Event production can be pretty epic with massive screens, loud audio, and engaging lighting. But if poorly managed, events could sometimes have a lot of waste and power usage.
The good news is things are changing. Sustainability in event production is no longer just a buzzword you can use to pat yourself on the back with, it’s actually something you can do to make a real impact and save your organization money. And honestly, it makes your company look pretty damn good too.
So let’s talk about how event production and sustainability can actually work together instead of fighting each other.
Events are temporary. The impact? Not so temporary.
Think about it:
It builds up fast.
But the shift is happening where sustainable event production is now part of modern event planning. People want greener choices, brands want to show they care, and AV companies are stepping up in a big way to give them both the option of a sustainable event.
AV is the heartbeat of most events and, oftentimes, uses a lot of energy with some of the equipment. The fix? Smarter, more sustainable gear that can be used for multiple events, not just one.
Modern AV companies are shifting to:
LED lighting that uses less energy than traditional lighting fixtures
Energy-efficient projectors and displays
Power management systems that reduce waste
LED lighting, for example, uses 75% less energy than traditional lighting fixtures and still looks epic.
Even now, printed materials are used everywhere at events from programs, signage, and schedules. You name it.
AV companies try to mitigate the amount of paper wasted at events by offering a digital solution to event planners. Instead of paper guides, AV companies create LED agenda walls to portray the entire events schedule. Digital signage is everywhere at events providing a place where brands can show sponsored content to improve their visibility to attendees.
Whether you're planning on using LED or projection for your stage setups, both are viable options to be sustainable. These digital solutions save paper, reduce waste, and honestly make updates way easier.
Bonus: Attendees already have their phones glued to their hands. Might as well use that.
Shipping gear across the country often burns tons of unnecessary fuel for each event.
Sustainable event production focuses more on these areas:
Local AV equipment vendors
Regional warehouses
Consolidated shipping
AV companies are also building networks so gear can be sourced closer to the venue. That means fewer trucks, less fuel, and faster setup. Less travel equals lower carbon emissions.
At Clarity, we utilize this model to maximize clients’ budgets and to prevent waste on excessive flights to allow the client to put more money into an insane stage and event design. We have a large pool of dedicated techs that live all across the country to allow us for this exact reason.
Custom builds are always pretty impressive, but scrapping the build right after the event is not.
More event production teams are using:
Modular stage designs
Rental-based decor and furniture
On top of everything else, most of the gear that AV companies use from LED walls to the truss is reused for future events.
This stuff can be packed, shipped, and used again over-and-over. Lean on your production partner to collaborate with you on modular designs that can be re-used for events with a similar epic design.
If you’re interested in being more sustainable for your future events, use a trusted AV provider like Clarity Experiences. We focus on not only providing the most insane set designs, but also updating and reusing those designs to be a more sustainable provider.