Take a closer look at the Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs for short. Integrating the SDGs into events is an important step on the road to sustainability. With conscious event planning and thanks to sustainable practices, your events can also make an important contribution to solving global problems and at the same time become a role model for sustainability. For this reason, we are presenting "SDG 2 - No Hunger" to you today.

SDG 2 - No hunger

This is what is behind SDG 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.

Meat, fish, tropical fruit, vegetables and fast food several times a week - many people never get this on their plates in their lives, because one in nine people on the planet goes hungry. One in four people not only suffers from constant hunger, but also from a permanent lack of vital nutrients. As a result, people fall ill more quickly, are less able to work and are limited in their mental performance. Hunger means that the people affected can earn less money because the lack of food weakens them in the long term.

What SDG 2 means for events

This means for your events:

• reduce food waste,
• promote sustainable nutrition,
• as well as organic farming and biodiversity.

The implementation of SDG 2 brings both moral benefits and long-term economic gains through cost savings and image improvement. Events with a positive impact on nature and society mitigate climate change with a global impact on supply chains, harvests and famine.

How can you as an event planner or your service-providing companies contribute to achieving this goal?

By supporting sustainable organic catering, such as local, seasonal and environmentally friendly food. Also, take steps to minimize food waste and donate unused food to charitable organizations. In addition, you can raise awareness of the causes of hunger through educational initiatives at your events and thus actively contribute to achieving the "No Hunger" goal.

These immediate measures at events contribute to SDG 2

By implementing these immediate measures, you as an event professional can actively contribute to achieving SDG 2 and have a positive impact on food security worldwide.

Reduce food waste

Implement strategies to minimize food waste. This includes precise planning, communication with caterers and the use of technology to monitor and manage food stocks. The Federal Environment Agency's guidelines start with catering: Avoid food waste in catering.

Work together with the following "food rescuers":

• Foodsharing Germany: This initiative connects volunteers with businesses to rescue surplus food and pass it on to those in need. An app facilitates coordination.
• The food banks: The food banks are a network of non-profit organizations that collect surplus food and distribute it to people in need. There are hundreds of food banks throughout Germany.
• SirPlus operates food rescue markets where rescued food is sold at discounted prices. This promotes the appreciation of food and reduces food waste.
• Lebensmittelretter: The association is committed to rescuing food and organizes projects to distribute surplus food.
• TooGoodToGo: A mobile app that connects customers with restaurants and stores that have unsold, surplus food and sell it at a discounted price to self-collectors.
• Restlos Glücklich: A Berlin-based company that specializes in processing rescued food into delicious products.

Local and sustainable food

Give preference to local, seasonal and sustainable organic food sources. This reduces the carbon footprint of transportation and supports local agriculture at the same time.

Partnerships with non-profit organizations

Look for local organizations dedicated to fighting hunger and establish partnerships. Think about how you can donate unused food or use some of your proceeds for charity.

Education and awareness-raising

Integrate information and education programs into your events to raise awareness of the problem of hunger and encourage action.

Review and adaptation of the guidelines

Review your event policies and practices. This will help you ensure that they are in line with SDG 2 targets. Adjust them if necessary to make a greater contribution to the fight against hunger.

Make sustainability tangible. With measures to combat hunger and thus one of the most common causes of flight. Create a positive impact on nature, society and the economy with every event.

Events that lead by example

"Feeding the 5000"

These global events are committed to reducing food waste and distributing surplus food to those in need. They have taken place in various cities around the world.

"Zero Hunger Run"

A running event organized by Welthungerhilfe, where part of the proceeds are donated to programs to fight hunger. This both promotes exercise and supports an important humanitarian cause.

"Food for Good"

This conference brings together players from the food industry to discuss and promote innovative solutions to combat hunger.

"Community Harvest"

A local festival that connects local farmers and food producers with the community. It promotes the purchase of local food and supports local agriculture.

"Food Rescue Program"

Some music festivals have implemented programs where surplus food is collected and donated to charitable organizations.

Coldplay donated almost 4,000 meals on their world tour, which were not used on the tour. Ed Sheeran, Beyoncé and U2 drew attention to SDG 2 during their tours, organized fundraisers and supported NGOs such as Rise Against Hunger, Oxfam and the World Food Program of the United Nations.

By offsetting unavoidable CO₂ emissions, the Klim.eco platform allows you to invest directly in sustainable organic farming and humus cultivation in soils that bind CO₂.

Conclusion

If sustainable events become the standard, their high reach and variety create enormous potential to change the world in a positive way! This is how - also your? - 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, present the 17 SDGs and apply them to events. This series first appeared on tw-media, the meetings industry.

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