Cvent, a leading provider of meetings, events, and hospitality technology, announced that it has reduced environmental impact at its recent Cvent Accelerate Dubai conference, by 25% compared to similar events in Dubai.

With just 200 attendees, the event generated only 12 tonnes of carbon emissions, a stark contrast to the 40 tonnes typically produced by one-day conferences in the region.

Further, Cvent also took proactive steps to reduce its environmental impact through making climate contributions by planting trees in a mangrove reforestation project in Kenya and supporting a renewable energy wind farm project in Satara district, Maharashtra, India.

These efforts are part of Cvent's ongoing commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship, and they will undoubtedly strengthen environmental awareness in the region, a statement said.

Sandeep Nagpal, Cvent Vice President, Marketing said: “Delivering more sustainable events is a critical need in the industry and it’s heartening to know that 55% of organisations have set CO2 reduction targets, with 9% specifically targeting event-related emissions.

“At Cvent, we continue to prioritise sustainable practices and we're proud to lead the way in using technology and creative event planning to enable a more sustainable MICE industry. We hope that our efforts will inspire other organisations to also take concrete steps towards reducing their environmental impact.”

These are the key ways Cvent reduced carbon emissions at Accelerate:

Registration/Check-in

1. Streamlined registration with event technology, eliminating manual paper check-ins

2. Used recyclable lanyards and badges without plastic sleeves

3. Provided recycling bins and encouraged attendees to deposit badges and lanyards before departure

Branding

1. Exclusively utilised fully digital directional signage

2. Customised kiosks made from Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF) were reused and recycled

3. Reduced flex usage by 70% by incorporating LED setups in the ballroom

4. All event details and materials accessible through the event mobile app/website, eliminating printed materials

5. Selected an AV/Production vendor with a sustainability focus

Venue selection & partnership (CSN)

1. Cvent Supplier Network was used to find a centrally located venue which is accessible by public transport, reducing car travel

Food and Beverage

1. Onsite water bottling plants and filtration systems provided safe drinking water in glass or reusable bottles.

2. Curated sustainable menu option

Community Education and Awareness

1. Installed an LED screen in the pre-functional area with a video on sustainability and its importance

2. Hosted sessions and panel discussions on making events more sustainable

3. Shared an informational video to illustrate the impact of events on the environment and provide inspiration on how to create a more sustainable future

Measure, Manage and Mitigate

1. Cvent’s Attendee Tracking software recorded and tracked attendee data and calculated the carbon footprint using the Trees4Events carbon calculator

2. 72 trees were planted in a mangrove reforestation project in Kenya

3. Plus, each tree was backed up with a United Nations Certified Emission Reduction renewable energy project

Nico Nicholas, CEO Trees4Travel & Trees4Events said: ‘’We are delighted to be Cvent’s sustainability partner, supporting their mission to educate, reduce and mitigate impact, inspiring positive change through leadership and action.

“Our values are clearly aligned for a better, safer, more equitable world, as together we strive to support up to 13 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals’’.

Looking ahead, Cvent said it is excited to embrace even more sustainable practices at future events, including the upcoming Accelerate 2024.

The company recognises the critical need for more sustainable events and aims to lead the way in using technology and creative event planning to enable a more sustainable MICE industry. – TradeArabia News Service