While attendee travel and food and beverage are the largest contributors to an event’s carbon footprint and overall environmental impact, we can’t forget the other vendors that help bring an event to life: audio-visual (A/V), décor and rentals and of course your planners and consultants who bring it all together. Here are seven to get you started.

Audiovisual

While equipment from A/V companies is reused over and over again, the technology industry continues to grow and improve at a rapid rate. When this happens, what happens to old equipment? What other low-impact initiatives does the company run?

1. Quest AV

Quest AV prioritizes the use of more energy-efficient hardware that consumes less power, such as projectors, LED video wall technology and audio systems. They also offer technology that replaces traditional printed signage or posters like digital poster panels and podium displays. When it comes to delivery of their equipment, they always plan to optimize routing to reduce their emissions from travel. And if something breaks, they always opt for repair; and once it’s rendered unusable, the items get recycled.

2. AV-Canada

AV-Canada is committed to making an impact on the events industry. Not only do they have solar- and wind-powered generators to take virtual events off grid, they have set a goal to be carbon neutral by 2027 by optimizing the usage of power, fuel, water and other vital resources. Most recently, they’ve started to monitor corporate travel and calculate its carbon footprint, helping them identify opportunities to reduce emissions.

Décor and rentals

The nature of décor and rental companies is similar to A/V in that their inventory is reused over and over again. But what happens at the end of its life? Also, is the décor shipped to the venue in disposable plastic? How does the company minimize its carbon emissions?

3. Element Event Solutions 

At the end of a product’s life, Element Event Solutions sells items to restaurants or small businesses and/or donates to non-profit organizations like Habitat for Humanity. They are also implementing reusable packaging solutions, such as durable covers and crates, to ensure products remain pristine without the need for disposable plastic wraps. And finally, they leverage technology to intelligently group and route deliveries, to ensure clients receive their orders on time while minimizing carbon emissions.

4. MB Designs Inc. 

What sets MB Designs Inc. apart from many other décor companies is that they accept often-disposed-of event items—like fabric, vinyl trade show banners, draping, linens, T-shirts, single-use signs, batteries from faux candles—and upcycle them into new items that can be used at future events. Looking for conference bags, gift wrap, table runners or clipboards, for example? The company offers upcycled versions of all of these.

Event planners

When you need a team to plan and produce an event while prioritizing sustainability, you need to find planners who not only have their own eco-conscious internal policies, but can help find the best venues, vendors and food and beverage providers for you.

5. WLA Events

Wendy La and her team at WLA Events make plenty of greener choices, such as prioritizing reusable items, minimizing printing and selecting gifts that are packaged in compostable or reusable materials. Behind the scenes, their team utilizes Ecosia instead of Google as their main search engine and do not use AI tools such as ChatGPT, especially for graphics and renderings, due to its significant energy consumption. On top of all that, they plant a tree for every event planned.

6. A Lush Affair

A Lush Affair, Canada’s first and only B-Corp certified event-planning company, always keeps waste to a minimum and they support local vendors who are also purpose-driven and committed to minimizing harm to the planet. Need to report on how well your event met its sustainability measures? Alusha Domanska and her team handle that, too.

7. Eco-Friendly Events 

Then there’s my company, Eco-Friendly Events, of course. Some of the internal environmentally responsible policies we adopt include: taking advantage of active or public transit, using Uber Green or carpooling when transit is not available and offsetting our air travel. We also use Ecosia as our primary search engine and use a green website host. While on-site we always bring our own reusable water bottles and coffee mugs and eliminate or minimize any printing. With our clients, we support every stage of the event-planning process from venue sourcing to carbon footprint measurement.