ENVIRONMENTAL & SUSTAINABILITY POLICY

Powwow’s Mission

Our mission is to deliver exceptional, well-planned events that help make a positive impact on society and contribute to a more sustainable future. We aim to manage our operations by strongly considering the impact past, present and future actions may have on the welfare of future generations. We execute this whilst also maintaining a realistic set of goals that we know we can achieve by bearing in mind the effect our events can have on the environment.

We are committed to doing business in ways that do not take more from the planet than it can sustainably provide and not provide to the earth more than it can sustainably absorb.

The Green Powwer Mindset

Green Powwer is a group of passionate individuals within our office who ensure we are on track towards our environmental and sustainability goals.  As a company, and as individuals, we fully understand that caring for our environment is fundamental to assuring a sustainable future for all, in keeping with The UN Global Goals For Sustainable Development.

This impacts how we manage the day to day operations of the office, how we manage events and our relationships with partners, clients and suppliers.

We believe in making real changes in small steps; working from the ground upwards. These changes have been and continue to be derived from a genuine concern and care for the planet.

This bottom-up approach is really key to the Green Powwer mindset. It ensures that with all current and new business, the values that Green Powwer embodies are shared with all those who work with us.

Business summary

We aim to continuously demonstrate being a sustainable events organisation. Keeping sustainability at the core of event practices from start to finish; from planning and preparation to execution on delivery, as well as ensuring the Green Powwer values are somewhat imprinted after each event. 

We aim to leave behind a better environmental legacy by:

  • Complying with all relevant existing environmental legislation

  • Minimising our waste footprint

  • Reduce harmful emissions wherever possible

  • Reduce consumption of materials and promote recycling

  • Sourcing local produce

  • Manage energy and water usage wisely

Continuous improvement

Green Powwer is currently researching various tools to assist us on our journey, such as:

  • Working towards ISO 20121 for Sustainable Events

  • BCorp certification

  • The SDG Compass for Businesses

We will review our policies on a regular basis to take into account new developments and stakeholder expectations.

Scope

Our Environmental & Sustainability Policy applies to all office operations and all events and venue search projects conducted on behalf of our clients and prospect clients.

This Policy is designed to clearly identify the minimum requirements for Powwow’s event organisers in relation to the planning, implementation and evaluation of our entire operations within the Policy scope.

Policy Statement

The Environmental & Sustainability Policy aims to reduce adverse environmental, social and economic impacts and make positive contributions to the operations of Powwow and our clients’ events managed by Powwow.

Powwow has identified four key areas of consideration. Event organisers must demonstrate that sustainable options in the following categories have been considered and measures undertaken as follows:

1.      Waste Minimisation and Resource Recovery

Events can generate large amounts of waste. It is essential to have in place facilities to allow reasonable levels of recovery for the waste that is produced.

This can be achieved by the following actions:

  • Recycling all recyclable items where appropriate systems are available, including organic waste and packaging

  • Ensuring that the recycling process for paper, cardboard, organics, plastic, glass and aluminium is operating effectively. Wherever possible ensuring that recycling processes are in place for both Powwow and its suppliers

  • Reducing waste through sustainable purchasing

Ensuring that funding for adequate waste management services is provided for in an event budget.

2.    Water and Energy Use

Events can be high water and energy consumers. It is important to develop and implement measures to minimise water and energy consumption and to communicate these measures to participants and stallholders.

This will be achieved by adopting the following practices:

  • Reducing energy and water use and increasing energy efficiency through behavioural change. Powwow will endeavour to purchase energy and water efficient equipment for such things as lighting, power and hire equipment

  • Ensuring wherever possible that temporary structures are energy and water efficient

  • Supplier and participant’s compliance with minimising both water usage and water wastage

  • Where practical implementing a program to off-set greenhouse gas emissions from energy usage and hired equipment.

 3.      Equipment and Supplies

Equipment and supplies made of resource intensive materials can often travel large distances before finally being put to use. Transport (and therefore distances travelled) is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. It is essential to consider the lifecycle of equipment and supplies associated with an event to ensure sustainable purchasing decisions are made.

This can be done through the following:

  1. Purchasing products and services that are less greenhouse gas intensive in their production, transport and use (for example, wherever possible choosing local and not interstate suppliers)

  2. Choosing products that have minimal packaging

  3. Working with suppliers to ensure the availability of preferential products and services

  4. Seeking partners whose values align with our own objectives (for example food vendors that use only biodegradable and recyclable food containers)

  5. Exploring the feasibility of off-setting greenhouse gas emissions for transportation of supplies and hired equipment.

 4.      Transportation

Transport is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. There are a range of sustainable transport alternatives available for organisers and event participants.

These include the following:

  1. Encouraging event attendees, suppliers and staff to use more environmentally friendly methods of transport for commuting to and from the event

  2. Exploring the feasibility of off-setting greenhouse gas emissions for transportation of visitors and staff to and from events.

Any questions?

Please get in touch with us at hello@powwowevents.co.uk