Sustainability

Sustainable action plan

• Internal audit and consulting with VO Event 2020–2021
• Sustainable event action plan devised during 2021 and presented to stakeholders in the Brussels event management sector at Share in early 2022

Aims

Setting our priorities and establishing a progressive three-year plan

Three main workstreams that could have an immediate impact through our actions and resources:

• social inclusion and awareness-raising
• waste management (reduction via reusable serveware in particular)
• use of resources

Every event is unique and so the measures are adaptable with varying scopes.

Some of our results over the last three years

• Over 1,900,000 reusable cups used at our events
• Over 130,000 reusable food containers in the test phase
• 2,501 kg of surplus food collected and transformed into more than 5,000 meals redistributed to vulnerable people (families, former prisoners, the lonely, the isolated…)
• Over 1,200,000 litres of municipal (drinking) water saved by the addition of dry toilets
• Tens of tonnes of waste sent to the right channels thanks to the sorting system
• Nearly 200 Brussels artisans with a salespoint on the Winter Wonders Christmas market (notably the Creators Factory) and/or who have benefitted from our accreditation
• Dozens of interns/students educated on the issue of street harassment (equal opportunities training)
• Over 70 trophies and urban furniture benches/tables made with wood salvaged from the Christmas tree on Grand-Place
• Over 40 Brussels-based charities consulted and partnering events launched in the different districts
• Dozens of cultural venues included for the diversity and projects they bring to Brussels

Our work continues...

Everyone knows that the challenges of sustainability are ongoing and will shape the future:

• Developing monitoring tools to measure the scope of our actions and better address our City’s priorities
• Building exemplary models that the Brussels event management sector could use
• Always considering the alternatives under development (e.g. serveware)
• Incorporating ever-greater inclusivity into our project structures
• Raising awareness of gender issues and making the necessary progress
• Strengthening a united event management network to identify bespoke innovations and solutions for every event format
• Challenging ourselves to go further in our sustainable measures and reviewing them alongside the priorities outlined in the coalition agreements