Ever wondered whether the exhibition industry follows an annual design trend? Well, this is in fact true. After reading up about Euroshop 2017, the number one retail trade fair in the world, we thought these 2017 exhibition design trends were too interesting not to share.

2017 Exhibition colour of the year: Greenery
According to Pantone, Greenery is a “fresh and zesty yellow green shade that evokes the first days of spring when nature’s greens revive, restore and renew”. Despite green being our favourite colour (for obvious reasons), we love how versatile this particular colour is. Picture fresh plant life, botanical wallpaper, graphics and flooring, bringing a sense of life to your next exhibition stand.

Sustainable exhibition stand designs:
Traditionally speaking, the events and exhibition industries are not the most environmentally friendly of industries. However, as we mentioned in Inspiration Station, sustainable exhibition designs are becoming increasingly popular worldwide. This involves the use of more sustainable processes and products when designing, manufacturing and implementing your final exhibition stand.

If you’re still not entirely sure what is meant by this, think reused, recycled and re-purposed materials and fabrics to create your next visually appealing exhibition stand. Incorporate elements of the 2017 colour trend and you are good to go.

Creating a virtual reality:
Digitisation along with immersive technology is fast becoming the key element to include in your overall exhibition stand design. The reason for this is simple – attract more customers, increase engagement and get visitors to explore your brand even more.

So, how can you create a virtual reality? Look to incorporate live streaming, interactive touch screens or experiential games to ensure exhibition-goers stop by your exhibition stand. Our post, Game On! elaborates on how an experiential game can be an effective addition to any exhibition stand.

Innovative lighting solutions:
This year, exhibition stands are deemed to become even more ingenious through the use of LED technology. Incorporating elements of this year’s sustainability trend, the use of recyclable lighting solutions is increasingly being used in exhibition stand designs around the world.

When contemplating how to attract visitors to your exhibition stand, be sure to consider the innovativeness of lighting and how it triggers a sense of emotion in exhibition-goers. Incorporating lighting that is smart, emotional and flexible, is bound to boost your exhibition stand and brand image as a whole.

So whether you are looking for a bit of colour, structural, technological or lighting inspiration let this year’s exhibition stand design trends guide you. Additionally, take a look at our Gallery to get a few more ideas for your next exhibition stand.

Pair these ideas with some of this year’s design trends and you are destined for success. Contact us to turn your concepts into reality.

Shades of Green is a proud supporter of Earth Hour.

This year, earth hour is between 20h30 and 21h30 on Saturday the 25th of March. Millions of people as well as organizations worldwide participate by hosting an event during this time or switching off all electricity for an hour. People participate by going star gazing together, having earth hour parties or even having candle lit dinners to support earth hour and make as much noise as possible for action on climate change.

Here at Shades of Green we go the extra mile by trying to live each day in a sustainable way, by planning and implementing events and exhibitions in a way that is socially and environmentally friendly. At Shades of Green we are passionate about helping clients not only plan and execute, but do so in a way that reduces environmental impact, while increasing economic, social and environmental benefit. We as people of this nation need to take responsibility for environmental and social performance.

In our previous blog post “Inspiration Station”, we have shown sustainable exhibition designs from around the world and as well as some done by the Shades of Green team.

Earth hour supporters have definitely helped make a change over the past few years. Many supporters have successfully received some climate friendly laws and policies which may include those that banned plastic located in the World Heritage site of the Galapagos islands.

Climate change begins with ordinary people like you and I, it is our responsibility to protect our planet, because it’s our home.

We at Shades of Green, are huge believers that small steps equal big outcomes. We challenge all businesses as well as clients to be acknowledged for your sustainability leadership in 2017. We as people of this nation need to take responsibility for environmental and social performance.

To sign up and take part visit https://www.earthhour.org/

In recent years, a greater emphasis has been placed on the sustainability of several industries, particularly that of the events industry. As a result, the concept of sustainable design has been applied to a number of exhibitions and events around the world. The main purpose of implementing the concept of sustainable design to a particular exhibition is to eliminate as much negative environmental impact as possible.

The Shades of Green team have been truly inspired by the following sustainable exhibition designs from around the world:

Urban Spa by WeNew Innovation – Sao Paulo, Brazil (2014)

According to the co-founders of WeNew Innovation, Michelle Souza and Vivian Grieco, Urban Spa was designed to create a space that replicates a more stripped and irreverent kind of spa as opposed to the conventional luxury spas that exist across the world.
In this particular exhibition, WeNew has made use of everyday urban elements such as reused palettes, sidewalk concrete blocks and street asphalt to construct their design. These have been combined with organic spa elements to install the idea that “welfare can be anywhere at any time” – Michelle Souza, Experience Designer and Co-Founder of WeNew Innovation.

http://www.archello.com/en/project/urban-spa

Helden der Stadt by yalla! yalla! – Ludwigshaven, Germany (2015)

Helden der Stadt (heroes of the city) makes use of 1200 green vegetable crates stacked in such a way that it creates a walk-through installation.
The uniqueness of this particular exhibition is demonstrated through the fact that yalla! yalla! have avoided the conventional way of displaying an exhibition, otherwise known as the concept of “white walls”. Instead, vegetable crates are used as an everyday object to divide the exhibition into different sections displaying different topics.
The overall aim of this exhibition was to demonstrate the transition towards a more sustainable society and the rise of the do-it-yourself culture.

http://www.designboom.com/architecture/yalla-yalla-studio-helden-der-stadt-exhibition-ludwigshafen-germany-07-03-2015/

Recyclable Planet by Giancarlo Zema Design Group – Milan, Italy (2013)

Recyclable Planet is an example of an eco-design exhibition made entirely out of recycled cardboard.
Promoted by the Origami Furniture brand, Recyclable Planet was designed to represent an imaginery ecoplanet showcasing their eco-friendly furniture brand.
Inspiration for this particular exhibition was drawn from America’s Grand Canyon. If you look closely enough, you will see how the exhibition incorporates the stratifications found along the canyon’s rock in to the different elements of the overall exhibition.

http://www.giancarlozema.com/recyclable-planet/

Bamboobooth by Vo Trong Nghia Architects – Hanoi, Vietnam (2012)

Exhibited at the 2012 Vietnam Architecture Exhibition, Bamboobooth is an example of a mono-material exhibition stand that was constructed using 500 stacked bamboos.
The exhibition was designed to create a log type house that experiments with the use of natural, local materials.
Bamboobooth encapsulates what is meant by sustainable design and it represents the core of Vietnamese architectural expression.

http://www.archdaily.com/233612/bamboo-booth-2012-vo-trong-nghia

Drawing on this, we too have applied the concept of sustainable design to one of our own Shades of Green exhibition stands:

Van Dyck Carpets – Decorex, Durban (2015)

Van Dyck Carpets is committed to improving their carbon performance in order to have a more positive impact on the environment. As a result, we created this exhibition stand for Van Dyck at the Decorex exhibition in Durban.
This is a prime example of a sustainable exhibition design as it is made entirely out of Xanita, a 100% upcycled, ultra-lightweight and non-toxic fibreboard.

We realize it can be difficult to construct an exhibition stand that is made completely out of sustainable materials, but incorporating at least one sustainable element is better than nothing at all. Hopefully you have been as inspired by these sustainable exhibition designs as we have.

For more exhibition inspiration, be sure to take a look at our Exhibition Gallery and keep a look out for our next post on Inspiration Station.

Contact us for all your experiential marketing requirements, we turn concepts into reality.

brightFuture, a sustainable living campaign launched globally by Unilever focusses on challenges facing the world today. June 2015, saw Unilever South Africa launching the “The Way Kids See It”, looking to the future through the eyes of children with a positive outlook.

Shades of Green partnered with Verve Marketing and Communications (the creatives behind the activation) to produce and project manage the infrastructure of the campaign. We created a fun environment in various malls for Moms and children, to raise awareness about climate change.

The interactive space was made up of a 1 minute walk through an indigenous tree path bringing to the forefront the reality of deforestation. The signs leading up to the activation told a story of how many trees are cut down every minute in a tangible association to rugby fields. At the end of the path Moms and Children were met by promoters who showed the parents how to “tweet for a tree” on the iPads, while the children placed their thumbprint on a bare tree wall symbolising their pledge for a brighter future (allowing the tree to bloom over the days). A provoking multi-media presentation (Farewell to the Forest – a film by Unilever) was played on a video wall and carried the message that a tree might be safer in the city than in the forests. As a reward for participating in the activation and to ignite a sense of taking climate action, Moms were given a card made of seed paper (indigenous flowers) that could be planted at home.

Aligning with our company philosophy, we were delighted to be involved in a project that not only required our expertise in producing and project managing an exhibition stand but also with applying our green stamp.

The Unilever brightFuture mall activations took place at Sandton City in Johannesburg, at Gateway in Durban and Tygervalley mall in Cape Town. Check out the Gallery…

Contact us for all your experiential marketing requirements, we turn concepts into reality.

Founded in 1987, the Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI) is the umbrella body of the conference and meetings industry of South Africa. SAACI is recognised as the official body and mouth-piece of the conference industry by South African Tourism and government.

Each SAACI branch (Eastern Cape, Western Cape, KwaZulu Natal and Northern Territories) is responsible to host an annual congress in their province. It was KZN’s turn to host the SAACI 2014 Congress and Exhibition in the chosen destination of St Lucia, iSimangaliso Wetland Park.

The Local Organising Committee (LOC) from SAACI appointed Shades of Green Events and Exhibitions to do an environmental audit as part of a sponsorship agreement.

Shades of Green Events and Exhibitions interviewed the LOC prior to the Congress in order to establish an understanding of what environmental measures the committee had put in place during the planning stage of the Congress. Shades of Green Events and Exhibitions then performed an on-site inspection during the event, using the findings in the report. The key areas that the report looked at were:

• Waste Reduction and effective management
• Energy Efficiency
• Water minimisation
• Transport
• Eco Procurement
• Venue & Accommodation
• Communication, Awareness & Training
• Social and Economic Development
• Biodiversity
• Monitoring and Reporting

Attending the congress gave the Shades of Green team the opportunity to network and keep up to date with the latest developments in the conference and meetings industry.

Shades of Green Events & Exhibitions are committed to delivering outstanding service and surpassing every client’s expectation. For more information on how Shades of Green Events & Exhibitions can help you with your environmental audits or carbon footprint analysis please don’t hesitate to contact us.

A key element of event greening is waste minimisation and sustainable management. Recognising the importance of this the Event Greening Forum (EGF) KZN Team and friends on Friday, 15 August 2014 visited the Re- head office in Prospection, Durban for a tour of their facilities. Shades of Green Events – heading the EGF KZN Team – organised the site visit.

Re- is a national waste management solutions company that offers their clients innovative solutions to Reduce, Re-use, and Recycle and Recover product to ensure that sound waste management practices are implemented, thereby promoting environmental sustainability. A sustainability solution from Re- means less waste to landfill, less resource consumption and less harmful emissions. Their innovations include composting and biomass engineering of organic material, outlets for raw materials and diversion of suitable materials to animal feed, extraction of product for biofuel manufacturing and use of material as an alternative fuel resource. Re- focuses on the concept of circular economy, nothing wasted, everything repurposed.

Their approach fits within an increasing global trend to reduce, re-use, rework, recycle and recover waste products. One person’s waste can now become another person’s valuable raw material. Considering the cost, and sometimes-limited availability of original input materials the demand for recovered waste products are increasing. Where as basic waste management focuses on removing waste from the living and working areas in an environmentally acceptable fashion (including waste storage, collection, transport and disposal), this new approach promotes sustainability through providing creative waste solutions that divert waste from landfill and truly sees disposal as a last resort.

In terms of event management, this points to the importance of effective planning re waste minimisation and management. Event organisers should aim to minimise waste (i.e. no bottled water); and to thereafter focus on the effective management of waste through for example re-using products (i.e. USB flash drives made from recycled materials or biodegradable materials such as bamboo or printed branding materials that can be re-used), and recycling (i.e. recycling bins to collect paper, plastics and so forth) and arranging for the recovering of waste that cannot be re-used. Again, disposal should remain a last resort.

For more information on how Shades of Green Events can deliver your events in a professional, socially and environmentally responsible way, visit the following link:

Corporate & Social Events – Event Organisers: Event Planning & Event Management:

http://www.shadesofgreenevents.co.za/corporate-events/

For more information on how Shades of Green Events can help with your exhibition stand requirements follow this link:

Custom & System Exhibition Stands – Exhibition Management & Exhibition Stand Builders:

http://www.shadesofgreenevents.co.za/exhibition/

In honor of August being women’s month The Umhlanga Magazine decided to:

“show the diversity and talent of the local ladies in our town and thought [they]‘d profile 4 lovely business ladies that have broken the mould and are doing something unique, creative and somewhat different and in this following a career path that is their true passion.”

The 4 ladies profiled include the Directors of Shades of Green Events, Jenny Kervarrec and Kylie van Staden.

Shades of Green Events are committed to delivering exceptional service and surpassing every client’s expectation. For more information on how Shades of Green Events can help with your exhibition stand requirements follow this link:

Custom & System Exhibition Stands – Exhibition Management & Exhibition Stand Builders

For more information on how Shades of Green Events can deliver your events in a professional, socially and environmentally responsible way, visit the following link:

Corporate & Social Events – Event Organisers: Event Planning & Event Management

Shades of Green Events are committed to delivering exceptional service and surpassing every client’s expectation. For more information on how Shades of Green Events can help with your exhibition stand requirements follow this link:

Custom & System Exhibition Stands – Exhibition Management & Exhibition Stand Builders

For more information on how Shades of Green Events can deliver your events in a professional, socially and environmentally responsible way, visit the following link:

Corporate & Social Events – Event Organisers: Event Planning & Event Management

Join Shades of Green Events in celebrating Earth Hour by switching all non-essential lights and appliances from 20:30 to 21:30 on Saturday. There is however no reason to twiddle your thumbs in the dark during Earth Hour this year.

Here are 10 fun things to do:

1.  Play with sparklers. Take long-exposure photos of your efforts.

2. Play board games by candle light (using beeswax candles).

3. Get closer to nature and go star gazing. For the more energetic people moon dancing will be an option.

4. If you have kids, get out the camping gear and reminish about a time before electricity.

5. Play a REAL game of hide and seek.

6. Have a South African Braai with your friends (using sustainably harvested wood) or have a romantic dinner by candlelight with tasty dishes based on the WWF’s livewell principles. Download their dinner party guide. And while you’re at it, take advantage of the combined romance of candlelight and eco-chivalry to pop the question.

7. Have an acoustic music night – pull out the guitars and other music instruments. Remember to practise without looking at your hands.

8. Debate whether one hour can trigger social change.

9. Go to bed early. Wink, wink. Nudge, nudge. And maybe start a pool on whether there will be a baby spike in nine months.

10. Make streetlight shadow puppets (yes, the streetlights stay on, for safety).

For more information on Earth Hour visit their website: www.earthhour.org

For more information on how Shades of Green Events can deliver your events in a professional, socially and environmentally responsible way, visit the following link:

Corporate & Social Events – Event Organisers: Event Planning & Event Management:

http://www.shadesofgreenevents.co.za/corporate-events/

For more information on how Shades of Green Events can help with your exhibition stand requirements follow this link:

Custom & System Exhibition Stands – Exhibition Management & Exhibition Stand Builders:

http://www.shadesofgreenevents.co.za/exhibition/

Shades of Green Events plans to join millions of people across the world who will switch lights off for an hour on 29 March from 20:30 to 21:30 as part of the Earth Hour initiative – a worldwide movement for the planet organised by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF).

This particular event is held worldwide towards the end of March annually, encouraging individuals, communities, households and businesses to turn of their non-essential lights for one hour as a symbol for their commitment to the planet. According to CEO and Co-Founder of Earth Hour, Andy Ridley, Earth Hour’s mission is three-fold:

•  To bring people together through a symbolic hour-long event.
• To galvanise people into taking action beyond the hour.
• And to create an interconnected global community sharing the mutual goal of creating a sustainable future for the planet.

For more information on Earth Hour visit their website: www.earthhour.org

For more information on how Shades of Green Events can deliver your events in a professional, socially and environmentally responsible way, visit the following link:

Corporate & Social Events – Event Organisers: Event Planning & Event Management:

http://www.shadesofgreenevents.co.za/corporate-events/

For more information on how Shades of Green Events can help with your exhibition stand requirements follow this link:

Custom & System Exhibition Stands – Exhibition Management & Exhibition Stand Builders:

http://www.shadesofgreenevents.co.za/exhibition/

During the recent Event Greening Forum (EGF) Annual General Meeting Shades of Green Events Director, Jenny Kervarrec, was invited to serve on the EGF Management Committee. Jenny will also Head the KZN EGF Team.

The aim of the EGF is to promote and embrace sustainable and ethical business practices within the events industry in South Africa, with an initial focus on meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions and events. For more information on the Event Greening Forum in KZN, do not hesitate to contact Jenny on jenny@sgevents.co.za

For more information on the EGF please visit their website: www.eventgreening.co.za

For more information on how Shades of Green Events can deliver your events in a professional, socially and environmentally responsible way, visit the following link:

Corporate & Social Events – Event Organisers: Event Planning & Event Management:

http://www.shadesofgreenevents.co.za/corporate-events/

For more information on how Shades of Green Events can help with your exhibition stand requirements follow this link:

Custom & System Exhibition Stands – Exhibition Management & Exhibition Stand Builders:

http://www.shadesofgreenevents.co.za/exhibition/

Waste management is a crucial part of a sustainable event or exhibition. On Wednesday, 5 February 2014 Shades of Green Events will attend the launch of the 2014 Waste Management Awards competition. The event will take place at the Assagay Hotel outside Durban. Winners of the 2012 Waste Management Awards will be asked to do a 5 – 10 minute overview on why they feel they performed well in their category, touching on their strongest points. Feel free to view the programme!

For more information on how Shades of Green Events can deliver your events in a professional, socially and environmentally responsible way, visit the following link:

Corporate & Social Events – Event Organisers: Event Planning & Event Management:

http://www.shadesofgreenevents.co.za/corporate-events/

For more information on how Shades of Green Events can help with your exhibition stand requirements follow this link:

Custom & System Exhibition Stands – Exhibition Management & Exhibition Stand Builders:

http://www.shadesofgreenevents.co.za/exhibition/

To visit our latest Gallery of work follow this link:

http://www.shadesofgreenevents.co.za/gallery/

Join the Climate Reality Leadership Corps at their next training scheduled to take place 12 – 14 March 2014 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The training will focus on the science of climate change, how to talk to people across the continent about the ways climate change affects them personally, and what can be done to address this challenge.

For more information visit the link below:

http://climaterealityproject.org/africa-training/

For more information on how Shades of Green Events can deliver your events in a professional, socially and environmentally responsible way, visit the following link:

Corporate & Social Events – Event Organisers: Event Planning & Event Management:

http://www.shadesofgreenevents.co.za/corporate-events/

For more information on how Shades of Green Events can help with your exhibition stand requirements follow this link:

Custom & System Exhibition Stands – Exhibition Management & Exhibition Stand Builders:

http://www.shadesofgreenevents.co.za/exhibition/

To visit our latest Gallery of work follow this link:

http://www.shadesofgreenevents.co.za/gallery/

Ensure your exhibition stand is not only trendy and modern, but also ‘green’. One way of doing this is by aiming for a paperless exhibition stand. There are a number of benefits for creating a paperless stand:

-        Reduce Waste

More than half of the visitors to your exhibition stand will discard your business card, brochure or other marketing materials that they cannot use for more than your website.

-        Save Resources

Time equals money and if you spend your time and money developing a brochure that simply ends up in landfill one has to ask if it is worth it to create and print marketing collateral?

-        Engage in Conversation

When exhibition staff do not have brochures to hand out, they are encouraged to engage in conversation with potential customers. It is a known fact that people do business with people they ‘know’, like and trust – so interact and get to know your customers.

-        Digital Gadgets and Technology can draw in a crowd

Through a number of innovative methods you can capture your customer’s details, understand what they are interested in, appear to be “with the times” and create a stir on your exhibition stand. To name a few:

• Make use of tablets as an interface which can be fun, informative and act as an information portal or distraction if your sales consultants are busy.
•  Use memory sticks as a “give-away” which contain your marketing brochure and website information. These are a great marketing tool as it will be re-used and rarely discarded.
• Get smarter with Smart Phones and develop applications that will allow you to interact with your customer
• Make use of social media before, during and post the exhibition

Exchanging information digitally saves on printing, planning, logistics and recycling and it is also a great starting point to creating a “greener” exhibition stand. Shades of Green Events can assist you in appointing informed, professional staff for your exhibition stand and more importantly design and build a paperless technologically driven exhibition stand to boost your sales without losing touch with your customers.

For more information on how Shades of Green Events can help with your exhibition stand requirements follow this link:

Custom & System Exhibition Stands – Exhibition Management & Exhibition Stand Builders:

http://www.shadesofgreenevents.co.za/exhibition/

For more information on how Shades of Green Events can deliver your events in a professional, socially and environmentally responsible way, visit the following link:

Corporate & Social Events – Event Organisers: Event Planning & Event Management:

http://www.shadesofgreenevents.co.za/corporate-events/

To visit our latest Gallery of work follow this link:

http://www.shadesofgreenevents.co.za/gallery/

As the year ends and the New Year beckons we have a desire to start the year off the way we mean to end it “bigger, better, smarter”.  Most of us have New Year Resolutions that include diets, fitness, financial savings, holiday plans and so the list goes on. We have to wonder if any of those resolutions include ways to be “greener” at home and at work or if it’s just another white elephant that we like to pretend doesn’t require our attention.

Shades of Green Events would like to give you the opportunity to actually commit to a resolution without giving up the things you love (like chocolate or TV) which requires little effort with a lot of reward. Here are our top 5 tips to starting the year off in a greener more sustainable way:

1. Buy a glass bottle and fill it up with tap water (don’t buy bottled water when there is no need).

2. Keep re-usable shopping bags in your car and one folded in your handbag.

3. Give “Meat Free Monday” a go!

4. Use plastic containers instead of plastic sandwich bags.

5. Create a paperless environment – do you really need to print?

Shades of Green Events and their staff have already committed to being a company that is working towards a greener environment and hope that their suppliers, clients and friends of the industry will do the same. Here is to greener pastures and a fantastic 2014.

Contact Shades of Green Events for all your 2014 Event, Exhibitions, Eco-Policy Development and Carbon Footprint Requirements.

Shades of Green Events was recently joined by a new part-time Junior Account Executive, Nockey Mkhize. Nockey joined the company on a contract basis to assist with various upcoming events and exhibitions. Nockey has a passion for events – especially sustainable events – and therefore was happy to join Shades of Green Events in this new venture.

For more information on how Shades of Green Events can deliver your event or exhibition in a professional, socially and environmentally responsible way, visit the following links:

Event Organisers: Event Planning & Event Management:

http://www.shadesofgreenevents.co.za/corporate-events/

Exhibition Stands: Exhibition Planning & Exhibition Management:

http://www.shadesofgreenevents.co.za/exhibition/

You’re invited to the Green Business Breakfast in Durban!

Date: Wednesday, 24 July 2013

Time: 07:30 for 08:00 am

Venue: Gateway Hotel, Umhlanga

Cost: Sponsored by the Event Greening Forum

Please RSVP by Monday, 16 July through clicking on the following link:

www.sgevents.co/public/invitation/response/?token=ec4a8c2ecc6711e2a68a6a83f6aa2e9e

Programme

7.30am – 8.00am: Registration & Breakfast is served

8.00am: Grace Stead, Vice Chairperson of the EGF – Welcome and Introduction to the Event Greening Forum

8.15am: Jenny Kervarrec, Shades of Green Events – Hosting Green Events in Durban

8.45am: Gunther Beissel, Eco Chef Sustainable Food Service – Sustainable Catering

9.15am: General Discussion on the EGF & Event Greening

9.45am: Tour of Gateway Hotel’s Green Facilities

10.30am: Event ends

As a member of the Event Greening Forum (EGF), Shades of Green Events, would like to encourage our partners, service providers and clients to participate in the Green Office Week.

This year Green Office Week takes place from 22 – 26 April 2013.  It is both a campaign and a cause. As a campaign it aims to sensitise as many people as possible about the need to become more eco-friendly and sustain changed behaviours. As a cause it plays a national role in alerting all people at work to the need of showing more respect to our planet’s survival.

Each day of the week carries a different green theme to focus on. Download the Green Office Week toolkit on the EGF link below. The toolkit provides ideas and advice about what to do for each day:

http://eventgreening.co.za/news/green-office-week-2013/

The themes for each of the days are:

Monday, 22 April 2013 – Saving water

Tuesday, 23 April 2013 – Reducing carbon emissions

Wednesday, 24 April 2013 – Saving electricity

Thursday, 25 April 2013 – Reducing waste

Friday, 26 April 2013 – Greening your events

To find out more about the Green Office Week visit the following website: www.greenofficeweek.co.za

For more information on how Shades of Green Events can assist you with regard to events management, exhibition stands and exhibition management, environmental policy development or carbon footprint analysis, visit the links below:

Event management: http://www.shadesofgreenevents.co.za/corporate-events/

Exhibition stands and Exhibition management: http://www.shadesofgreenevents.co.za/exhibition/

Environmental policy development: http://www.shadesofgreenevents.co.za/environmental-policy-development/

Carbon Footprint Analysis: http://www.shadesofgreenevents.co.za/carbon-footprint-assessments/

An excellent environmental policy should encompass the company’s commitment to reducing the impact it has on the environment it operates in. The policy should be the foundation for future decision making and have top management buy in.

When taking the decision to implement an environmental policy the following items should be taken into consideration:

1)     The policy needs to be written in a way that all stakeholders – staff, clients, and others – can understand it.

2)     The policy should be structured with achievable objectives that will show amongst other things how applying greening practices will reduce overheads.

3)     The focus should be on reducing and minimising the environmental impact before recycling and off setting. Certification such as ISO14001 would be a great driver towards carbon neutrality.

4)     There needs to be accountability from staff and management. A green team or committee should be established to keep the policy alive and active through reporting on and revising it to ensure it stays timely as the company grows.

5)     The document needs to be integrated into all other policies and procedures and communicated accordingly.

6)     Communicate any green credentials to stakeholders as part of a Public Relations exercise.

7)     Select a third party company such as Shades of Green Events to assess the company’s carbon footprint. It is important to have a benchmark to work from when setting measurable goals. This will allow the company to measure and report on its success with concrete figures.

An excellent environmental policy can have many rewards for a company and is a valuable and worthwhile investment. Not only will the company reduce its overheads it can also benefit with securing potential tenders or deals with companies or governments that are already taking a stand. Let the people who know what works help your company in implementing an Environmental Policy. Shades of Green Events are ready to assist.

For more information on how Shades of Green Events can assit you to develop an environmental policy for your company, visit the following link:

http://www.shadesofgreenevents.co.za/environmental-policy-development/

For more information on carbon footprint assessments and offsets visit Shades of Green’s web link below:

http://www.shadesofgreenevents.co.za/carbon-footprint-assessments/

Hosting a green (or eco-friendly) event often has negative connotations of being more expensive and requiring more effort than hosting a traditional event. It might require more effort to become familiar with the various elements of hosting an event in an eco-friendly manner, but sustainable event and exhibition management companies like Shades of Green Events are ready to assist in this regard and will ensure a professional outcome. Also, the effort will be well worth it since applying reliable, eco-friendly techniques to your event or exhibition can save you money and the added benefit is publically demonstrating your company’s commitment to sustainability, which is great for Public Relations.

Greening your event and saving money in the process

There are many aspects of an event that can be reduced, omitted or sourced locally in order to lessen the impact on the environment and result positively on the bottom line. This can be achieved through applying greening practices. Three examples are:

• Waste minimisation (serving tap water rather than bottled water; electronic registration processes; distributing event materials electronically on USBs rather than printing materials; and so forth)
• Energy efficiency and renewable energy (Conserve energy through utilising energy efficient equipment; select a venue with natural light that does not require electronic lights to be switched on during the day; and so forth);
• Green transportation systems (choose a venue within walking distance from the hotel; make use of shared transportation between the airport and hotel; rent eco-friendly vehicles; and so forth)

Hosting an event in an eco-friendly manner is a long term investment in your company’s image – it will create lasting impressions on your clients and other key stakeholders. The advantages are endless and are evident from the simplest applications. Shades of Green Events looks forward to enhancing your brand and exceeding your expectations when it comes to planning your next event or exhibition.

For more information on how Shades of Green Events can deliver your event or exhibition in a professional, socially and environmentally responsible way, visit the following links:

Event Planning & Event Management: http://www.shadesofgreenevents.co.za/corporate-events/

Exhibition Planning & Exhibition Management: http://www.shadesofgreenevents.co.za/exhibition/

Shades of Green recently featured on the Event Greening Forum’s website. The article titled New ‘Green Kids’ on the Block reflects on how Shades of Green emerged on the events and exhibition scene during 2012. Visit the link below to read the article:

Event Greening Forum: http://eventgreening.co.za/news/new-green-kids-on-the-block/

For more information on how Shades of Green can deliver your event or exhibition in a professional, socially and environmentally responsible way, visit the following links:

Event Planning & Event Management: http://www.shadesofgreenevents.co.za/corporate-events/

Exhibition Planning & Exhibition Management: http://www.shadesofgreenevents.co.za/exhibition/

An independent eco-label – titled the Eco-Choice Africa (ECA) eco-label – has been introduced on the local scene to offer internationally competitive recognition for the local manufacturing sector in developing and marketing environmentally responsible products. The label offers certification of the environmental status of a range of consumer goods. It also recognises the potential impact of manufactured goods on the environment and in some cases, consumers. For more information on the ECA eco-label, read the article below:

Eco-label recognises earth-friendly manufacturers, published online in Green Times

The ECA eco-label is key in hosting green events and will be followed closely by Shades of Green in terms of event planning, event management and event greening. For more information on how Shades of Green can assist you to host your event in a professional, socially and environmentally responsible way, visit the following link: http://www.shadesofgreenevents.co.za/corporate-events/

In addition to event planning, event management, exhibition planning, and exhibition management, Shades of Green offers event greening and exhibition greening. Event and exhibition greening is “the process of incorporating social, environmental and economical responsible decision making into the planning, organisation and implementation of, and participation
in, an event [or exhibition]. It incorporates sustainable development principles and practices in all levels of event [or exhibition] organisation, and aims to ensure that an event is hosted responsibly” (Gauteng Green Events Guidelines ).

Why should you green your event or exhibition?

• Reduce costs: It can reduce your event or exhibition cost
• Reputation: It can enhance the reputation of your event/exhibition and accordingly your company since it shows you are serious about tackling climate change and presents a great PR opportunity
• Attract Investors: It can attract sponsorships for events and exhibitions and it can attract investors for companies since investment portfolios now include climate change risks (companies are often expected to show their carbon footprint reduction strategies to manage these risks)
• Carbon Tax: South Africa is looking to introduce a carbon tax in the near future towards becoming a low-carbon economy. Reducing the carbon footprint of your company’s events and exhibitions now (early action) can assist you in having to pay less carbon tax when it is implemented (long-term benefit)
• It is the right thing to do for the future of our planet.

For more information on how Shades of Green can deliver your event or exhibition in a professional, socially and environmentally responsible way, visit the following links:

Events: http://www.shadesofgreenevents.co.za/corporate-events/

Exhibitions: http://www.shadesofgreenevents.co.za/exhibition/