Joining the plastic-free revolution

Organising a plastic-free event may sound a daunting challenge in a world that has wholeheartedly embraced this once-revolutionary material for its versatility, durability and convenience.

But times are changing – and the shock waves continue following Sir David Attenborough’s jaw-dropping revelations about the huge amount of plastic waste choking our oceans and killing our marine life. His Blue Planet II rallying call – and the incredible estimate that there will be more plastic in the sea than fish by 2050 – has galvanised politicians, the public and businesses alike. It has also prompted an arguably long-overdue shift in focus away from recycling as the environmental cure-all, towards reducing and re-using potentially polluting materials.

So it makes sense, both ethically and for your brand reputation, to take up the challenge by at least minimising the reliance on plastic at your launches, PR events or conferences. Not only does it evidence your business’s social conscience, it also demonstrates your commitment to keeping in step with evolving attitudes and consumer habits. The good news is that there are lots of ways to reduce the use of plastic at your events – and they don’t have to break the bank. So here are just a few ideas to get you started.

Ditch single-use plastic First and foremost, replace plastic disposable items such as water bottles, cups and cutlery with re-useable or biodegradable alternatives like re-fillable stainless steel bottles, traditional cutlery, ceramic crockery and paper straws.

Re-consider your giveaways Think carefully about what you put in your – re-useable hessian fabric or cloth, of course! – goodie bags. Make sure they are durable items with a long-term use, rather than throwaway novelties rapidly destined for the office bin.

Design for re-use As well as opting for more eco-friendly renewable materials where possible, create promotional signs, ID badges and the like that can be re-used at future events.

Make plastic pens redundant Encourage your visitors to use their laptops and digital note-taking, as opposed to paper and the ubiquitous plastic ball-point pen.

Shout about it! Last but by no means least, tell people what you are doing and why. In addition to raising awareness of an important global issue, playing your part in the plastic-free revolution will add value to your brand – and reinforce your reputation as a forward-thinking organisation keen to invest in the long-term future of the business, as well as the planet.