How to Make Your Next Event Greener for Plastic Free July

July is officially here, and this means that Plastic Free July is too! Plastic Free July is global movement that encourages millions of people and businesses to be part of the solution to plastic pollution.

In the events industry, we know just how much waste a single conference, festival, or corporate gathering can generate. For a long time, standard practice has meant issuing attendees with single-use plastic badge wallets attached to virgin polyester lanyards, most of which end up in landfill at the end of the event. Or it could also mean organisers opting for a thick PVC or PET plastic badge, that although stands the test of multi-day events, often isn’t recyclable.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

This Plastic Free July, we want to show you how easy it is to make the switch to sustainable event badges without compromising on quality, durability, or professional appearance.

You might be wondering if changing your badges really makes an impact on the world that we live in. It’s just one event out of thousands that are held each year, after all. But every choice that organisers make is one choice closer to the protecting where we live for future generations.

For Large-Scale Events (Trade Shows, Conferences, Festivals): When you are welcoming hundreds or thousands of attendees, the environmental savings are monumental. Swapping 5,000 plastic wallets for 5,000 recyclable card badges diverts a massive volume of unrecyclable plastic from our landfills and oceans. At this scale, your purchasing power directly reduces demand for fossil-fuel-based single-use plastics.

For Smaller-Scale Events (Workshops, Seminars, Theatre Festivals): Sustainability isn't just a numbers game; it’s about company culture and brand perception. For smaller events, using eco-friendly badges sends a powerful, tangible message to your attendees about your organization's core values. It sets a standard, starts conversations, and proves that running a green event is accessible at any level.

Providing recyclable badges is step one, but ensuring they actually get recycled is step two. Here are a few practical ways to encourage your attendees to recycle their badges and lanyards at the end of the day:

1. Print a "Recycle Me" Message on the Badge: Use the extra real estate on the back of your 4" x 6" or 4" x 3" badge! A bold, friendly reminder stating, "I am 100% recyclable and FSC™ approved. Please recycle me!" does wonders for attendee awareness.
2. Set Up Dedicated Drop-Off Stations: Place clearly labelled collection bins near the venue exits, cloakrooms, and hotel lobbies. When people are walking out the door, make it incredibly easy for them to drop their lanyard and badge into a designated recycling box.
3. Incentivise Returns: Turn recycling into a game. For every badge returned to the exit desk, donate a small amount to an environmental charity or enter returned badges into a post-event prize draw.
4. Communicate Early and Often: Mention your eco-friendly badges in your pre-event emails and during the opening keynote. Let attendees know that sustainability is a priority for the event and that you need their help to achieve a zero-waste goal.

Plastic Free July is the perfect time to evaluate how we consume materials. By making a simple switch to FSC™ approved card badges and recycled lanyards, you can drastically reduce your event’s carbon footprint.

Ready to make your next event your greenest one yet? Browse our badges or contact us today to explore our full range of sustainable, recyclable event badges and lanyards.