By MeetPoint Blog Staff
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24 Oct, 2023
In 2019, a research study on sustainability of conferences discovered that a three-day conference attended by 800 people resulted in the emission of 455 tons of carbon dioxide, equivalent to 100 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles driven for one year. Traveling, food waste, promotional materials, plenty of paper prints. The swag industry alone, valued at USD 64 billion , produces a wide range of cheap items such as USB sticks, power banks, water bottles, branded socks, pencils, stress balls. On the other hand, when event professionals are planning an event strategy based on environmental optimisation, they should also reconsider the social impact events have on people. People are social beings and therefore the in-person events are here to stay. After the COVID-19 pandemics ended, we have seen the social need people and businesses had during lockdowns and restrictions. Digital events are still organised, but in-person events are again in full swing. If in-person (and hybrid) events are here to stay, we need to change these events in a more sustainable way. Event professionals must plan in-person events which do less harm to the environment – use processes and materials which are as environment-friendly as possible.