Certified Sustainable Event by Greentime

There is a model we can use to define an event as sustainable based on The Natural Step principles. A sustainable event is one that does not use fossil fuels, does not contribute to harmful chemical pollution, does not encroach upon ecosystems, and at the same time meets human needs—both for those working at the event and those attending it. These four principles apply to all services and products associated with the event.

Naturally, it is important to work with sustainability issues for the sake of our shared future and for the next generation. That is the central reason. But it’s also important to understand the environmental and social impact an event has—something that sponsors and financiers increasingly want to ensure. Events often play a major role in creating lasting behavior change among people. Rather than seeing an event as a cost to the environment, it can be used as a platform for transformation. By working systematically with sustainability, we can minimize our environmental impact and inspire visitors and participants to act—making the event a platform for change towards a sustainable future. It is crucial that we take action now, especially in reducing our carbon emissions. All parts of society must contribute to the transition, and physical events are important meeting places for sharing ideas and inspiration.

There are many events, both large and small, that have worked actively with sustainability, such as the Floorball World Championships, the Handball World Championships, Malmöfestivalen, and Lidingöloppet. What they have in common is that they have achieved the “Sustainable Event” certification, which requires organizers to act sustainably. Working toward certification gives event organizers structure and strength in their sustainability efforts, turning it into real value. You can explore certified events and see their answers and actions at: https://greentime.se/app/evenemang/ — scroll down and click on "Se referensprojekt" (See reference projects).

During the planning phase, it’s important to have a clear structure since sustainability can often feel broad and complex. What we at Greentime offer is structure and inspiration. Greentime provides a sustainability planning tool that supports all aspects of sustainability—environmental, social, and economic. In simple terms, it’s about common sense and making smart choices that reduce environmental impact and create a safer, more inclusive event. You need to understand why you take certain actions and implement measures to minimize environmental impact and reduce the risk of discrimination—both for attendees and participants. As an organizer, you can plan sustainably by following a clear structure and doing things in a systematic way. When done right, sustainability can become a real asset—helping you, for example, reuse rather than buy new, improve waste management, and reduce littering, which can otherwise lead to feelings of insecurity. A well- structured sustainability approach can lay the foundation for long-term value.

There are many actions that can be taken—for example, making it easier for visitors and participants to travel in a climate-smart way to and from the event (as travel often accounts for the largest share of emissions), reducing litter, or cutting down on red meat on the menu. You can also work on energy efficiency and review your purchases.

Sustainability and environmental messages can be communicated to visitors in many ways. For example, you can encourage climate-smart travel, highlight vegetarian food, make it easy for attendees to sort their waste, and ensure diversity on stage. These are actions that visitors can take home with them and apply in their daily lives, leading to long-term behavior change.

Working in a structured way with sustainability and environmental issues can lead to cost savings—for example, by enabling waste sorting and thereby reducing waste management costs, renting instead of buying new, coordinating transport, and much more. There may also be demands from funders or sponsors requiring you to demonstrate your sustainability efforts. Greentime’s sustainability certification, “Certified Sustainable Event,” serves as a tangible proof of your efforts. In the end, acting sustainably benefits everyone—it reduces dependence on fossil fuels and contributes to more inclusive events, which studies show benefit all people in more equal societies.

Start by ensuring that no one—visitors, participants, or staff—is discriminated against based on the legally protected grounds (such as gender, gender identity, religion, ethnicity, age, or disability). A socially sustainable event is one where all individuals' needs are met without discrimination. Think through potential risks of exclusion and plan accordingly—for example, ensuring accessibility for those with limited mobility. Include diverse groups in your communication, use multiple languages, and set an early framework or policy for respectful behavior—something that everyone must adhere to. Greentime’s sustainability tool provides guidance in all of these areas.

At Greentime, we support event organizers in acting sustainably. While many organizations work with sustainability more broadly, we focus specifically on events through our sustainability tool and our certification, "Certified Sustainable Event." There is also an ISO standard (ISO 20121) directed at organizations behind events. We at Greentime work directly with specific events, which are the ones being certified.

Greentime’s sustainability tool allows you to calculate the CO2 emissions of your event. By inputting data on travel, food, waste, logistics, and energy use, you'll get an overview of the event's carbon footprint. While based on standard estimates, we’ve helped many events and have comparative data from a wide range of event types and sizes.

You can also measure sustainability performance by answering carefully selected questions in the Greentime tool and logging your responses over time—year by year or between events. Each answer provides a score: “Yes” gives 1 point, “Partially” gives 0.5 points, and “No” gives 0. You can also remove a question if it's not relevant and provide a justification. This generates a percentage score for your event’s sustainability performance.

The most common challenge is that organizers often lack sustainability knowledge, and without a clear starting point, the topic can feel overwhelming. In the worst case, it’s neglected entirely. Greentime provides structure and support—especially valuable when your own knowledge is limited. Another challenge is time—there’s often no one clearly assigned to take charge of sustainability. Make sure someone is given this responsibility early on and has the authority to act. Finally, many struggle to know what to focus on or how to communicate their efforts. It’s often hard to weigh different aspects, especially when comparing environmental and social issues. It helps to define focus areas from the beginning that offer the greatest impact.

Train staff so they know what actions they can take to reduce food waste—this insight will save money. It could involve serving smaller portions, asking attendees if certain ingredients should be excluded, limiting menu options, and more.

Generally, trains followed by buses are the most climate-friendly options—or of course walking or cycling if feasible. But it also depends on the type of fuel used. An electric vehicle charged with renewable electricity can have lower emissions than a full bus running on fossil fuels. Similarly, a bus using renewable diesel (e.g. HVO100) can be much less polluting than a single diesel car over the same distance. It's not just about the transport mode but also the event location. Choose a venue with good public transport connections, if possible. This not only lowers CO2 emissions but also reduces the need for large parking areas.

Prioritize local sourcing for both goods and services when planning your purchases. A good tip is to engage in dialogue with local producers or businesses to explore how they can contribute to the event and help spread your message. You can also reach out to local organizations and ask how you can collaborate. These conversations often generate added value for the local population.

Choose equipment produced without fossil fuels, free from harmful chemicals, and manufactured in ways that do not displace ecosystems while ensuring fair conditions for workers. Equipment that can be rented or reused extends its life beyond the event. As a general rule, avoid PVC plastic and choose cardboard or paper wherever possible.

Promote sustainable suppliers by setting procurement requirements, such as prioritizing local or eco-labeled products. This is easier if you have a clear policy guiding your purchasing practices. Sometimes strict criteria aren’t feasible—when that’s the case, encourage and inspire suppliers to take action.

Reducing energy use significantly impacts the event's overall footprint. Use LED-lighting, install manual or automatic controls to avoid unnecessary power consumption, and explore creative solutions like energy-generating dance floors for charging phones. Have an open dialogue with your sound and lighting providers to see what they can and want to contribute.

Sustainable events reduce their climate impact by limiting greenhouse gas emissions—for instance, by choosing fossil-free transport, using renewable energy, minimizing food waste, and sourcing local and vegetarian food. We all share responsibility. Greentime’s sustainability tool offers plenty of tips on how to reduce your event’s carbon footprint.

Through clear communication, nudging, and interactive elements like sustainability tips, quizzes, signage, or guides. Know your audience and provide takeaways that can inspire long-term behavioral change—such as serving delicious vegetarian meals that visitors want to recreate at home.

Use low-flow toilets, offer hand sanitizer instead of running water, minimize water use in food preparation, and avoid unnecessary watering. Examples include installing water- efficient toilet trailers and serving food with low water footprints, like legumes.

Through accessibility adaptations, diverse programming and representation, subsidized tickets, and inclusive communication. Examples include offering audio description, sign language interpretation, or free admission for specific target groups.

Common certifications include ISO 20121 (sustainable event management), Greentime’s "Certified Sustainable Event", and Green Key for venues.

Choose artists and performers who align with your values, travel sustainably, and include environmental requirements in their riders. Prioritize local acts or those who tour fossil-free.

Clear signage, social media, moderators, in-app or printed sustainability guides, and storytelling in stage programs. For example, let the host highlight your sustainability work during the opening ceremony.

Recruit volunteers for recycling stations, educational outreach, and as sustainability ambassadors. Provide training and make their efforts visible. Example: a “Green Team” in green vests helping visitors sort their waste.

Use reusable cups, plates, and cutlery; ban plastic bottle sales; and provide water stations. Example: Introduce a deposit system for cups or implement a reusable system.

Use reusable cups, plates, and cutlery; ban plastic bottle sales; and provide water stations. Example: Introduce a deposit system for cups or implement a reusable system.