You’ve probably noticed that “going green” is everywhere these days – and now it can be in your sporting event.

Developing an “environmental impact statement” for your event and branding it as a “Green Event” is not only good for the environment but may prove valuable to your marketing campaign.  It may spark an interest in athletes who are looking for something different and are interested in how they can help the environment in all parts of their lives.

Try some of the ideas below to “Go Green” at your next event:

1. Ban plastic water bottles.  Instead of selling or giving away bottled water, provide plenty of large water dispensers with biodegradable paper cups.  Or, encourage attendees to bring their own reusable water bottles.
   
   
2. Have on-site recycling bins.
   
   
3. Make green/environmental education a part of your event.  For example, have announcements over the loudspeaker or a booth explaining how athletes can reduce their carbon footprint.
   
   
4. Print event T-shirts on organic cotton.
   
   
5. Use less paper.  Have attendees sign up using event registration software!
   
   
6. If you do need to print materials, use post-consumer recycled paper.
   
   
7. Make it easy to carpool.  Provide an email address, phone number, or web address that athletes can contact to find people with whom they can share a ride.
   
   
8. Use biodegradable banners/signage and serving ware.
   
   
9. Offer a prize to the “greenest” athlete.  The criteria could be someone who took “green” transportation to get to the event, is wearing or using green/sustainable gear, registered online, recycled etc. The prize could be planting a tree in the name of that “green” athlete or purchasing a renewable energy credit from a green energy company.  Be creative!
   

Even small changes can make a difference and raise awareness in the importance of protecting the environment.  By incorporating a ”green” theme into your next race, match, game, or tournament, you can provide something different to your players while raising awareness in helping the planet.

Active’s Go Green program rewards event organisers for going paperless. As an event organiser, if you commit to registering a target of 95% of your participants online, Active will offer you exclusive benefits.  Click here for more information.