The Event Greening Forum (EGF) is offering event managers and meeting specialists greening workshops to help them manage the “instant impacts’ their events have on the environment.

Events draw instant audiences and with them the associated water, waste and energy impacts. This makes managing these resources effectively, and mitigating the resulting carbon footprint, quite challenging.

From August to October the EGF will present one-day event greening workshops in Port Elizabeth, Pretoria/Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town.
The aim of the workshops is to promote awareness around environmental issues and equip businesses in the events industry with the know-how and skills to address this by practicing event greening practices. Naturally, training opportunities are an important element of this.

“The events industry has a vital role to play in terms of safe-guarding South Africa’s resources, by using them responsibly and in a way that will enhance the industry for years to come. Its all about forward-thinking, and not exclusively focusing on the here and now,’ says Justin Hawes, Chairman of the Event Greening Forum.

“A frustrating misconception that many people have is that greening is expensive. But this is not necessarily the case. Some event greening can have cost benefits, and some simply cost the same as traditional approaches. The most important thing about the training is changing people’s mindsets so that they start to see opportunities to improve their business,’ Hawes adds.

The workshops run from 8.30am to 4.30pm, and are designed to introduce business owners and their staff on how they can implement event greening through practical measures. Modules include:

• What is event greening?

• Why does it matter?

• What are the main practices that need to be implemented?

• Practical case studies are provided throughout

The workshop is applicable to all service providers and suppliers who operate within both the business and leisure events industry (including meetings, incentives, exhibitions, conferences, events and festivals).

Dates for the training are:

• Port Elizabeth – 14 August

• Pretoria/Johannesburg – 16 August

• Durban – 13 September

• Cape Town – 09 October

Heritage Environmental Management Company and Steadfast Greening are the two service providers who have been contracted to carry out the training. “The Event Greening Forum is not a training company, but we have members who provide this training and are experts in the field of environmental sustainability. They will be running the workshops,’ Hawes says.

The cost of the one day workshop is R750.00 per person (excluding VAT), which includes training materials, refreshments and a light lunch. EGF members receive a 10% discount.

CMP Network members can also claim Clock Hour Credits by attending the workshops.

If you are interested in attending one of the workshops, or would like more information on becoming a member of the Event Greening Forum, please contact Pippa Walker on 011 447 4777 or pippa@eventgreening.co.za . You can also visit the website, http://www.eventgreening.co.za/.