Green Events & Innovations Conference 2015

March 5th 2015 sees Green Events & Innovations returning to the International Live Music Conference in London. As the leading sustainable events conference and gathering in the UK, this year we have three key themes: Communication, Social Impact and Changing to More Sustainable Behaviours.

Thursday March 5th at the ILMC, Royal Garden Hotel, London W8

Delegate registration rate £80: After 31.01.15, I LMC delegates / Yourope / AIF members are offered a discount of 10% and students 20% off the full rate. Contact us for details.

A Greener Festival and Bucks New University will host the seventh edition of the Green Events & Innovations conference (GEI). GEI remains the UK’s leading conference looking at sustainability at live events, drawing experts from around the country and internationally. As the industry’s response to environmental management matures, GEI will continue to demonstrate the latest solutions and technologies for practical event management. GEI 2015 will be exploring how events can make a social and cultural impact in addition to environmental factors, and how these issues intertwine. The GEI schedule will include showcases of the latest actions and top case studies from events across the globe and delegates will enjoy complimentary lunch and refreshments throughout the day.

SCHEDULE

GREEN EVENTS & INNOVATIONS 2015, ILMC

(5TH MARCH 2015)

9.30 – 10.00 REGISTRATION

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10.00 – 10.10 INTRO & WELCOME
BEN CHALLIS (A GREENER FESTIVAL) & TERESA MOORE (BUCKS NEW UNI)

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10:10 – 10:30 CASE STUDY: WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU’VE PICKED THE LOW HANGING FRUIT?
ANDY FRYERS (HAY FESTIVAL)

Andy Fryers, Sustainability Director of Hay Festival discusses what they are doing to crack the more difficult sustainability issues associated with festival management. Exploring issues and solutions for the festivals waste, transport, energy and procurements.

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10.30 – 10:50 FACT FINDER: WHAT EVENT ORGANISERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WASTE.
ED COOK (RESOURCES FUTURES)

Ed Cook explains how waste collection contractors are now legally obliged to provide facilities to collect recyclables separately and keep them separate. He also discusses the legal obligations of events organisers to act responsibly when disposing of materials. Ed also talks about some of the claims made by cleansing contractors in the events industry; inviting organisers to question the recycling figures which have been presented to them. Many organisers re-report factually inaccurate statistics which leads to misconceptions by the public and often a poor choice of treatment technology. Misreporting of figures can also reduce the credibility of recycling in general, which damages the efforts of credible recycling service providers.

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10:50 – 11.35 PANEL: STILL GETTING WASTED IN 2015?
JACQUI REEVES (FARESHARE SW), MARK LAURIE (NCASS), ED COOK (RESOURCES FUTURES), CLAIRE O’NEILL (A GREENER FESTIVAL)

How can events seek not only reduce their waste, but create value from any excess? Experts in the field share their knowledge and experience, as well as launching the new food waste salvation project for festivals by Fareshare SW, National Caterers Association and A Greener Festival.

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11.35 – 11.50 COFFEE BREAK

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11.50 – 12.15 KEYNOTE SPEECH
BEN HARDY (BRISTOL GREEN 2015)

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12.15 – 13.30 PANEL: SPREADING THE MESSAGE – COMMUNICATION & CONTROVERSY
PIP RUSH (ARCADIA SPECTACULAR), BERTIE COLE (ARCADIA SPECTACULAR), YOMI AYENI (BURNING MAN, USA / NOWHERE, SPAIN), ARTUR MENDES (BOOM FESTIVAL, PORTUGAL)

Communication – We know how important it is to communicate with audiences so why when it comes to “green are so few festivals doing it? How important is the communication of your successes and failures to a festival’s green agenda? Can use of “green” language discourage engagement in the entertainment industry for fear of “hypocrisy” backlash. It’s time to change the conversation and push things forward.

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13.30 – 14.30 LUNCH

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14.30 – 14:45 CASE STUDY: CHANGE THE RECORD (Project from IN PLACE OF WAR)
RUTH DANIEL (IN PLACE OF WAR, ARGENCIA HUB)

Ruth Daniels presents this project of In Place of War which co-creates cultural spaces in the most under-resourced communities in the world, working where others do not. To date, it has collected over £120,000 worth of unused musical instruments and studio equipment from the UK. By shipping them to groups around the world, they aim to empower local people to make their own opportunity and change. Change The Record also mobilses musicians, records albums and makes sustainable festivals in the places we work. Their current projects are in the oldest township in Zimbabwe – Makokoba; the biggest favela in Rio – Rochina; and the middle of remote jungle in DR Congo – Kisangani.

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14.45 – 15:45 PANEL: MAKING A DIFFERENCE – SOCIAL IMPACT OF EVENTS
RUTH DANIEL (IN PLACE OF WAR), MARTYN WARE (HEAVEN 17 / THE HUMAN LEAGUE), RODNEY P (GODFATHER OF UK HIPHOP & RIDDIMKILLA PRODUCTIONS), SIDHARTH SHARMA (SHAMBALA FESTIVAL)

Social Impact and the wider reach of Sustainability. Without an ecosystem to support life there are no social issues to consider, but the reality is the impacts of environmental changes are felt hardest by the poorest, and the gap between rich and poor continues to grow. Without care for our social structures, our relationships and our communication, the environment will continue to degrade. Events are pivotal for our social needs, and often social changes, both now and throughout history. How can we, and how are we using this tool to it’s greatest effect?

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15.45 – 16:05 COFFEE BREAK

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16:05 – 16:10 ANIMATION: ENERGY REVOLUTION

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16:10 – 16:30 CASE STUDY: GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL SUSTAINABILITY
ROB SCULLY (GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL)

Rob Scully takes us on a journey through the “David” approach to the “Goliath” task of managing Glastonbury Festivals sustainability plans and actions. Can we influence audience behaviour by changing their experience on site? Topics will include campsite waste, recycling and customer behaviour, public transport Initiatives, sustainable market trading, elimination of single use plastic and re-use.

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16:30 – 17:30 PANEL: BEHAVIOURS AND VALUES
DR STEPHEN HENDERSON (LEEDS BECKETT UNIVERSITY), ROB SCULLY (GLASTONBURY), DRUMMOND GILBERT (GOCARSHARE), TERESA MOORE (BUCKS NEW UNIVERSITY)

How do you influence audiences to more sustainable behaviours? There is a growing view that audiences will change behaviours where they see a “value” either to themselves and or to others. This doesn’t just apply to environmental issues but also to engagement with social impact schemes. What do we mean by value. What examples can we point to where “value” has been added and behaviours have changed. This session will look at both the theory behind these questions and some examples where this approach has proved successful.

...with more to be announced

If you would like to participate in GEI 2015 as a sponsor, please submit your enquiry to claire.ioniser@gmail.com

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