Major Event Greening Guide:
A practical guide to reducing the environmental impact of a major event

This guide is designed to help owners and organisers of major events ensure their event is both successful and environmentally responsible. It outlines ways to develop and implement an environmental strategy and action plan, and offers practical tips, resources and checklists.

A guide to running environmentally responsible smaller events is also available.

Introduction

This guide is designed to help owners and organisers of major events ensure their event is both successful and more environmentally responsible. It outlines ways to develop and implement an environmental strategy and action plan, and offers practical tips, resources and checklists. Event owners and organisers will find it a valuable source of ideas for reducing their event’s environmental impacts in many key areas  – from choosing supplies and contractors, to managing waste and resource use, transport, energy, water and greenhouse gas emissions.

Event greening makes good business sense and can mean a better experience for everyone involved.

Hosting a more environmentally responsible event can:

  • Improve the experience of participants. For example, a well-functioning public transport system will reduce travel time, traffic congestion, exhaust fumes, and parking issues. Good waste reduction policies and an efficient recycling system will reduce the amount of waste at an event.
  • Position you as a leader by setting best practice standards for more environmentally responsible major events in New Zealand. Demonstrating environmental commitment can also enhance relationships with customers and stakeholders.
  • Save money by reducing the cost of waste disposal, energy and water.
  • Help meet international expectations. Managing the environmental impacts is regarded as a core component of staging a world-class event. Significant efforts to reduce environmental impacts were made by the organisers of the 2006 FIFA Football World Cup in Germany, the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games, the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, and the 2010 FIFA Football World Cup in South Africa.
  • Help protect New Zealand’s ‘100% Pure’ reputation. New Zealand’s ‘100% Pure’ tourism brand puts environmental performance prominently on the radar for visitors. By demonstrating efforts to reduce the environmental impacts of major events, organisers can help safeguard New Zealand’s international ‘clean and green’ reputation.
  • Help meet New Zealanders’ expectations. New Zealanders are known to be concerned about environmental impacts. The majority – 83 per cent – are aware of the significant environmental problems the world faces as a result of global warming. Over 32 per cent are interested in environmentally responsible products and services.1 As these proportions continue to grow, so too will public expectations for events that are more environmentally responsible.
  • Create legacies by raising attendees’ awareness, inspiring behaviour change, and influencing suppliers to adopt greener practices.
  • Help the environment and local communities by creating new business opportunities, minimising greenhouse gas emissions, waste and the use of water and energy; and boosting local economies.

This guide has been designed to complement the Ministry of Economic Development’s Major Event Resource Bank, which covers other aspects of major event planning. The guide was developed by the Ministry for the Environment, in consultation with event organisers, key government departments, and local authorities. The guide builds on the process for developing an environmental strategy and action plan set out in the 2007 Landcare Research Report, Environmental Sustainability for Major Events Concept Development.

How to use this guide

Section one: Developing and implementing an environmental strategy and action plan

This section follows the four phases involved in developing and implementing an environmental strategy and action plan:

  • planning
  • before the event
  • during the event
  • after the event.

It includes tips and hints for engaging with stakeholders, assessing environmental impacts, and determining the scope of a strategy. It also covers communications and measurement, which need to be undertaken throughout the four key phases.

Section two: Greening focus areas

This section includes specific guidance on the following key areas:  

  • supplies and contracts (procurement)
  • waste and resource use
  • transport
  • energy
  • construction and temporary activities
  • water
  • greenhouse gas emissions.

Examples of environmental objectives, targets and actions are included. It should be noted that the guidance provided in this section is not exhaustive, but aimed at offering ideas and examples to start the greening process. Experts and resources are available to help develop specific strategy and actions appropriate to individual events: examples of web links, names and contact details are provided throughout the guide.

Section three: Tools, checklists and templates

The final section contains useful tools for preparing an environmental strategy and action plan.

Remember: choose what’s relevant, realistic and appropriate for the event. Don’t try to do everything.

When to use this guide

It is important to start planning a greener event early; successfully implementing greening actions can require plenty of lead time.

Another reason to start the planning process early is that an environmental strategy may be a minimum requirement to enter a bid process. It may also provide a compelling point of difference between competing bids. Given New Zealand’s geographic location, a good environmental plan could help counter concerns about the environmental impacts generated by participants travelling long distances to New Zealand.

Decisions made at the early planning stage can significantly influence the types of environmental impacts that arise from the event. For example, decisions about an event’s location and venue can significantly affect the ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and impacts associated with transport, energy and water use. Wherever possible, those responsible for staging events should consider the potential environmental impacts of different locations and venues before making their final choice.

1. Moxie Design Group. 2006. Understanding the market for sustainable living. Wellington: Moxie Design Group.

Major Event Greening Guide: A practical guide to reducing the environmental impact of a major event cover image
May 2010
Ref. ME 1002

Availability

Templates

Checklists