Pioneering sustainable practices at our events is top of mind for Touchpoint and our clients. We are conscious that all events have an environmental footprint and we are taking responsibility and action for our business choices.

What is the environmental impact of events?

Australia hosts thousands of events every year, attracting millions of attendees from around the country and overseas. Did you know that a large music festival can generate up to 1,650 tonnes of waste over a weekend?

There are different types of waste generated at events. In Australia, it’s estimated that up to 40% of the food prepared at events goes uneaten. Single-use items such as name badges, lanyards, plates, cups and cutlery as well as materials such as signage, banners and promotional items are all significant contributors to event waste.

Let’s not forget the carbon footprint from attendees travelling to and from the event, especially those who fly, adding to the environmental cost of the event.

Finding sustainable solutions at our events

Reducing the environmental footprint of our events has been an increasing measure of success from clients, stakeholders and partners alike. Touchpoint has implemented a number of changes to our day-to-day business practices that have enabled us to meet and exceed our sustainability goals.

Rethinking single-use plastic
The use of single-use plastic has been an increasingly hot topic for years and the pressure on consumers and businesses alike to make informed choices about the products they are using is rising.

Onsite registration is one of our key services, and we have redesigned our name badge products to provide more sustainable options for our clients. For the vast majority of our events, we have now ditched plastic pouches entirely, opting instead for a hardy, coated paper that meets our rigid durability requirements.

Touchpoint have recently introduced TerraCycle Zero Waste Boxes at onsite events to recycle all name badge materials.

Sustainable partnerships
TerraCycle has an in-house R&D team of polymer scientists who develop innovative recycling solutions for common hard-to-recycle items people use every day.

Some of the items that Touchpoint and TerraCycle are working together to fully recycle include our name badge paper stock and all elements of lanyards including the fabric, plastic and metal. The comprehensive scientific process which is undertaken enables the recycled raw materials to be used for recycled items such as picnic blankets and socks, nuts and bolts and new plastic products.

For Touchpoint, this is not only reducing the amount of waste that goes to landfill from our service offering, we’re also removing the possibility that any of the waste ends up in our waterways or oceans, and reducing the environmental burden associated with the extraction of virgin materials to manufacture new products.

Further to this, we also work with our clients to create “evergreen” designs for reusable items, like lanyards, so they can be used for multiple events across numerous years, extending the product lifecycle before eventually being recycled.

Registration Options
Traditional registration desks can often involve creating a vast amount of printed materials that expire at the conclusion of the event. Our next-generation self check-in kiosks reduce the need for large scale signage, yet still offer the ability to put your brand at the forefront.

Go virtual
One of the most significant benefits of virtual events is that they allow companies to host wide-scale gatherings in a more sustainable and environmentally friendly way than in-person events. As EventsAIR’s Platinum Partner, Touchpoint uses their award-winning integrated virtual event platform, OnAIR, to manage session streaming, virtual exhibitions, ePosters and more. From planning to delivery, Touchpoint works closely with clients to deliver a seamless and engaging event.

Virtual events eliminate the need for attendees, speakers, and organisers to travel to a physical location. This reduction in transportation-related emissions (from cars, planes, etc.) leads to a significant decrease in the event’s overall carbon footprint.

The need for physical materials such as paper for brochures, agendas, and signage is eliminated almost entirely when hosting a virtual event. This reduction in resource consumption helps conserve natural resources and minimises waste generation.

Whether you’re planning your next corporate event or attending one, consider the environmental impact of every decision. Embrace digital solutions, reduce waste, and prioritise eco-friendly practices. By making conscious choices today, we can create a lasting positive impact on our planet.

Contact us to discuss how you can introduce new sustainable practices at your next event. Together, we can build a greener, more sustainable tomorrow.