Congratulations on taking the first step on the road to sustainable event management. We’ve put together a program to help you tackle sustainability in easy steps.
The Venue Sustainability Roadmap helps venue operators to navigate their way to sustainable venue operations. Event producers are expecting venues they choose to have their house in order. Follow the roadmap and get ready to get sustainable.
1. Get the go-ahead to get sustainable
Commitment from top management is needed to implement the modifications required to green up your venue. The venue team also need to be engaged and committed as they will be assisting with the operational management of you achieving your plans.
2. Get the knowledge and skills you need
The team will need to gain skills, knowledge and training in sustainability in order to effectively make changes in the venue and to ensure ongoing operation of new systems. This knowledge gap can be filled through DIY learning, professional development training or engaging a consultant or dedicated staff member.
3. Uncover your issues & take action
The next step is to diagnose the sustainability issues within your venue which require attention. This can be infrastructural, equipment based or operational systems. You’ll also establish measurement and reporting systems. Use the Venue Checklist to help uncover your issues! Also look at the SEA’s How to Guides which provide additional information which may assist in your sustainability journey. We will also be building more resources such as a venue walk through and action list. You may also find the VENUE LISTING FORM which you fill out for listing in the s.Venue Finder useful as a guide to what we are looking for.
4. Write up your policies, procedures and objectives
Now you have the commitment from top management, the team are engaged, you understand your issues and have implemented the required changes into the venue, now it’s time to formalise your intent and write a Sustainability Policy for the venue. You may also choose write to a separate Sustainable Procurement Policy and procedure manuals. Your policy will include broad objectives.
5. Systems and Targets
Now we get specific. This is the step where you will establish baselines or benchmarks, measuring ‘business as usual’ impacts such as energy and waste. These will form part of your key sustainability indicators – the aspects against which you can measure your performance. You may need to write new procedural manuals or change existing manuals to incorporate these new systems.
6. Implement learning’s into everyday operations
Once you have made any infrastructural, equipment, operational and systems changes, and updated your procedural manuals to suit, you will then need to communicate these changes to venue staff. Having operational staff participating in effective running of systems is paramount and you may need to include include training, team meetings, inductions or performance incentives.
7. Measurement of performance
Here you will measure performance against set objectives and performance indicators. It is likely that venue hirers will require impacts measurements, such as energy and waste, and your new systems will allow you to let individual users know their event impacts.
8. Disclosure of sustainable practises and performance
Communication of your sustainable practices and performance is an essential step. Announce to clients, stakeholders and other interested parties that you are a sustainable venue! You should also produce a report which includes metrics as well as narrative or descriptive analysis on your approach to managing certain issues.
9. Ongoing measurement and continual improvement
Be prepared to make efforts to continually improve your performance. Look for innovations in technology, systems, materials and infrastructure. Set targets for continued reductions, as well as improved engagement and participation by staff and venue users/hirers.
10. Get listed
Once you have your house in order, submit your venue for listing in the s.Venue Finder. Use the venue database submission form here to apply for a listing.
11. Use the SEA logo
Once you have joined the SEA, agreed to our membership charter, listed your venue, and have provided information on the sustainability credentials of your venue, you will be permitted to use SEA endorsed supplier logo in association with your venue. This logo is an acknowledgment of your your commitment to improved sustainability performance.
