Our team planned a big corporate conference at a beautiful event venue a few years ago. The event’s production was flawless, the energy on the floor was electric, and attendees were delighted. As the crowds began to disperse, we started our victory lap around the venue. We were met with a dismaying scene – lots and lots of waste. Unwanted giveaways, discarded paper programs, and plates of uneaten food from the catering service littered the event venue. The mission became apparent: how do we create extraordinary events that create lasting memories, not lasting negative impacts?
Why is sustainability such an important consideration for corporate events?
Corporate events have always been powerful platforms. They foster connection, drive innovation, and present a narrative supporting company visions and goals. Through blogs and social posts, they generate powerful content that sustains the narrative well beyond the event.
Corporate event planners are under pressure to deliver indelible experiences that produce measurable ROI. Without proper support, sustainability can be perceived as having the potential to derail a successful event. Prismm believes designing sustainable events is an opportunity that can enhance the attendee event experience.
How are we helping our customers navigate the line between sustainability and event success?
To start, we walked the walk before talking the talk. We incorporated the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) framework into the very core of our operations. TBL is an approach that considers efforts for the betterment of “people, planet, and profit”—the three Ps. The idea behind this approach is that each of the three pillars holistically supports one another. When executed correctly, it works to lower environmental impacts, support operationally adjacent communities, and, of course, drive profits.
After adopting TBL at Prismm and incorporating the principles into our event planning, we applied our lessons to our Prismm platform. Through ongoing innovation and improvement of our spatial design software, we enable planners to manage carbon footprints and waste using DIGITAL TWINS.
Digital twins offer our corporate event planning customers a virtual replica of event spaces, from huge arenas to small intimate venues, allowing them to design, simulate, and fine-tune every aspect of an event. Event planners can create optimized flows to maximize sustainable practices. An entire comprehensive event experience can be created via immersive, photorealistic 3D.
With the Prismm platform, every event detail can be reviewed and tested and sustainable practices can be applied. When sustainable opportunities are discovered, they can easily be included in the event design. Prismm digital twins are dynamic, while others are static, enabling planners to update and share experiences instantly, eliminating waste right up to the start of the event.
Rather than guessing how much food will be needed for different audiences or estimating how many paper plates are required for the guest list, you can simulate these situations and adjust your orders accordingly – ultimately reducing waste in your local landfill.
Our journey to supporting fully sustainable events is still in the early stages. In 2025, we will introduce additional AI-supported features to enhance sustainability practices, including analyzing energy use, waste generation, attendee engagement, and more – and provide reports that can be shared with attendees and the public.
Beyond our internal approach to sustainability with TBL and the changes coming with our digital twins technology, we have a few more suggestions for those looking to make their events more sustainable.
Simple changes for more conscious corporate events.
- Choose eco-friendly swag. Consider reusable or locally sourced items instead of single-use giveaways.
- Opt for digital signage. It is not only more sustainable but also dynamic and easy to update.
- Offer plant-based catering options. Incorporating one or two plant-based meal options can significantly reduce your event’s carbon footprint.
- Think hybrid. By allowing attendees to join virtually, you can reduce travel emissions without sacrificing engagement.
At Prismm, we are committed to innovation that empowers corporate event planners to deliver events where the only leave-behind is fabulous memories.
If you are interested in learning more, check out our guide on the 7 steps to designing more sustainable events.
To get a free demo and some insightful chat, just contact us here!
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Author: Adam Parry
Adam is the co-founder and editor of www.eventindustrynews.com Adam, a technology evangelist also organises Event Tech Live, Europe’s only show dedicated to event technology and the Event Technology Awards. Both events take place in November, London.
