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Sustainable meetings
We help you make choices that ensure the quality of your meeting from a sustainability perspective!
We care about our planet, our city and the people who live here. That is why we aim to reduce the negative impact of meetings on both the environment and people’s well-being. A sustainable meetings destination creates long-term, positive effects that benefit the entire region and help people of all ages feel included and valued.
Göteborg & Co offers organisers guidance on sustainability. Here you will find information, tips and checklists to help you make your meeting as sustainable as possible from an economic, environmental and social perspective.
The path to sustainability
- Include sustainability at an early stage of planning.
- Plan your meeting so that it is inclusive for everyone.
- Engage staff and other stakeholders to identify key areas and set goals for the event.
- Collaborate with the destination and suppliers.
- Consider environmental certification for the event: we recommend SUSA.
- Review procurement practices and set requirements for suppliers.
- Inspire others by communicating your ambitions and actions.
- Measure, report and evaluate.
- Share challenges and celebrate successes, both large and small.
Travel and transport
- Calculate and offset the climate impact of your meeting. Visit the calculator Offset the climate impact of your meeting.
- Travel by train or bus and use public transport at the destination where possible. Encourage participants to do the same.
- Walk or cycle. Distances in Gothenburg are short; you can walk almost everywhere, and there are plenty of bicycles and e-scooters available to hire.
- Encourage participants to offset the climate impact of their travel.
Meeting venues and accommodation
- Choose an environmentally certified venue.
- Ask suppliers how they can support your goals—shared transport, food, waste management, etc.
- Choose eco-labelled hotels.
Purchases and waste
- Plan purchases based on minimising, reusing and recycling.
- Have a plan for surplus materials.
- Ensure that waste sorting is easy.
- Choose local, eco-labelled and ethically certified products.
- Choose local suppliers.
- Opt for experiences as giveaways.
Food and drink
- Serve more vegetarian food.
- Choose locally produced, seasonal products.
- Choose organic and ethically certified products.
- Serve tap water instead of bottled water and label your event as tap water-friendly here.
- Communicate what is being served and where the food and drink come from. Remember that allergen information and ingredient lists make things easier for many people.
- Serve ethically certified coffee and tea and certify the event according to Fairtrade City. If coffee or tea is not served, at least two other products should be ethically certified, such as chocolate, sugar, bananas, nuts or wine.
- Remember that allergen information and ingredient lists make things easier for many people.
- WWF’s meat guide and fish guide offer inspiration on how to choose more sustainable food options.
Accessibility
- Consider accessibility for all, so that more people can participate—for example, those who have difficulty hearing, seeing or moving, have allergies or intolerances, or find it difficult to interpret, process or communicate information.
- Communicate accessibility clearly in the invitation.
- Actively work towards a balanced and inclusive programme.
Accessibility guides
- Wheelmap (in Swedish) helps you find wheelchair-accessible locations.
- The Accessibility Database provides information for residents and visitors about physical accessibility at registered venues.
Contribute to the local community
- Explore ways to contribute to your goals while creating lasting, positive impacts in the local community.
- Encourage participants to engage in activities that benefit the local community or environmental organisations.
- Share knowledge and organise outreach activities together with local organisations such as science centres and festivals.
- Ask your suppliers to donate surplus materials and food.
- Collaborate with a non-profit organisation.
Communication and marketing
- Inform participants about your sustainability ambitions and the measures being taken.
- Prioritise digital communication and marketing.
- Engage and challenge participants to contribute to a sustainable event.
Staff
- Recruit local staff.
- Ensure that staff are insured and have good working conditions.
- Aim for broad diversity among staff.
