How to Plan Sustainable Corporate Events
Office parties are definitely a thing. So let’s go beyond the same old food and drink, releasing balloons (which harm wildlife and marine creatures) and plastic rubbish. Its’ also good marketing for your business to be seen to be ticking green boxes.
How We Gather Matters is packed with stories and case studies from major festivals around the world, this is required reading for anyone in the events industry. Leor Rotchild is a pioneer in the sustainable events industry and founder of DIG (Do It Green) which supports major festivals and events. He is also Executive Director of Canadian Business for Social Responsibility.
Read up on food safety for people & pets. If animals are nearby, know unsafe flowers and mulches to avoid using. And read up on Christmas pet safety. Never face indoor foliage to gardens, to help stop birds flying into windows.
Pick a Venue with Green Values
The right venue is the backbone of any corporate event, especially when your goal is to tread lighter on the planet. Not all venues are created equal. Look for places with strong recycling systems in place, and use energy-saving lights and solar panels, along with smart heating/cooling systems.
Try also to find places that offer reusable supplies and a sink, rather than doling out single-use plastic or paper items. It will save you money too.
Send Paperless Invites and Materials
Traditional paper invites are easy to skip without losing any style or meaning. By switching to digital invites, you save on paper, postage, and logistics. Avoid sending plantable invites to homes with pets, as many wildflowers are not safe near animal friends.
When sending out any invite, add a line about what you’re doing to keep the event eco-friendly. This gets everyone thinking about their own choices too.
Plan for a Zero Waste Event
Nobody likes to see piles of rubbish after a busy event day. Early planning cuts this down to almost nothing. Start with a few small swaps and grow from there.
- Use reusable name badges. Ask guests to hand them back at the end, or set up a return station.
- Offer water stations with glasses or refillable bottles instead of giving out single-use plastic bottles. If you’re ordering catering, ask for pitchers and crockery, not plastic kits.
- Set up clear waste sorting points. Signs make it obvious what goes where, so people don’t stand around guessing and mixing things up.
- Skip goodie bags unless they offer something useful and plastic-free. If you include gifts, keep them practical – like a reusable cutlery set – rather than promotional pens or mugs.
Opt for Plant-Based and Organic Menus
Choosing the right menu is a powerful move. Plant-based, local, and organic options have a lighter impact on the planet, and most teams appreciate fresh and flavourful food.
- Feature seasonal vegetables and fruits. Local produce looks and tastes better, and it doesn’t travel far to reach your event. Ask caterers what’s in season locally and build the menu around those options.
- Include plenty of plant-based dishes. Hearty salads, grain bowls, roasted veggies, or lentil-based options can please most palates and fit a range of diets. Create a vegan board!
- Prioritise organic snacks and drinks. Organic farming skips harsh synthetic chemicals, which helps keep soil, water, and wildlife healthy.
- Go for minimal packaging. Ask your caterer to skip single-use wrappers and containers whenever possible. Serve buffet-style, or use platters and reusable serving bowls instead of lots of little packets.
- Consider food sensitivities and inclusivity. Plant-based menus naturally suit vegan and dairy-free guests and often cover common allergies.
The Goodness Project offers corporate hampers including vegan wines, beers and chocolates, in sustainable packaging. All year-round, supermarkets and other shops have shelves adorned with the big brand chocolate boxes, from Terry’s to Milk Tray to Roses and Ferrero Rocher.
But in fact, there are much nicer plant-based chocolate box selections around, here are better brands (most plastic insert trays can be recycled at kerbside, check with your council). Keep chocolate and nuts away from pets. Use a letterbox guard for online orders.
Luxury Vegan Chocolate Boxes from Norfolk
Booja Booja offers luxury expensive chocolate boxes, made in Norfolk. You can often find these in health shops, farm shops and upmarket supermarkets like Booths.
Choose from many flavours including a seasonal winter selection. Flavours include Hazelnut Crunch, Midnight Espresso, almond salted caramel, cherry cognac, cherry Bakewell and Yuletide spice.
Avoid Balloons, Fireworks, and Loud Noises
Balloons seem innocent, but once released or even when tossed away, they can cause serious problems. Animals and marine creatures can mistake balloon pieces for food, which can lead to choking or blocking their stomachs. Even so-called “biodegradable” balloons stick around much longer than you’d think.
Read our post on fun balloon alternatives, like recycled paper garlands.
Fireworks don’t just light up the sky, they fill the air with smoke and chemicals. The leftover debris often lands where birds and pets live. Plus, the loud bangs can stress not only local wildlife but also young children and anyone who finds sudden noise hard to handle.
Repeated exposure to loud sounds from speakers, airhorns, or even live performances can harm hearing, raise stress levels and disrupt animal routines nearby. Loud, echoing events sometimes stick out for all the wrong reasons. Swap booming sound systems for live acoustic sets or smaller musical acts.
