What are green events?

Green events are events with little or no environmental impact. A key component is reducing the natural resources used at the event, such as water, food, energy, and waste [1]. The inclusion of green thinking in the organisation of events began at the 1992 Rio de Janeiro conference, when it was noted that events also have negative effects. This, together with Agenda 21, provided the basis for innovative ideas in event planning, also launching the organisation of green events [2].

 

Organising a green event starts with determining the number of participants. Then, you have to choose a suitable place that the participants could arrive at comfortably either by public transport, on foot, or by bicycle. Information materials should be distributed in digital form, avoiding the use of paper, and waste sorting should be organised on site [1]. Reusable, cardboard, or wooden tableware should be used in catering and the use of plastics should be avoided.

 

A number of major green events take place around the world, such as the Green Festivals in the US since 2002, which aimed to avoid waste, bringing together more than a million participants [3]. In Estonia, for example, the Viljandi Folk Music Festival has become a green event, ensuring collection of waste by type, reuse of materials, etc. [4]. There are also a number of communal nature campaigns organised with low resources and promoting natural values.

 

A communal nature campaign is also one of the variants of a green event, which is an increasingly popular way to relax and combine it with volunteering in the world. In the photo, the communal helpers are helping to build an artificial wetland for water treatment
A communal nature campaign is also one of the variants of a green event, which is an increasingly popular way to relax and combine it with volunteering in the world. In the photo, the communal helpers are helping to build an artificial wetland for water treatment. By: Kuno Kasak

 

 

                                                                                                                                         Text: Kristjan Piirimäe, Kuno Kasak

                                                                                                                                          Editors: Sigrid Ots, Reigo Roasto

 

Last modified: 13.01.2022

 

 

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[1] S. Graci, R. Dodds. Green Festival and events Guide, a How to … 2008. https://ecoclub.com/library/epapers/15.pdf.

[2] C. T. Katzel. Event greening: is this concept providing a serious platform for sustainability best practice? 2018. https://scholar.sun.ac.za/bitstream/handle/10019.1/1900/katzel_event_2007.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y.

[3] M. Kendall. The world`s most eco-friendly events. 2014. http://eventacademy.com/news/the-worlds-most-eco-friendly-events/.

[4] K. Mitt. Viljandi Pärimusmuusikafestival. 2018. https://www.tartuloodusmaja.ee/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/1.-VPMF.pdf.