Guides & Tools

Sustainability Guides & Standards

Sustainable Events Guide Template – Inspired by the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, this adaptable template helps organizations map out how their practices align with sustainability in both events and day-to-day operations. It is designed to be customized with your own commitments, making it a practical tool for planning, reporting, and engaging stakeholders.

SFSE Gift Guidance Tool – Developed by SFSE board member Jody Brandes, this resource helps event professionals choose sustainable gifts, swag, and branded items. It highlights what to prioritize and what to avoid across categories like materials, packaging, sourcing, and shipping, making it easier to align event gifting with sustainability and social responsibility goals.

Sustainable Incentives Guide – This resource helps organizations design sustainable incentive travel experiences that are both rewarding and responsible. It offers practical tips on food, destination choice, and CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) integration. With this guide, you can deliver meaningful experiences while reducing impact and creating positive social value.

Global Sustainability Initiatives & Tools

The EIC Sustainable Event Standards provide a comprehensive, globally-vetted framework with prescriptive performance criteria across eight key event sectors (including organizers, venues, and F&B). These standards offer specific guidance and metrics for event professionals to implement and measure sustainable practices in areas like Climate Action, Materials and Circularity, Supply Chain Management, and Social Impact, paving a clear path toward certification.

The Carbon Footprint Toolset, provided by Meet Green, is a pair of practical infographics designed to help planners visualize and contextualize event-related emissions. The resources include The Carbon Puzzle, which demystifies the primary sources of greenhouse gases within an event, and the Carbon Travel Infographic, which translates abstract metric tons of carbon into understandable travel distances across various modes of transportation, allowing for more impactful decisions on logistics and offsetting.

Thought Leadership & Articles

GO ROGUE: A Supplier Diversity Mandate – Inspired by the SFSE Leadership Series and authored by Dr. Aurora Dawn Benton, this mandate explores the importance of supplier diversity in the events industry.

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – A global blueprint for sustainability, the 17 SDGs serve as a guiding framework for the event industry to contribute to environmental and social responsibility.

“Admit It: The Events Industry Is Missing the Mark on Sustainability“ – Written by Chance Thompson and Paul Salinger, this article examines the current gaps in sustainability efforts within the events industry and provides recommendations for making meaningful progress.