Sustainability has long been a concern of consumers, brand managers and corporate leaders in determining environmentally responsible business practice. Yet, what is now second nature in corporate communications and often through supply chains and procurement. Yet corporate events, a huge industry in its own right and a significant fraction of communications, is slowly catching up.

The Sustainable Events Summit, held on 18 February in Euston Square, London, seeks to change the ways in which corporate event managers and suppliers think about sustainability. 

Hugh Robertson, minister for sport and tourism, says, “Delivering a sustainable London 2012 Games was a key priority right from the outset and they have been hailed as the greenest ever Games by the Independent Commission for a Sustainable London 2012. The Sustainable Events Summit will be a chance for a wide range of global brands to come together, share knowledge and best practice and make sure that sustainability continues to be an integral part of staging future events.”

The conference will feature workshops, discussions and debate about issues related to sustainability and its impact on brand, customer loyalty and corporate responsibility. Closing the event will be Olympian Etienne Stott MBE. The gold-medal winning slalom canoeist is launching the One Planet Sport series which will discuss issues in sustainable sports and events.

The organisers of the London Olympics themselves were strong proponents of running sustainable events and had a defined strategy as to how it would minimise its carbon footprint. The Sustainable Events Summit seeks to imbue that sense of responsibility into corporate events.