This month:

• Green Leader Q&A with Maarten van ‘t Veld, Senior Sustainability Manager, ID&T / Superstruct Netherlands
• Coming Soon: The Show Must Go On #3: State of the Industry Report and Climate Transition Plan 2030, details on launch events and preview.
• Green Deal Circular Festivals shares seven decision trees for event organisers. 
• Bristol Events Congress to host sessions on sustainable transport and power pilots for events.
• FREE waste & carbon tracking for Vision members from The Rubbish Portal.
• A Greener Future announce International Green Award Finalists.
• Event Production Show 2026: Vision for Sustainable Events to host three panels sharing event sustainability advances. 
• Julie's Bicycle and Arts Council England share latest 'Culture, Climate and Environmental Responsibility' Annual Report 2024-25.
• An overview of upcoming events and news from across the industry.

Please consider paying £5, £10 or £15 to support Vision's monthly newsletter. Donate HERE.

Contact bethan@visionsustainableevents.org to share newsletter ideas and news. 

With over 20 years of experience in the music and event sector, Maarten works at the intersection of operations and sustainability. He thrives on creating unforgettable, large-scale festival experiences by collaborating with diverse teams and driving positive change from within. With a sharp eye for market trends, he focuses on embedding sustainability through efficiency, innovation, and shared responsibility—helping to future-proof events and create a lasting impact. Read Maarten's answers to our monthly Q&A HERE>>

Last month, we spoke with Tijl Couzij at Into The Great Wide Open Festival and Lab Vlieland. Read his answers HERE>>

The forthcoming third edition of The Show Must Go On (SMGO) report and the Climate Transition Plan 2030 for the UK Live Outdoor Events Industry represents a significant collaborative effort to understand current practices and present a robust roadmap for lower emissions.

• 5th February: Chris Johnson (Chair of Vision and lead SMGO author) will present a preview at the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) Congress in Bristol.
• 11th February: Official launch at a Parliamentary event in the House of Commons, London, hosted by Patrick Hurley MP.
• 24th February: SMGO will feature at the Greener Events and Innovations Conference (GEI18) at the Royal Lancaster, London.
• 26th February: A Vision for Sustainable Events panel at the Event Production Show (ExCeL London) will discuss how events can implement the plan's recommendations.

The report and climate transition plan 2030 will be available to download 11th February HERE.

With the release of a new toolbox, the Green Deal Circular Festivals (GDCF) shares seven decision trees covering key impact areas to translate sustainability ambition into practical steps that can be applied in real festival contexts.

The toolbox supports festival and event professionals in making informed sustainability choices throughout the organisation of their event. Download it HERE>> 

Bristol Events Congress will take place 3–4 February, at We the Curious, Bristol. The Congress offers sessions designed to inform, inspire, and spark new ideas. Key highlights include:

• Bristol Festivals hosts the WECA Creative Growth Fund.
• Sessions on sustainable transport and power hub pilots for events.
• Cultural strategy and impact surveys.
• Dedicated sessions for amphitheatre event organisers.

The congress is free to attend but please reserve seperate tickets for each individual session HERE>>

Vision for Sustainable Festival & Events members can now access The Rubbish Portal for free. Created by Rubbish Ideas, this tool helps events measure and reduce their environmental impact while saving money. Track your waste and carbon with no cost and no obligation to upgrade.

Plus, if you choose a paid tier later, Vision Event Members will receive an exclusive 5% partner discount. Access the free Portal HERE → 

The International AGF Awards celebrate and recognise festivals, events, arenas and suppliers that are breaking ground in event sustainability.

The International AGF Awards ceremony will take place on 24th February 2026 directly following the Green Events & Innovations Conference, GEI18. Learn more about the finalists and book your ticket for GEI18 HERE. 

The new Arts Council England Environmental Responsibility Report (2024–25) is now live. This report highlights bold and transformative actions taken by organisations during the second year of the 2023–26 programme, focusing on community, collaboration, and environmental commitment. Access it HERE.

ExCeL London | Thursday, 26th February 2026

Join us for three expert panels discussing the findings of the new SMGO report:

• Reading the Roadmap: Insights into how SMGO signposts best practice in event sustainability, with key authors and contributors.
• Bring the Energy: Sharing recent advances in powering events efficiently and sustainably.
• Taking the Sustainable Journey: New initiatives, tools and best practice in tackling travel and transport impacts at events, with charity onboard:earth, You.Smart.Thing and Industry guests. 

Register for #EPS26 Tickets HERE>> 

If you enjoyed this edition, please help fund the next one.

We love the positive feedback we receive from our community of thousands of green event lovers. However, despite the rise of AI, this newsletter doesn't write itself (yet!). We are asking our readers to contribute the cost of a pint (£5, £10, or £15) so we can keep delivering these updates.

Please consider paying £5, £10 or £15. Donate HERE online - it takes just a minute and makes a world of difference to our not-for-profit project.

Our curated selection of news from across the live events industry and beyond, including jobs, blogs, and what the Vision team has been reading this month:

• Check out Julie’s Bicycle's new website, with easier access to the tools, training, resources and campaigns HERE>>
• London Maratho Events reveals sustainabilty partner and new green measures for Brighton Marathon Weekend, in Standout Magazine HERE>>
• BMA House to host sixth Sustainable Events Lounge with Event Industry News, 25th March HERE>> 
• Project Salt Run: Hannah Cox is running 100 marathons in 100 days across India to raise £1 million for Climate. With less than a week to go, you can donate HERE>>

Our newsletter reaches over 4,900 UK event professionals interested in sustainability. Send jobs, events, resources and articles to feature here to: info@visionsustainableevents.org