Ten Tips for More Eco-Friendly, "Green" Experiential Events

Synergy appreciated all of the great feedback from our Valentine's Day post about why we "love" experiential marketing.

Keeping with the holiday theme and in honor of St. Patrick's Day, below are ten tips for more Eco-Friendly, "Green" events. Yes, many of these items can be more expensive, but if your brand is environmentally conscious or is holding a PR event or new product launch with a green theme, here are some items to consider:

1. Use bio-degradable signage material that unlike traditional PVC vinyl, will break down over time in landfill conditions.

2. Utilize solar power. Synergy executed a fun, outdoor "green" wedding event in New York City (pictured above), where all of the elements were eco-friendly, right down to the band, which was powered by a mobile 20' X 10' solar panel.

3. If there are -t-shirt giveaways, use ones made with organic cotton.

4.If you are utilizing raw materials at your event site, contact a local Habitat for Humanity or similiar organization, which may gladly take plywood, metal or other materials you may not keep after the event is over.

5. If you are conducting a mobile marketing tour, electric vehicles are a popular option and not just because of the rising cost of gas. Many of them are nimble, quiet and eye-catching.

6. Whenever possible, use LED, not flourescent lighting.

7. This is one often overlooked: if you are serving food at your event, make it organic.

8. Place recycling bins or cans throughout your event site to reinforce the message. This is an excellent idea even if your event does not have a green-friendly theme.

9. As more and more consumers are utilizing smartphones, consider placing QR codes throughout your event site to cut down on paper collateral.

10. If you are doing a trade show event, there are companies like Go Green Displays (shout out to a fellow New Jersey company) that do tremendous work creating "green" event booths.