Medical Conference Partners’ Dee Dee Quah. Photo Credit: Medical Conference Partners
Dee Dee Quah, director of Medical Conference Partners, shares
valuable tips and advice on infusing sustainability into events. Here is
a condensed guide to her key takeaways:
Break down components
Start by dissecting your event with your team. Analyse every facet,
ponder the generated waste, and brainstorm ways to minimise it.
Solutions are readily available and only require a dedicated search.
“Look at where we can reduce the waste in the first place, how we can
prevent unnecessary consumption; basically, look at the root cause,” she
said. This purpose-driven planning helps to plan events with
sustainability in mind.
Be creative
Reluctance to pursue sustainability often comes from ignorance and
staying in one’s comfort zone. Take the time and make the effort to
teach yourself about sustainable measures. Sometimes it’s as simple as
thoughtfully considering speaker gifts. “In one of my events, we gave
free space for artisans to set up booth. When it came to speaker gifts,
we swapped the traditional pewters and plaques with shopping vouchers
for speakers to spend at the venue’s participating booths. Our visiting
speakers loved this because they go home with a souvenir while
supporting our local community vendors. And we also reduced waste.”
Seek external solutions
Find fresh solutions by expanding your network beyond your industry.
Investigate social enterprises and outside sectors that might hold
innovative perspectives. Dee Dee illustrated this with Kloth Malaysia, a
social enterprise that provided environmental solution for access
clothes and fabrics. “Kloth was operating from a consumer-oriented
context, but when I found them, I was able to adapt it for the industry.
And this is what we need to do.”
Measure progress
After breaking down the initiatives, it is important to measure
progress. Dee Dee recounted an event where only 48 kg of food waste was
generated, and surplus food was redirected to an orphanage near to the
event venue. “Doing so demonstrates a significant impact,” she
emphasised. “and all it takes is doing a bit of research ahead of
planning.”
Channel eco-anxiety into action
Channel this energy into positive action, advocating for sustainable
practices to address your concerns. “Taking action involves a blend of
creativity and commitment. Go beyond the talk and embrace the urgency to
make impactful changes.” Eco-friendly endeavours are attainable with
the right approach and doing your homework. This, she said, can be as
simple as opting to use FSC-certified paper at events to show your
commitment in protecting the forests.