to event organisers. Participating venues are divided into three categories (Level 1 – committed, Level 2 – engaged, Level 3 – leading), regardless of their existing sustainability certifications. This ensures that all efforts towards sustainability are recognised.
In Germany, there are various guidelines at the state level. For example, event organisers in Baden-Württemberg have the option of having their event ‘recognised’ as a green event if they meet the local requirements.
Back in 2012, the German Convention Bureau e.V. (GCB) and the European Association of Event Centres e.V. (EVVC) launched ‘fairpflichtet’, a Germany-wide sustainability code for the event industry. Derived from the UN Global Compact, it offers ten guidelines and concrete principles to provide all stakeholders involved in events and meetings with guidance on how to implement them in a more inclusive and resource-efficient manner.
Berlin has joined the Global Destination Sustainability Movement in order to position itself as a particularly innovative and sustainable destination for conferences and congresses. To this end, visitBerlin’s Berlin Convention Office has created ‘Sustainable Meetings Berlin’, an initiative for sustainability in the MICE metropolis, in which providers from the event industry can be certified as ‘Sustainable Partners’ in various categories in accordance with the guidelines. You can find providers of sustainable events in the capital at a glance at fiylo: Sustainable event partners in Berlin.
Measures for implementing sustainable events and meetings
In order to conserve resources significantly, when planning green events, it is important to consider climate-friendly travel and accommodation options for guests and service providers. This is followed by the selection of sustainably designed venues (short distances, green electricity, etc.) and event partners (catering, technology, etc.). Valuable resources can be saved by using service providers and products from the respective region.
The German Federal Environment Agency provides guidelines, checklists and tools such as the CO2 calculator to promote sustainable events. See: https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/nachhaltige-veranstaltungen
