As we step into autumn, the final moments of a summer events season would normally be taking place and many would be wrestling debriefs and settling accounts. As an industry we would be starting to reflect on the year, but right now, many are still doing their best to survive and plan in a climate of uncertainty.

In the absence of a season's sustainability efforts to share, learn and be inspired by, we have dedicated this month’s newsletter to looking at practical solutions to Covid-19 event management that may contribute to #BuildBackBetter (greener!) - in the below: save the date for the 4th annual Vision: 2025 sustainability conference now digital with The Showman's Show; meet this month's inspirational Green Leader Abena Poku-Awuah; check out a new guide to sustainability, PLUS read blogs on sustainable face masks, practical covid solutions, and innovative approaches to carnival power.

Selena Donald is the founder of The Bulb, a sustainability consultancy for event organisers, brands and NGOs, and she has recently authored a guide to Sustainability, Safety and Events in a Post-Lockdown Era. In this blog she discusses coronavirus and climate change and lays out clear actions for events, business and policy makers. Read the full blog HERE.

The annual Vision: 2025 industry conference hosted at the Showman's Show is going online this October with some exciting content to be announced shortly. The programme will include conversations with industry leaders, innovations in the supply chain, and results from the Industry Green Survey 2020 - everything event organisers need to stay on top of trends, solutions, and resources. 

SAVE THE DATE: 21 OCTOBER 2020 (time tbc)

Abena Poku-Awuah is a sustainable events producer and consultant and the founder of Legacy, a sustainable events agency, which was set up in 2016 to help companies and event professionals organise events that are better for the environment through training, workshops, audits and bespoke advice.

Abena is also part of the Leadership Team at The Sustainable Event Alliance. Read Abena's answers to our 20 Industry Leader questions HERE.

In August, Kaye Dunnings, Creative Director or Glastonbury's world-renowned Shangri-La took the Q&A, you can read her answers HERE.

Events organisers who fill out the 5-minute annual survey, before the 30th September 2020, will be entered into a prize draw to win one of FIVE free consultancy sessions with three leading industry experts on waste (Livvy Drake), power (Tim Benson) and strategy (Chris Johnson).

Join over 70 UK festivals who have already filled out the form to help us reach the target of 100 entries, and contribute to Vision: 2025's work in shaping advice and resources for event organisers to adapt and thrive. 

FILL OUT THE 5 MINUTE SURVEY HERE.

In this blog Chiara Badiali, Knowledge and Sector Intelligence Lead at Julie’s Bicycle, highlights the opportunity for the UK government's recovery investment package for the arts, culture and heritage to be linked with the UK’s overall Net Zero ambitions, and for it to address the racism, inequality and divisions that are directly mirrored in the context of climate change to enable the transition to a greener, healthier, fairer society. Read it HERE.

With so many types and brands of face mask available, how can we choose a good option? In this guest supplier blog AnyBrand Mask Founder, Colin Graham, explains why their new-to-market masks are the safer and sustainable option: re-usable, treated with 'HeiQ Viroblock', which is tested effective against the virus that causes covid, made from recycled materials, and recyclable at end of life. Read the blog HERE.

Applications are now open for Julie’s Bicycle’s Creative Green Awards, which recognise and honour the achievements of the creative community taking action on climate change.

The awards celebrate the outstanding impacts and results recorded through Julie's Bicycle Creative Green certification process. This year they have launched two new awards that will be open for public nominations; Best Creative Programming and Best Campaign: winners will receive a full day's programme of support delivered by Julie’s Bicycle's team of consultants. Find out more and apply HERE.

Here's what the Vision: 2025 team are watching, listening to, and reading this month:

Will the fiscal impact of the covid pandemic mean event sustainability initiatives are sidelined? Access All Areas interviews some leading industry figures: HERE.

#BreakFreeFromPlastic launch worldwide PPE Campaign to stop covid-related plastic pollution HERE. 

September 21st is International Zero Emissions Day: Find out you can do HERE.

Festivals have an important role to play in re-normalising human connection, and without this it will be harder to take action on the climate crisis: Check out Chris Johnson's latest blog HERE.

Why we need a Natural Health Service for conservation and the environment in The Independent HERE.  

Read City to Sea's blog on how to stop PPE becoming plastic pollution to keep you and our oceans safe  HERE.

Fluorescent hand sanitiser, face masks and contact trackers: Indoor concert for 1,500 fans in Germany is part of covid-19 experiment, Access All Areas reports HERE.

PICK OF THE MONTH:  Why environmental justice means racial justice: Pioneers we can learn from - a Blog by green PR company Greenhouse HERE.

In this month’s blog Tim Benson, Chair of the Powerful Thinking Steering Group, updates us on conversations with the new Environmentally Responsible Carnival Network, hosted by the New Carnival Company CIC, and their search for alternative solutions to diesel generators, including introducing energy monitoring and exploring the feasibility of battery solutions, whilst also looking at low emissions alternatives to diesel.

Tim also explores the available tech that can help reduce energy demand in the first place with a review of Minirigs’ ultra efficient sound systems, and Swiss start up Belair Technology’s battery powered amplifier solutions. Read the full blog on the Powerful Thinking website HERE.