In this step, it may be worth extending the solutions associated with ecological catering. If you work at a cultural institution making this a regular practice, rather than a one-off choice by an event organiser, may require a longer process. At this stage, it is worth collecting data which will allow you to calculate the carbon footprint of your event, so that future initiatives can be planned with greater awareness.
Giving up animal and animal-derived products in catering
As pointed out by Greenpeace, for the benefit of humans and the planet, it is crucial to reduce meat and dairy consumption by half by 2050. Meat and animal-derived products have considerable impact on the environment – greenhouse gases emitted by cattle farming are comparable to the emissions of global transport. In response to these challenges, the European Union, in its ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy, promotes a plant-based diet as part of the Green Deal and the pursuit of climate neutrality.
Cultural institutions should take a systematic approach to eco-friendly catering. Eliminating animal and animal-derived products, i.e. switching to plant-based catering at public events, should be part of the strategy of the entire organisation and become the norm for external partners as well. In order to regulate these rules, they should be included in tenders and contracts. (see: ECO-ETHICS OF COOPERATION)
> Read: Deadly for the planet. How factory farming affects the Earth, source: Viva!
> Research shows that people are more likely to choose products labelled as ‘plant-based’ rather than ‘vegan’, even though in practice there is no difference between them. Read more: ‘Global warming’, ‘climate crisis’ or perhaps ‘climate change’? Research shows which terms are more effective, source: Proto.
Carbon footprint of events
Every event has a specific carbon footprint, i.e. the total greenhouse gas emissions generated at all stages of its preparation and implementation. Therefore, it is worth taking into account the goals related to minimising the impact on the climate in the initial planning stages, contracts with subcontractors, and communication with partners and sponsoring organisations.
When organising an event, collect and document data on, among other things, energy and water consumption, material consumption (e.g. promotional materials, stage design, costumes), waste quantities, the type and number of journeys made by artists, employees and service providers, and finally the number of people attending the event and how they travelled. This will help you estimate the carbon footprint of the event and identify areas for improvement.
You can perform the calculations yourself, e.g. in a spreadsheet, or use carbon footprint calculators, many of which are available free of charge online. Thanks to the measurements taken, we can understand which areas of our activity have the greatest impact on greenhouse gas emissions and reduce them more effectively.
> Check out the available digital calculators and choose the one that best suits your needs. For example, Carbon Footprint Calculator allows you to calculate transport-related emissions – you need to specify the means of transport, the number of passengers and the distance travelled. Julie’s Bicycle has developed a special tool for the creative industry – Creative Climate Tools – which enables estimating the impact of entire events, including their production facilities, and monitoring the progress in reducing emissions. Gallery Climate Coalition has developed a calculator tailored to the needs of the visual arts sector and institutions involved in organising exhibitions.
> It is also worth checking out the online calculators for individual carbon footprints, which allow you to better understand the impact of our lifestyles on the environment. See for example Footprint Calculator, WWF Footprint.
