Sustainability tips
Conferences and events bring people together to learn from each other and represent a powerful opportunity to be a force for positive change. In hosting your next event in NewcastleGateshead, there are many things you can do to maximise the event’s positive social, environmental and economic impacts and mitigate and negative effects on people, place and planet.
Research local venues and suppliers with a commitment to sustainability
By choosing local organisations that care as much about sustainability as you do, you’re supporting indigenous businesses whilst also reducing environmental impact. As part of your venue and supplier searches, NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau can request key sustainability information, including details of third-party certifications, sustainability policies and sustainable food menus (e.g. local, seasonal, plant-based, healthy).
NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau is working with Green Tourism to offer free memberships and support for venues in North East England to achieve third-party sustainability certification with Green Tourism.
Encourage your delegates to take in the sights
NewcastleGateshead has a compact city centre and, for many delegates, is easy to navigate on foot, while taking in the sights on the way. Most conference venues, hotels and attractions are within a short stroll of each other. Even a walk from The Glasshouse at the south of the city centre to Great North Museum at the north end will take just half an hour. Encourage those who can to walk between venues and to their hotel, to reduce their carbon footprint, benefit from exercise and see more of our beautiful city during their stay.
Speak to your venue about food waste
Many venues will have an existing food waste management plan. You can support them with this by avoiding over-catering for your event – keep an updated list of delegates and ask about dietary requirements well ahead of the event. If any food is left over, consider donating it to a charity such as The People’s Kitchen. Any unusable waste can be collected and used to make energy via anaerobic digestion by companies such as GAP Organics in Gateshead.
For more general guidance on planning a sustainable event, check out VisitBritain’s sustainability resources for event organisers, which include a guide to planning a sustainable event, sustainability checklists, tips for encouraging responsible delegate behaviour and a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) pathway for events.
“Our commitment to have Net Zero emissions by 2030, 20 years ahead of the UK Government’s target, requires far reaching change in every part of our city. It is something that can only be achieved by everyone coming together to reduce our carbon footprint, mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change and grasp the opportunities of the new green economy.”
Net Zero Newcastle 2030 Action Plan
“Climate change caused by increasing carbon emissions is a global problem. If urgent action to drastically reduce carbon emissions is not taken in the next 10 years, the damage done cannot be reversed… Everyone has a part to play and, by working together in Gateshead, we can make a difference – helping improve our environment, health and wellbeing.”
Zero Carbon Gateshead
We are building on this page all the time, adding links to tools and organisations that can help conference organisers deliver sustainable events in North East England. Contact us at conventionbureau@ngi.org.uk if you have any suggestions for this page.