Organising events that leave a positive impact on the environment and community is essential to the LSE values. In this guide, we will explore practical steps and strategies to incorporate sustainability into every aspect of your event.

 

Green Venues:

Choosing a sustainable venue is an essential stage in organising an environmentally-friendly event.

On-campus:

At LSE, we are committed to sustainable practice. Our on-campus venues have carefully selected providers of energy, waste management and suppliers of materials, cups etc. (+specific examples of certifications) to reduce our environmental footprint.

Venues can be booked through the Resource Booker or by emailing room.bookings@lse.ac.uk.

Off-campus:

For arranging off-campus events, it is important to consider the venue’s existing sustainable practices, such as waste reduction programmes, selection of energy provider and energy-efficient technologies, as well water conservation efforts. These can be represented in any sustainability certifications the venue might have.

Sustainable Catering:

Choosing a sustainable catering service is a great way to align your event with LSE’s sustainability goals.

LSE’s catering teams recognise their role and responsibility as procurers and providers of healthy and sustainable food. LSE caterers promote healthy and sustainable practices in all aspects of food sourcing, production and service. Highlighted by high, externally certified food welfare standards:

For on-campus events, contact LSE catering for a healthy and sustainable catering service.

Hospitality catering can be order thorugh the LSE catering portal.

External Catering:

When selecting external, off-campus catering services, it is important to make the same considerations. To choose sustainable event catering review:

• Local Sourcing - Opt for caterers that prioritise locally sourced, seasonal, and organic ingredients. Supporting local farmers and producers reduces the carbon footprint associated with transportation and promotes community sustainability.
• Sustainable Menu - Working with caters that emphasise vegetarian and plant-based options, massively reduces the environmental footprint associated with livestock farming - a significant contributor to deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution and biodiversity.
• Reusable or Recyclable Dinnerware- Select a catering service that utilises reusable or recyclable dinnerware. Opting for reusable dinnerware is a great way to reduce single-use plastic waste.

Going Plastic Free

Choosing a sustainable caterer is a great way to reduce the use of single-use plastics at your event. But there are further steps that can be taken to run a plastic-free event!

Planning a plastic-free event involves careful consideration of materials, practices and waste management.

Reusables:

Opting to use refillable water bottles and coffee cups is a great way to reduce the amount of single use plastics at your event.

To encourage attendees to refill their water bottles, ensure water refill stations are clearly sign-posted and accessible. We have over 70 water fountains at LSE, which can be seen on the map below.

To encourage the use of refill coffee cups, LSE Catering have introduced a 25p tariff on single-use coffee cups - the money generated from the tariff is used to fund sustainable projects!

Going Paperless

Going paperless is a popular and effective way to reduce your events environmental footprint. Opting for digital alternatives minimises the need for printed materials. To find out more about going paperless and, when necessary, how to print more efficiently, take a look at our ‘Sustainable Printing Guide.

 

Setting Sustainable Goals

When planning your event, set defined sustainability goals and be conscious of your event’s environmental impact. These could include reducing waste, promoting local sourcing or sustainable initiatives.

Choosing sustainable targets that align with your events mission is a perfect way to incorporate sustainability into your event.

Travel

Encouraging the use of eco-friendly methods of transport can greatly reduce the environmental impact of your event.

Provide Transport Routes - Inform attendees of sustainable transport options before the event. Include details about the nearest public transport routes, cycling facilities

See our Sustainable Travel page to see LSE's Travel Plan, making sustainable