The event industry has a waste problem. Many events rely heavily on disposable materials, from bottled water and packaging to signage and giveaways. As a result, a single event can generate large amounts of single-use plastic and non-recyclable waste, much of which ends up in landfill or incineration.
The good news is that planning plastic-free events is becoming easier. With a few thoughtful decisions early in the planning process, event organisers can significantly reduce single-use plastic and create more sustainable events.
At Viva Esprit, we consider sustainability from the very start of event planning. Reducing plastic doesn’t have to mean sacrificing quality or guest experience - it simply requires smarter choices.
Here are some practical ways to reduce plastic at your next event.
Start the conversation with your venue early
If you want to reduce plastic at an event, start by speaking with your venue. Many venues offer standard packages that include disposable items, but alternatives are often available.
Let the venue know early that reducing single-use plastic is a priority. This opens the door to simple changes such as removing unnecessary packaging, replacing plastic water bottles, or choosing reusable materials.
The earlier sustainability is part of the conversation, the easier it is to build a plastic-conscious event plan.
Reduce, reuse and recycle
Completely eliminating plastic isn’t always possible at large events. When plastic can’t be avoided, focus on reducing, reusing and recycling wherever possible.
Small adjustments can make a big difference. For example:
Collect lanyards at the end of the event so they can be reused
Design signage without dates so it can be used again
Choose reusable materials instead of single-use alternatives
These simple steps help minimise waste while keeping event operations practical.
Engage your attendees
Delegates can play a key role in supporting sustainable event practices.
Encourage attendees to bring reusable water bottles or coffee cups, and share your sustainability goals in pre-event emails or through your event app. When people understand the purpose behind these choices, they’re often happy to take part.
It’s also important to make responsible choices easy. Provide clearly labelled recycling bins throughout the venue so guests can dispose of waste correctly.
Rethink event giveaways
Event giveaways can be a major source of unnecessary plastic. In fact, around 80% of promotional merchandise ends up in landfill within a year. Before ordering branded items, think about whether they will genuinely be useful to attendees.
If you do provide giveaways, choose practical and sustainable items that guests are likely to keep. Another option is to replace physical gifts with a charitable donation, which can reduce waste while supporting a meaningful cause.
Celebrate progress
No event will be perfect, and that’s okay.
Every positive change makes a difference. Share the steps you’ve taken, highlight the impact where possible, and focus on continuous improvement.
Even small actions can lead to meaningful change and the more the industry moves in this direction, the easier it becomes for everyone to follow.
Small actions have big impacts
Reducing plastic at events doesn’t require a complete overhaul. With early planning, collaboration with venues, and thoughtful choices around materials and giveaways, event organisers can make meaningful progress towards more sustainable events.
If you are planning an event and want to explore practical ways to reduce waste and single-use plastic, the team at Viva Esprit can help. From early venue conversations to on-site solutions, we work with clients to create memorable events while making more responsible choices along the way.
Get in touch to start planning your next event.
Written by Izzy Williams, Marketing and Sustainability Executive
