Sustainable & Ocean-Friendly Event Planning
Clearwater
Make Your Next Event Ocean Friendly
Many people are aware of the problems plastic is causing to our oceans, wildlife and human health. As a result, more and more people choose to support organizations that are parting ways with single-use plastics.
Ocean-friendly events are those that abstain from using single-use plastics and instead use items that are reusable, compostable(Show info) or recyclable. Being a coastal city, we recognize the importance of taking care of our environment and waterways. The city is actively taking steps in moving towards sustainable event planning and ensuring a healthy coastal environment in which Clearwater residents and visitors can thrive in. Supporting local, adopting ocean-friendly practices such as ditching single-use plastic items and finding alternatives that are compostable, skipping balloons and confetti, making recycling as well as composting available and encouraging multi-modal transportation to your event for lowering carbon footprint are some ways you can start.
Hosting a sustainable event will not only make the experience more pleasant with less waste, it is also a great promotional quality and attracts more visitors to your events.
10 ways to host sustainable & ocean-friendly events
Step 1. Start Early
Appoint a sustainability ambassador, and start planning your sustainable event early.
Step 2. Be Thorough
Research options for event sites, vendors, caterers and suppliers that are committed to sustainability and ocean-friendliness.
Step 3. No Plastic
Skip single-use plastic items, and encourage alternatives, such as refillable water stations, aluminum cans, reusable bottles, compostable plates and utensils. When single-use plastic items end up on the ground, they breakdown into microplastics, which go in the water and air that we breathe.
Step 4. Say No to balloons, Sky Lanterns, Confetti or Beads
These materials are difficult to collect for disposal and often end up in our waterways choking coastal wildlife. Balloons and sky-lantern releases are banned in Florida.
Step 5. Recycle
Make recycling available on-site with education visuals and work closely with the city for proper waste management.
Step 6. Eat Locally
Prioritize food and beverage vendors that specialize in in local and climate friendly foods. When food is sourced locally, it is fresher and does not require as much transportation, which has an effect on the environment.
Step 7. Reduce Waste
Reduce food waste and set-up compost stations or donate the food you don’t use to charities in your area.
Step 8. Carpool
Encourage visitors of your event to carpool, rideshare, bike or walk which reduces carbon emissions relating to transportation.
Step 9. Community Outreach
Consider including education on community sustainability as a component of your event by incorporating things such as cleanups, coastal restoration and giving away native plants at the end of your event.
Step 10. Raise Awareness
Make known your intentions and commitments. Hopefully, it will inspire others to do the same.
More information
by: myclearwater.com
Read the full resource here:
https://www.myclearwater.com/Sustainability-Greenprint-2.0/Make-Your-Event-Ocean-Friendly
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