Event space · Sustainability
“Sustainability is mostly about smart decisions, not about going without.”
An interview with Eva Šálková, who runs events at Zenwork, on creating an occasion guests remember, and why sustainability and a company party are not mutually exclusive.
Eva, let us get straight to the practical steps. What would you advise companies that want a more sustainable event? Where should they start?
I would start by asking what the event is actually for. After that, it is just a matter of adding one step at a time.
The biggest difference often comes from the decisions that look small: choosing a venue guests can reach easily by public transport, and catering from suppliers who think about the impact of their work, use quality local ingredients and know how to get the quantities right so that food is not left over. I would also recommend using digital materials instead of printing things unnecessarily.
I have been to a few Christmas parties that were more of an advertisement for plastic. Can that be aligned with sustainability at all?
Absolutely. These days the “wow” factor does not come from the amount of decoration but from the atmosphere of the whole event. Working with the space, the lighting, the music or plants often makes a stronger impression than single-use decorations.
Where we do use decorations, we try to choose ones that can be used again: textiles, borrowed pieces or reusable balloons. I would suggest first going through what the company already has in storage or around the offices. It is often surprising how much can be used again.
Do you find that companies are becoming more interested in sustainable events?
It tends to come up as a welcome bonus. Companies often have no idea how much can be done easily and without any significant increase in budget. That is exactly where we can help, because we deal with it every day.
What specifically can you and your team do at Zenwork where sustainability is concerned?
Our great advantage is the location. Zenwork is in the centre of Prague, a few minutes away from public transport, so there is no need to drive. That addresses one of the heaviest environmental burdens of any event. We also use no disposable tableware at all.
The building has an intelligent management system that controls heating and cooling efficiently. We try to buy as much green energy as we can, and we work with suppliers who think the same way we do.
It always slightly disappoints me to leave an event with a goody bag full of leaflets. Do you feel the same?
Exactly the same. At Zenwork, we keep printing to a minimum — all the information can be shown on the screens throughout the space. We separate our waste and choose our suppliers carefully.
When something does need printing, we try to give the materials a second life. The navigation signs from events, for instance, go to a preschool as drawing paper for children. It is a small thing, but I think it’s small things like that which add up to more change than we often realise.
I am also happy to support clients who plan events with a sustainable impact by offering them better terms.
The interview originally appeared in the newsletter of the Holky z byznysu community. Read the original →