You want to plan a team event and consider the impact on the environment? We explain to you what you should pay attention to when planning and how team development and sustainability can be combined.
“Green events” is an ever-growing trend. Employees are now actively demanding that environmental factors be taken into account in all corporate decisions and processes. This also applies to team events. Events with a good conscience sound good, but how does that work?
What does sustainability actually mean in the event sector?
In general, we hear the term sustainability more often than ever in our everyday lives. In view of climate change and our personal responsibility towards our planet, we always have more and more possibilities to behave more environmentally conscious. Be it in the household, in our nutrition or in our mobility – we are constantly challenged to evaluate and optimize our behavior. But also in the event industry, the term sustainability is indispensable. From event conceptualization to planning, execution and follow-up, there are countless easy-to-implement methods we can use to make events greener. But even when we attend events as guests, we should reflect on the ecological footprint we leave behind. The three pillars play a role here people, planet, profit a very important role:
- People: How fairly and socially are the people (employees, service providers, etc.) of an organization treated?
- Planet: What consequences does the event have for our nature?
- Profit: What kind of economic impact does the respective company have?
Why should companies opt for sustainable team events in the future?
The growing awareness of sustainability among employees means that companies are expected to take this factor into account as a matter of principle. More and more employees find it important that their employers represent environmentally conscious values and organize sustainable team events accordingly. Even job applicants nowadays look for their companies under consideration of the CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) strategy. In view of our future, sustainable team events will become more and more essential. Sustainability makes offered formats future-proof and offers them many new possibilities and opportunities. As a result, the industry will become even more diverse and colorful.
- Digital team events
The best proof of this is the boom in digital events. Over the last two years, the range of digital team building activities has increased rapidly. Teams can avoid long journeys and arrange to meet virtually. The team feeling can be strengthened in different ways, for example through online Wine Tastings, Escape Rooms or even online Christmas party.
- Physical team events
But also for physical team events, there are more and more offers for how teams can have a great time in harmony with people and nature. For example, at the Sheep herding the event demonstrates how well teams can work together in exceptional situations, even in nature. At CSR events like Alp activation, teams learn new skills and actively protect the environment at the same time. In addition, at the team event, groups can Helping Hands practice their precision skills together and build prostheses for a good cause for people in need.
Step by step to a sustainable team event:
In the section below, we give you easy-to-implement tips on how you can pay attention to sustainability when choosing your team events in the future:
- Define the goal of the team event
- As both planners and participants, ask yourself what you want to achieve with the event. Do you want to do something good? Do you want to actively do something social?
- Plan mobility sensibly
Traffic-related environmental pollution can be reduced by simple tricks:-
- Ensure short travel distances
- Form community driving groups
- Resort to public transport
- Consider virtual events
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- Prefer local and small service providers
Can you find suitable providers in your immediate vicinity? This would not only shorten your journey, but also support the local economy. - Seasonal, organic products
Does your supplier offer specific products? If so, ask yourself if these products are seasonal, organic and local. - Resource consumption
To avoid wasting resources, choose team events that do not generate unnecessary waste (packaging materials, plastic, etc.). If virtual team events send packages to you, consider sending all packages to one address.
Lea Schmidt | Customer Relations Manager at GREWP