Through OnePlanet, Paragon offers options including sourcing venues and suppliers with proven eco-credentials, ideas for alternative methods of travel and CO2 offsetting, increasing energy efficiency and waste reduction (around 20% of waste produced in the UK is packaging, that's 4.5 million tonnes a year), use of reusable and recyclable materials in stage/set design, build and theming.
There are also opportunities to provide interesting local and global projects actively integrating into an event, say the company - for example, creating a team/motivation programme benefiting an eco-project, or by funding and legacy initiatives for new projects.
"Including sustainable elements in an event certainly does not mean a reduction in quality - far from it, in fact with the growing number of top venues and suppliers implementing environmentally responsible methods of working and new products, arguably the opposite is true", the company says.
Jacqui Loftus, managing director, says: "Our aim is for clients to perceive no visible difference in the look and feel of their event, but . . . there's a balance to be made and measures that can certainly be taken to reduce the negative impact."
The company's launch statement says: "As well as the obvious positive environmental impact, there are very real economic benefits to the client and their business, enhancing reputation, adding brand value and creating awareness as well as cost savings. For the events industry there's the opportunity to be innovative and create new products and services."
One of the relationships Paragon is developing is with Climate Care for CO2 offsetting, a method of 'balancing' carbon emissions by calculating the 'carbon footprint' of an event created by flying, driving, heating and powering. Climate Care calculates a payment equivalent to that which the activity releases and funds projects that avoid, reduce or absorb greenhouse gases. Offsetting is currently not that expensive: for example, to offset one delegate on a return flight from London to Dubai (which creates 1.52 tonnes of CO2) would cost £11.40.
*PLASA, the Professional Lighting and Sound Association, in conjunction with The Eden Project, is looking at the possibility of supporting a conference on environmental awareness in show and event production. See the November issue of Lighting&Sound International magazine for further information, or contact the e-mail address below.
(Lee Baldock)
