ANU has a commitment to reducing our environmental impact. On-campus events are a vital component of the ANU experience but are also a source of emissions. Use our carbon smart event guide (PDF, 501 KB) and Carbon Smart Travel Guide your planning to reduce your environmental impact from your events.
This carbon smart event guide (PDF, 589 KB) was developed using four guiding principles from the ISO 20121 Sustainable Event Framework and is designed to assist you in reducing your environmental impact associated with your events.
Our first recommendation in planning a low carbon emissions event is considering if an event needs to occur or if alternate methods such as a digital or hybrid event can achieve your outcomes. Use the event design decision making tool from our carbon smart event guide below, or see the ANU Communications and Engagement event design guide for ideas and recommendations on how best to promote engagement or use the below decision map as a guide.
For more general events planning advice see ANU Events toolkit.
Avoid Waste
- Time catering between mealtimes to avoid or reduce the amount of catering needed
- Make registrations essential and send confirmation emails near the event date to get accurate numbers for catering
- Check with caterers on the portions per person and reduce where necessary
Use reusable items
- Ask attendees to BYO water bottles and keep cups
- Ask caterers if they have a crockery option
- Purchase high use items and bring them along for general use such as teaspoons and small plates
Use sustainable caterers
- Use the caterers in the low carbon service guide*
- Ask your preferred caterer if they have a sustainability policy
- Offer only vegetarian and vegan options
*This is an editable document, ANU staff and students can add sustainable caterers in Canberra, or share experiences and tips about contacts already listed.
Go Digital
- Host an online event
- Invite international or interstate presenters to participate digitally
- Go hybrid and live stream the event to an online audience
Carbon Smart Travel Options
- Prioritise presenters who do not require air travel
- Provide information about how to cycle, walk or use public transport to and from the event venue
Sustainable Accommodation
- For interstate/international guests, book accommodation within walking distance of the venue
- Check for a sustainability accreditation or policies
At ANU, we're moving towards a smarter waste-sorting system to keep valuable materials circulating and out of landfill.
Proper sorting helps reduce contamination and increases recycling rates. Our new bin system uses up to five distinct bin streams to capture more materials before they reach landfill. Not all stations will have every bin type, so ensure you check what is available at your event location.
Reduce and reuse first
- Minimise waste by choosing re-usable items wherever possible such as coffee cups and drink bottles
- Ask caterers to supply reusable tableware and containers
- If providing marketing materials, provide these as an option at the door so people can collect what they need rather than providing packs to each attendee. Alternatively, use digital versions of programs and materials instead of printing.
- Consider sustainable goods or services as marketing materials if necessary, like promotional seed pods
- Avoid items that have one or many layers of plastic packaging
Plan ahead and use clear signage
- When booking your venue, check which bin types are available.
- The Be Bin Smart Toolkit provides downloadable posters and bin "diet" visuals to help guests sort their waste correctly.
Brief your colleagues or peers
- Make sure those supporting you with your event understand which items go in which bins.
Monitor and adjust
- Check bins during your event to prevent contamination, a quick reminder can make a big difference.