It might take Batman to save the planet on the silver screen, but in the event industry everyone has the power to protect the earth. Using tap water instead of trendy bottled brands and switching off lights is common sense, but making seismic change takes a little more nous.

Putting in place a green supply chain is a good starting point. Choosing caterers that source food locally and buy in-season significantly reduces so-called 'food miles', says Merlin Entertainments Group events general manager Michael Aldridge. "It dramatically decreases the cost of produce but not the quality," he argues.

All food outlets at the Innocent Village Fete use environmentally friendly catering equipment, with biodegradable and recyclable cutlery a prerequisite. Waste food is composted by Aardvark Recycling, with designated staff separating food to ensure no contamination. In addition, solar power is supplied by Firefly Solar.

"Selecting the right location helps reduce visitors' carbon footprint," says Ian Irving, sales and marketing director at Sledge, which organises the event. "Another consideration is tickets and postage. A high percentage of the 2008 Innocent Village Fete tickets will be printed at home, with only 10% sent out from Innocent using recycled paper."

The Observer Ethical Awards, staged in June by Seventeen Events, featured coasters made from sheets of recycled crushed wellies with event details printed on them, along with specially commissioned furniture from an ethical designer. For Seventeen Events managing director Andrew Williams, the secret behind a green event is whether sustainability is integrated across all planning levels or simply bolted on the end. "Making your event green shouldn't impact on its quality," he says.

Transportation is arguably the biggest CO2 culprit, but it's an unavoidable component of the event industry. That said, it makes sound ecological and financial sense to trim road and air haulage and keep a tight audit of fuel consumption and mileage. Use coaches for shuttling guests to help cut car use, and be strategic when planning trips by picking direct routes, advises The Rouge Partnership creative director Nathan Homan.

Bio-fuel generators are becoming popular, but Homan is sceptical. "They use things such as sugar cane to make power, but the rainforest is being destroyed to grow the sugar cane, which defeats the object," he cautions.

Offsetting carbon emissions is a viable tactic for neutralising impact. Broadcaster Sky offsets CO2 from events such as its staff Christmas party, organised by The Rouge Partnership, by investing in renewable energy, including hydro-electrical plants and wind farms. Fresh Group, meanwhile, is exploring a partnership with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, where for every event organised the charity plants a tree.

Greening an event is always a judgement call. Ask yourself whether fresh-cut flowers from Holland are absolutely necessary when a striking sculpture will look just as impressive and can be reused. Does the entire event space need to be carpeted? Can the set-up crew wear woolie jumpers instead of ramping up the heating?

Probably the greatest question is whether the event space itself is green. Excel London has put in place a slew of eco-initiatives to reduce its carbon footprint. These include a scheme to discourage clients from using non-recyclable products and a long-term commitment to make Excel carbon-neutral. Perhaps the most surprising scheme, however, is a 14-metre wormery that converts waste food from events into useful compost.

In 2007, a total of 3,518 tons of waste was removed from Earls Court and Olympia (EC&O). However, 43% of this was recycled. "Recycling and reusing paper, cardboard, metal, plastic, paint, cotton fabric, glass, carpet, banners and wood dramatically reduces waste sent to landfill," says EC&O sustainability advisor Emma Wellman.

Despite its size, age and design, EC&O has implemented a range of water management and pollution-control measures, from regularly checking fuel tanks and training staff on how to treat spillages, to ensuring sanitary waste contractors demonstrate sustainable disposal methods.

Wellman advocates BS8901 as a starting block for designing green events. Launched in the UK in November 2007, it provides a framework of guidance for working sustainably within the event industry, not for creating eco-friendly events per se. Kew Gardens, meanwhile, has secured ISO14001, an international standard recognising organisations' efforts to minimise impact on the environment.

Everyone agrees that these voluntary benchmarks are invaluable tools, but would compulsory enforcement prove a step too far? "BS8901 is a huge investment and it would be difficult to enforce a compulsory code," says Homan. "Event companies should go green in their own way until they achieve BS8901. Let market forces dictate."

"Organisers would be naive to believe the government isn't going to demand carbon reductions from the industry at some point in the future," concludes Wellman. "We should make the changes ourselves, our way, rather than being pushed," she adds.

The strongest impetus for change will occur when hosting a green event proves to be the cheapest option. "With oil and food prices rising, this will happen sooner rather than later. At that point the industry can revisit set standards," says Aldridge.

For now, one of the most pressing issues is improving the relationship between agencies and suppliers, argues Irving, who insists there should be more marketplace collaboration to ensure green events become financially sustainable. "If green prices stay high it will restrict the industry's opportunity to run them," he says. Aldridge echoes this sentiment: "If it costs more to be green, the industry and clients will forget about sustainability."

Climate change is one of the hottest political debates, and those players who resist going green will be left out in the cold. A decade ago the internet was considered a passing fad; today it's impossible to conduct business without the web. Eco-awareness is now core to corporate social responsibility, and before long it will be integral to winning contracts.

- For practical steps on going green visit: Global Action Plan (www.globalactionplan.org.uk); Smart Planet (www.smartplanet.com); Sustainability (www.sustainability.com); www.carbonfootprint.com; and the Carbon Trust (www.carbontrust.co.uk)

Top Five Tips

Fresh Group director Julie Besbrode on how to ensure events don't cost the earth.

- Don't assume green is more expensive. Recycling costs have come down because more people are interested in sustainability.

- Champion people to go green. Make sure everyone, staff and guests, is eco-aware. If necessary, advertise as an eco-event, circulate relevant material and include a presentation. Encourage shared transport use and get delegates to stay in local hotels.

- Going green doesn't mean sacrificing creativity. You can be visually exciting with technology such as low-voltage LED lighting.

- Make sure suppliers are eco-kind. Check their transport policy as well as their recycling policy. Find out if they calculate their carbon footprint.

- Advanced planning. An event itself may last a few hours but ensuring it is green can take months of pre-production. That means good office management back at base.

Contacts
EC&O Venues - www.eco.co.uk (020) 7370 8838
Excel London - www.excel-london.co.uk (020) 7069 4000
Fresh Group - www.freshwebsite.co.uk (0161) 495 4300
Merlin Entertainments Group - www.merlinentertainments.biz (020) 8899
6110
The Rouge Partnership - www.rougeevents.com (020) 7514 5854
Seventeen Events - www.seventeenevents.co.uk (020) 7515 5775
Sledge - www.sledge.co.uk (020) 8743 3232