How to Host a Sustainable Event in Pittsburgh
Thinking of hosting a sustainable event in Pittsburgh? In recent years, Pittsburgh has been making great strides in terms of sustainability, but there is still a ton of work to be done in the wedding and events industry.
Whether you’re planning a corporate event or holiday party or a social event like a baby shower, anniversary party, or birthday party, chances are…
Your event is going to leave an ecological footprint.
If you’re new to the idea of eco-friendly events, you might be thinking, “It’s only one day, so it can’t be that harmful to the environment, right?” But the truth is that these single day events add up and have a lasting negative impact on the environment, and they also affect the event industry at large.
Hosting an eco-friendly event can reduce the ecological footprint that your event and its guests leave behind. Read on to learn more about why you should host a sustainable event and how to host a sustainable event in Pittsburgh.
Why host a sustainable event?
Between trash and food waste (and sometimes even animal waste), events produce tons of waste, which negatively impacts the environment. Events make up a multi-billion dollar industry, and most of the products and services in the events market are not sustainable. In fact, many products and operations used to put events together are downright harmful to the environment.
By making even a few sustainable choices when hosting an event, you not only help the environment, you also sidestep the events industry by showing businesses that consumers are demanding more sustainable options.
How to Plan a Sustainable Event in Pittsburgh
Hosting a sustainable event requires more research and planning ahead. It can be difficult and more time-consuming to identify signs of greenwashing and find more sustainable options.
When planning an eco-friendly event, think of ways to reduce waste in the planning process, for the event itself, and during the cleanup process. Here are some sustainable event tips and ideas, particularly if you’re hosting a sustainable Pittsburgh event:
Consider working with an eco-friendly event planning guide.
Whether you want to do a quick eco-friendly strategy consultation or you need someone to walk you through the entire event planning process, an eco-friendly event planner who specializes in sustainable events can guide you and save you so much time and stress by taking the research and work off your hands. Learn more about Why You Should Work with an Eco-Friendly Planner here!
Host your event at a sustainable Pittsburgh venue.
If you’re thinking about hosting an eco-friendly event, it’s best to start by “greening” your biggest area of expenses. And one of your largest expenses for your event will be the venue.
The venue often has the most touch points throughout the planning process, as you’ll frequently be in contact with the venue coordinator before, during, and after the event. Plus, your venue will likely refer you to other preferred vendors to work with. So it would be a good idea to choose a venue that can help you cut down on waste and refer you to other sustainable vendors.
If you’re hosting a small event, you may be able to find a sustainable restaurant with an event space. Sustainable Pittsburgh Restaurant is a valuable resource for finding eco-friendly restaurants, as it awards restaurants with a designation upon meeting certain criteria for sustainability.
Some larger sustainable event venues in Pittsburgh include the Energy Innovation Center (EIC), the RLA Learning and Conference Center, and the David L. Lawrence Convention Center (DLCC). You can find more eco-friendly event venues in Pittsburgh here.
Find a sustainable caterer.
Catering is another area that will take up a good portion of your event budget. Therefore, it’s a good idea to consider going green in this area. You can do this by finding a sustainable Pittsburgh caterer, such as Bistro to Go or Black Radish Kitchen.
Other ways to be more sustainable with the food and beverages you’re serving are to go vegetarian or vegan and/or serve organic, seasonal, and local menu items.
Event lighting can be a way to bring a space to life in more a sustainable way.
Go with sustainable decor.
Forego plastic and balloons if you can, and consider eco-friendly decor alternatives. Pittsburgh Plant Lady offers plant rental so that you can decorate your event with plants that can then be reused. You can find more eco-friendly event decor ideas here.
Go with sustainable dinnerware.
Instead of plastic (or even paper) dinnerware, consider renting china from your caterer or a local rental company, such as Event Source, which uses sustainable operations and cleaning practices. If you don’t have room for china in the budget or it doesn’t make sense logistically, look into eco-friendlier disposable dinnerware, such as biodegradable or (even better) compostable dinnerware.
Reduce waste during the cleanup process.
It can be easy to forget about the cleanup process until the last minute when planning an event, but planning ahead can help you ensure that the waste produced by your event will be handled in the most sustainable way possible. Work with your venue and caterer to see if they offer recycling and composting, and if not, consider purchasing sustainable waste management services through Carbon Compost. Also, see what items can be donated (don’t forget about leftover food!) or sold after the event.
More Sustainable Event Tips
There are many more things that you can do to host a sustainable event. Because Pittsburgh is growing in terms of its commitment and efforts toward sustainability, there are now more and more options to help you make your event eco-friendly.
Striving to create a zero-waste event is a great goal to establish, but remember not to get caught up in aiming for perfection. It can lead to analysis paralysis and overwhelm.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed and like you don’t know where to start for your upcoming event, consider consulting with an eco-friendly event planner. I’d love to chat to identify your needs and vision and come up with a plan that works best for you!