From intimate weddings to large trade shows, Georgia's event industry is embracing sustainability like never before. As professionals bringing people together, event planners have a unique opportunity to showcase how thoughtful planning can reduce environmental impact while creating memorable experiences. 

Written by expert event planner Sue Anne Morgan of ideaLand, Drawdown Georgia’s new toolkit, "How to Make Your Event More Sustainable in Georgia," offers practical, Georgia-specific guidance for event professionals ready to make a difference.

The Hidden Carbon Footprint of Events

When we bring people together, we can create magic—and a lot of waste. The average event attendee produces over 4 pounds of waste per day, with about half going to landfills. A 1,000-person event creates approximately 195 tons of CO2 emissions daily—equivalent to consuming 411 barrels of oil. Even a single trade show can generate 75,000 pounds of landfill waste per day.

These statistics aren't meant to discourage us but rather to highlight the tremendous opportunity we have to create positive change. By implementing sustainable practices that draw on many of the 20 Drawdown Georgia climate solutions, we can significantly reduce these numbers while often cutting costs and enhancing the attendee experience.

Sustainability as a Competitive Advantage

Sue Anne reports that more clients and attendees are prioritizing environmental responsibility. By positioning sustainability as a core offering, Georgia's event planners can meet this growing demand while standing out in a competitive market.

The sustainability commitments made by Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, for example, offer a powerful demonstration that even massive venues hosting millions of attendees annually can achieve zero food waste through comprehensive composting, recycling, and food donation programs. If they can do it at that scale, imagine what's possible for events of any size across our state.

>> Learn more about sustainable event planning from expert Sue Anne Morgan.

Georgia-Specific Solutions That Work

Our new toolkit offers practical advice tailored specifically for Georgia event professionals:

Smart Venue Selection

Looking for venues already committed to sustainability can eliminate much of your footprint from the start. The toolkit highlights notable green venues across Georgia, from the Classic Center in Athens to the Savannah Convention Center, that already have sustainable practices in place.

Catering With Care

Working with caterers who source local, seasonal produce not only reduces transportation emissions but also supports Georgia's farmers and food artisans. The toolkit identifies sustainable caterers throughout the state who offer plant-based diet options (which typically have a lower carbon footprint) and minimize packaging waste.

For example, many Georgia caterers now offer bulk beverage dispensers instead of single-use bottles and use compostable serviceware that can be processed alongside food waste—often at comparable or lower costs than traditional options.

Waste Management That Works

Effective waste management starts with planning. The toolkit recommends providing clearly labeled recycling, composting, and landfill bins at strategic locations throughout your event, along with trained "Sustainability Ambassadors" to help attendees sort correctly.

Georgia has excellent resources for composting and food rescue, including organizations like CompostNow, Goodr, and Second Helpings, which can ensure leftover food helps feed people in need rather than contributing to methane emissions in landfills.

Transportation Solutions

By centralizing events around mass transit, providing bike racks, sharing information about EV charging stations, and arranging shuttle services, planners can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of attendee travel—often the largest emissions source for events.

Small Changes, Big Impact

Even simple adjustments can make a meaningful difference:

• Using digital invitations and event apps instead of printed materials

• Selecting reusable or compostable name tags

• Choosing practical, sustainable giveaways like seed packets or reusable water bottles

• Providing water stations instead of bottled water

• Designing signage that can be reused for future events

The toolkit emphasizes that sustainability isn't about perfection—it's about progress. Each small step reduces your event's environmental impact while often creating a more thoughtful, memorable experience for attendees.

Building a Community of Green Event Professionals

Georgia's event planning community has an opportunity to lead by example. By sharing successes, learning from challenges, and collaborating with sustainability-minded vendors, we can collectively transform how events are produced across our state.

The toolkit provides a comprehensive list of Georgia-specific resources, from the Atlanta Community Toolbank for borrowing event supplies to specialized sustainable event production companies like ideaLand.

Start Your Sustainable Event Journey Today

Ready to go green at your next event? Drawdown Georgia's free toolkit, "How to Make Your Event More Sustainable in Georgia," provides everything you need to get started—from venue selection checklists to questions for caterers, from waste management strategies to recommendations for local sustainable vendors.

Check out the toolkit today and join Georgia's community of forward-thinking event professionals creating gatherings that not only bring people together but also protect our shared environment. Together, we're bringing climate solutions home--one event at a time.