What do the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) have to do with events? A whole lot! Integrating the SDGs into events is an important step on the road to sustainability. Through conscious event planning and the implementation of sustainable practices, your events can also make an important contribution to solving global problems and become a role model for sustainability at the same time. For this reason, we are presenting "SDG 12 - Sustainable Consumption and Production" to you today.

SDG 12 - Sustainable consumption and production

SDG 12 aims at the necessary change in our lifestyle and economic practices. We must consume and produce (again) within planetary ecological limits. This means that we have to reduce our consumption and production to a large extent the consumption of resources as well as the emission of greenhouse gases. SDG 12 means both the individual consumption of each and every one of us and on the transformation of our production. Circular economy and sustainable supply chains are central components of this, as is the avoidance or responsible disposal of waste. According to SDG 12, food waste should be halved by 2030.

This is what SDG 12 means for events

Event planners and all service providers working for events can actively contribute to achieving SDG 12 through a variety of measures. By implementing sustainable practices, events and their stakeholders can make an important contribution to promoting a sustainable future.

What does sustainable consumption and management mean?

It includes

• responsible use of resources,
• the avoidance of waste,
• an efficient recycling
• the safe discharge of pollutants
• and the use of recyclable materials, services and products.

In this way, we can also create as closed a cycle as possible at events and reverse the trend towards a throwaway society.

Events that lead by example

Zero Waste Berlin Festival: The annual event in Berlin focuses on the zero-waste lifestyle and presents solutions for sustainable consumption and production.

Veggieworld: The trade fair for vegan food and sustainable products takes place in various cities in Germany and Europe.

re:publica: The annual festival for the digital society sees sustainability as a holistic concept that encompasses all dimensions of sustainability and has developed a catalog of measures for this purpose.

World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF): The WCEF is an international conference focused on promoting the circular economy. It brings together governments, businesses, academics and civil society representatives to discuss how to implement and scale solutions.

Future Party Lab by Clubtopia: As part of the "Future Party Lab" event series, representatives from nightlife and sustainability as well as interested club guests develop solutions for a climate-friendly club scene.

Tempelhof Laboratory: The laboratory aims to show how existing cradle-to-cradle (C2C) solutions can lead to a circular economy. And how, derived from this, major events with positive effects for people and the environment can become the standard. For the first time, the organizers have attempted to optimize all products and processes through C2C innovations at four concerts. Where this was not possible due to a lack of technical implementation options or costs, they used or offered ecological alternatives.

These immediate actions at events pay toward SDG 12

Want to implement SDG 12 at your events? Here are suggestions for your immediate actions:

Use sustainable and recyclable materials

As an event planner, you can make sure that sustainable materials are used at the event. Look for the use of recycled paper, biodegradable materials, environmentally friendly inks for unavoidable flyers, posters or advertising. This also applies to napkins, toilet paper and more. Towels, clothing as well as merchandising items at your events should be ethically and ecologically sourced.

Reduce resource consumption and waste

Event planners can make sure that resource consumption is reduced and waste is prevented at the event. Disposable tableware can be avoided by using reusable tableware and cutlery. Waste separation can be established to ensure proper disposal. Unnecessary packaging is to be avoided.

Reduce food waste

Actively engage in producing excess food at your events. Collect the leftovers and make sure they are redistributed. For this, you can work with local organizations or partners like "Too good to go." Also, monitor the waste generated at events. How much was generated? Can it be avoided in the future? Adjust catering recipes, quantities and ingredients for the next events.

Reduce energy consumption and use renewable energies

As an event planner, you can switch to renewable energy sources such as solar or wind power - both in your own office and at the event location. More energy can often be produced from these sources than is consumed.

When choosing your locations, make sure they are energy efficient - for example, using LED lighting, heat pumps, insulation, triple glazing, turning off exterior lights and more.

Promote sustainable mobility and accommodation

As an organizer, you can support your guests and employees to travel to and from the event in an environmentally friendly way and to use means of transportation such as public transport or bicycles. Also consider using converted shuttle buses that run on renewable energy. Also, look for sustainable accommodations and hotels at your events.

Choose sustainable suppliers

Select sustainable suppliers who offer sustainable products and services. For example, technical service providers and exhibition stand construction companies can largely avoid special constructions and rely on system construction and modular and reusable systems. It is important that exhibition stands can be disassembled into their sorted recyclable materials.

Raise awareness among participants

You can make sustainability tangible for your participants. How? By giving them tips on how to use resources sustainably or showing them ways they can use sustainable products and services in their everyday lives.

Conclusion

When sustainable events become the standard, their high reach and variety creates enormous potential to change the world in a positive way! Events become part of the solution - be an active part of it.

More information

Sabine Böhling, consultant, trainer and lecturer for sustainability and CSR, and Stefan Lohmann, expert for live entertainment concepts and founder of Sustainable Event Solutions, will introduce you to the 17 SDGs and apply them to events

• more about the 17 Sustainable Development Goals
• more about the 16 Steps Initiative