Leading figures within the events industry met at The Athenaeum on the 14th June as part of a series of meetings that aim to establish a collaborative approach to sustainability within UK events.
Organised by Positive Impact, a not for profit organisation with a focus on delivering environmentally friendly events and creating a sustainable events industry, the meetings included representatives from organisations including The Athenaeum, RLC Productions, Gallowglass, International Confex, Manchester Central, the Sustainable Events Summit, VisitEngland and ECO Venues.
The meeting included a video testimony from Dr Kevin Anderson, Deputy Director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research and Professor at the University of Manchester, highlighting the need for action. The industry also established the need to apply innovation and creativity to the problem.
The meeting uncovered a vision for sustainability in the events industry, focusing on incentivising brands to commit to sustainability at the top level of the supply chain; working with the industry to clearly communicate a ‘journey’ for businesses looking to improve their sustainable credentials; establishing a wider reason for supporting sustainability through being a better business; and working with business stakeholders to talk across the many facets of the events industry.
A series of scenarios that could impinge on the UK’s place as a global leader in the events industry and how the industry can continue to lead in this respect were also discussed.
"It’s great to see the industry collaborating to ensure we have the right level of leadership and innovation," said MD of Positive Impact, Fiona Pelham.
"Positive Impact has led a series of group meetings and will continue to facilitate these meetings every six months, hopefully with increased industry input," Concluded Fiona.
