First Event Sustainability
Hosting amazing events
shouldn’t cost the Earth
At First Event, we specialise in bringing people together, but we also recognise the environmental impact events can have. From travel and energy use to materials and waste, events contribute to carbon emissions and resource consumption.
That’s why sustainability is built into how we work. We’re committed to delivering experiences that also meet our clients’ sustainability targets and reducing impact on the planet. We believe sustainability isn’t a trend, it’s a responsibility. It’s about making smarter, more conscious choices. Choices that are better for people, kinder to the planet, and designed for the long term.
Whether it’s through our team, our clients, our supplier network or our wider community, we have the power to influence a more sustainable future for the events industry. This isn’t a box-ticking exercise; it’s who we are. We’re always looking for ways to improve.
Our vision for sustainable events
We’ve always done things differently, and that includes how we approach sustainable event management. We want to become a leading voice for sustainability in the events industry by pushing for meaningful, long-term change. We’re currently updating our sustainability strategy, which will launch later this year.
How we plan sustainable events
We don’t just talk about sustainability, we take action. Each time we work with a client, we have the chance to challenge traditional approaches and champion sustainable event planning. From the first briefing through to delivery, we can integrate sustainable practices at every step. We make sustainability part of every key decision, including:
- Event production and build
- Venue choice and transport emissions
- Balancing digital vs physical elements
- Materials, giveaways and signage
- Ethical food and drink sourcing
- Reduce environmental impact while enhancing the experience for attendees
- Providing event carbon footprint data to clients, in collaboration with event:decision
Our internal sustainability commitments
True sustainability goes beyond the environment. It’s also about how we treat people. We prioritise:
- Team-wide training on sustainability to build shared responsibility
- Staff wellbeing, inclusion, and development
- First Event is employee-owned
- Fair and ethical contracts across our supply chain
- Financially responsible, sustainable planning and delivery
We believe that building a responsible, future-focused business starts from within.
Our sustainable event priorities
Creating more sustainable events starts with how we work behind the scenes. Our team follows key principles to make every event more responsible and efficient. We prioritise:
- Reusing materials and minimising waste
- Promoting recycling across all sites
- Choosing recycled or recyclable materials
- Safe disposal of electronics
- Reducing energy and water consumption
- Limiting pollution, emissions, and noise
- Sourcing locally to cut down on carbon footprint
- Sustainable supply chain partnerships
- Inclusive planning to make sure all event attendees feel part of the event
We collaborate with suppliers who share our sustainability values and help us bring low-impact events to life. Where possible, we support suppliers in improving their own environmental credentials, and we learn from those who are already leading the way. We’re currently reviewing and strengthening our procurement process to further align with our sustainable event goals, so we can make an even bigger impact together.
Get in touch
Reach out today to find out how First Event creates memorable, sustainable experiences.