Sustainability has always been at the heart of The Events Company. We believe the events industry has the power to shape positive change. Every event we design brings people together to connect, celebrate, and collaborate, and as we look ahead, we know our work must increasingly reflect our responsibility to people and the planet.
That’s why our Head of Commercial, Emma, and Senior Project Manager, Laura Nason, recently attended the BEAM and Meetings Industry Association (MIA) ESG Summit 2025 at Warwick Conferences. The event brought together some of the most forward-thinking voices in the sector to explore how environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles can drive meaningful, long-term impact across every aspect of event delivery.
Embedding Purpose into Every Stage of Event Planning
The day began with “Growth on Purpose”, an inspiring keynote from Jonny White, Founder and CEO of Ticket Tailor, a certified B Corp™. Jonny’s story perfectly captured how a values-led approach can fuel sustainable growth, showing that it’s possible to scale a business with integrity while keeping people at its heart. His message strongly resonated with our team’s belief that great events should be both impactful and responsible.
ESG as a Strategic Imperative
A thought-provoking panel followed, exploring ESG as a Business Strategy. Moderated by Sam Cande of Greengage, the discussion featured contributions from Steve Jones (Wyboston Lakes Resort), Patrick McDonagh (Clarity Business Travel), Stephanie Maurel (Church House Westminster), Julie Shorrock (HTS), and Jonny White (Ticket Tailor). Together they unpacked what it truly means to balance purpose with profit, and how ESG can build resilience, profitability, and brand value in equal measure.
“The clear message across every session was that ESG is no longer optional; it’s essential,” Emma reflected. “When done authentically, it not only benefits the planet but drives stronger, more sustainable businesses.”
From Measurement to Action
Another highlight came from Anna Abdelnoor, CEO and Founder of isla, who presented the European Temperature Check 2025 Report, a data-driven insight into how nearly 1,000 events are adapting to climate pressures. The findings reinforced a growing urgency within the sector: sustainability must be evidence-based and measurable to create real, lasting change.
Attendees then enjoyed a delicious plant-based lunch, proving that sustainable catering can be every bit as creative and satisfying as traditional menus. After a quick wellness recharge session with Sarah Hunt, participants headed into a series of practical breakout discussions.
Practical Strategies for Sustainable Delivery
Emma and Laura joined Emily Shephard’s workshop on “How to Make Sustainable Choices Without Breaking the Bank”, exploring how financial, reputational, and people-focused ROI can make sustainability an achievable goal for any event, regardless of budget.
Other sessions covered topics such as Embedding ESG in Governance and Policy, led by Sam Cande, and Getting Buy-in and Shifting Mindsets, hosted by Briony Pete from The Circular Life, each offering real-world advice for driving meaningful change from within.
The day closed with a witty yet powerful keynote from Stuart Goldsmith, the acclaimed “Climate Comedian”, who managed to make sustainability thought-provoking and genuinely entertaining. His performance served as a reminder that storytelling and humour are vital tools in inspiring action.
Turning Insight into Impact at The Events Company
Returning from the summit, Emma and Laura brought back a wealth of ideas and inspiration to help shape The Events Company’s own sustainability roadmap. From rethinking supply chains and reducing waste, to collaborating with greener venues and promoting low-impact catering, our team is already implementing new initiatives to make our operations, and our clients’ events, more environmentally conscious.
We’re also exploring ways to track and measure our progress, ensuring transparency and accountability as we evolve. These improvements form part of our broader commitment to balance purpose with performance, embedding ESG values at every level of our business.
Looking Ahead
As Emma summed up, “Sustainability in events isn’t about a single policy or checklist; it’s about cultural change. It’s about building an industry that celebrates creativity while respecting the planet, and ensuring every event leaves a positive legacy for people and communities.” A huge thank you to BEAM, MIA, and all the speakers and organisers who made the ESG Summit such an energising and inspiring experience. The future of events is undeniably more sustainable, and we’re proud to be playing our part in leading that change.
You can find more information on the ESG Summit here: https://beam-org.uk/archive/beam-and-mia-esg-summit/
