Events Guide
The Blue Events Guide is a universal guide for producing conferences, corporate events, brand activations, retreats, private events, festivals and community gatherings.
Oceanic Global believes knowledge should be open-source. This is a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to implement sustainable best practices in the events industry, with a strong focus on reducing single-use plastics and optimizing waste management. Oceanic Global sees tackling plastic and waste within your business as a gateway to take further action. Producing a sustainable event has its challenges, but with Blue and a little creativity it is possible! Join Blue in setting a new sustainability standard in event production.
How to Use This Guide
This guide starts by outlining a checklist of single-use plastic items commonly used in the event industry. The guide highlights traditionally used harmful single-use plastic items and identifies operational recommendations and solutions that can be implemented for events of all types and sizes. Recommendations include pre-event planning, day-of and post production. The Post-Event Review section at the end of this guide provides further information on how to collect data and measure success during the planning, execution, and recap of the event.
This event guide also highlights Blue Actions that provide solutions beyond single-use plastics. Blue Actions range from choosing non-toxic products, sustainable decorations, structural and production elements, sourcing local and plant-based food, renewable energy, responsible travel and offsetting your event. This resource also provides recommendations to work with the vendors, suppliers, sponsors and partners involved in your activation. Resources integrated throughout the guide include case studies, callouts, did-you-know features (facts and relevant policy updates), and transparency around potential greenwashing.
For businesses that choose to pursue Blue Verification, this guide outlines detailed criteria and associated recommendations to become Blue Verified.
The Power of Industry to Drive Change
The events industry is highly consumer-facing and plays a significant role in influencing the lifestyle behaviors of attendees and organizers. As most events require a temporary production, they tend to be highly wasteful and by implementing Blue, your event has the potential to lower your environmental footprint and inspire best practices in your community to drive a ripple effect of positive change.
This free industry guide was created by Oceanic Global.
© Oceanic Global Blue Standard 2021