Did you know that organizing an eco-friendly seminar can improve your company's performance? Yes, employers who are committed to preserving the environment have more effective employees! So to support your CSR strategy, why not opt for an eco-responsible seminar for your next corporate event? By carefully selecting the venue, activities and mode of transport, you can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of your seminar and rally your employees around your corporate values
What is an eco-responsible corporate event?
A corporate event is said to be eco-responsible when it is designed with sustainability in mind, and focuses on limiting its environmental impact. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and raising participants' awareness are 2 crucial aspects of a green seminar.
To take your green event a step further, why not offer your employees a seminar in the countryside to get them going green? If they're used to spending their time sitting at the office behind a screen, they'll certainly be delighted to get a change of scenery. What's more, contact with nature is known to boost creativity and inspiration: good news for you!
Why organize an eco-friendly seminar?
A strong CSR approach and a vector for employee commitment
Companies that introduce a CSR approach achieve performance gains of up to 13%. So why not take advantage of the positive impact of your corporate event on employee commitment and loyalty?
A corporate strategy in line with the Paris Agreement
The Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to +2°C (ideally +1.5°C) by 2050. The aim is to avoid major damage to many of the planet's ecosystems and to limit the worsening of current biodiversity loss.
While there are no outright obligations on the part of companies as yet, legislation is likely to get tougher on the subject over the next few years. So it's in your interest to be ahead of the curve and make environmental objectives an integral part of your corporate strategy.
A tangible reduction in your company's carbon footprint
Business travel can account for up to 50% of a company's carbon footprint. Seminars therefore contribute to your environmental footprint, and can be one of the first items on which you can easily take action.
Yes, organizing an eco-responsible seminar won't necessarily cost you more than a conventional one, but it will make a tangible contribution to reducing your company's carbon footprint.
How to organize an eco-responsible seminar?
The seminar venue, criterion number 1
Your first challenge: finding a venue for your eco-friendly seminar! There's just one problem: finding greenwashing-free accommodation that respects your budget and doesn't take up a lot of your time is no easy task.
If you'd like a helping hand, turn to Ethik & Trips, which lists over 200 addresses of sustainable tourist accommodation.
Whether you're looking for unusual accommodations, city hotels or mountain cottages, we'll listen to your wishes and suggest an eco-responsible seminar venue that meets your budget. We rely on reliable labels such as Clef Verte or the European Ecolabel to organize your next eco-friendly seminar, all without greenwashing.
Read also: discover the Clef Verte label, a benchmark certification for sustainable tourism.
Transport, an important choice for an eco-responsible seminar
Unfortunately, not all means of transport to a seminar have the same environmental impact. So before you sign up with your preferred venue, think about how you're going to get there.
If you want to minimize the carbon footprint of your seminar, opt for a destination close to your company. Limiting the number of kilometers traveled remains the most effective method of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
If you want to go further afield, restrict your search to destinations accessible by train, the most environmentally-friendly mode of transport in France.
As far as possible, avoid planes and private cars, which quickly add up to the carbon footprint of your seminar.
- If train travel is not possible for your destination, or is out of your budget, think of the alternatives:
- Rent a bus if you have enough participants to fill it ;Car pooling if you're going with a small group. Fill up your employees' cars to minimize the carbon impact of your seminar.
Finally, once you're there, think about activities and excursions that can be reached by public transport or bicycle.
Read also: discover the carbon impact of different modes of transport and choose the most appropriate solution for your eco-friendly seminar.
Food, an essential aspect
Your employees surely expect to eat well during their seminar. So don't disappoint them! However, food remains a major carbon footprint if you don't pay attention to it, accounting for 24% of the average French carbon footprint.
The advantage of choosing an eco-responsible seminar venue is that its owners often opt for responsible, sustainable catering solutions. Short circuits, organic food, support for local producers: reducing the impact of meals during your seminar is pretty easy if you choose your venue carefully.
In some cases, accommodations go even further, growing their own vegetable garden to supply their restaurant.
To go the extra mile, dare to offer vegetarian meals to your staff! Vegetarianization remains one of the most effective ways of reducing the carbon impact of food. Take advantage of your seminar to show your staff just how tasty and nutritious a vegetarian meal can be!
Reducing waste for an eco-friendly seminar
Dare to go further than selective sorting!
When it comes to waste reduction, it's a good idea to ask your host establishment to help: they'll usually have some kind of waste-reduction program in place, including composting, bulk purchasing and food waste reduction.
For your meetings, forget disposable containers and opt for reusable alternatives.
Choose your activities carefully
Jet-skiing and 4x4 outings have no place in an eco-responsible seminar! When it's time for a break, take your staff away from their computer screens and give them the opportunity to reconnect with nature.
Ask your seminar organizer to find eco-responsible activities that can be carried out near your corporate event venue, such as:
- A tree-planting workshop ;
- An introduction to permaculture ;
- A forest bath with a guide ;
- Hiking ;
- Bike rides.
If you choose Ethik & Trips to organize your seminar, we'll help you plan eco-friendly activities for your seminar. For example, are you looking for a fun, collaborative activity to raise awareness of climate change issues? We'll put you in touch with speakers from the La Fresque du Climat association.
Want to get started on organizing your green corporate event? Download the Ethik & Trips guide and adopt the right reflexes for your eco-responsible seminar.
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