Whatever activity you’re delivering for LFA, it’s key it is sustainable and responsible way, leaving as little damage to the planet as possible.
Each LFA Organiser is directly responsible for the sustainability of their LFA activity. Small conscious considerations and changes across all LFA activity lead to a positive impact on the city not negative damage on the planet. And being conscious doesn’t need to be costly – it’s simply about making more thoughtful choices.
When planning your LFA activity, we suggest you consider the following:
1. When planning and delivering your activity:
- Plan with purpose, avoid unnecessary materials, choose reusable or recycled options, borrow, hire or repurpose items instead of buying new and choose suppliers who prioritise sustainable practices.
- Choose venues with good sustainable travel connections
- Encourage visitors to arrive by foot, cycle or public transport (where possible), providing information about the closest stops, bike parking information etc
- Prioritise local plant-based or vegetarian-first catering, who avoid single-use plastics and unnecessary packaging. And ensure there are recycling and food composting options available, with clearly labelled bins.
- Consider whether you are using materials responsibly. Ensure exhibitions or installations are adaptable or reusable – or at minimum or easy to recycle. Avoid PVC banners and non-recyclable materials. Where possible, consider whether you can donate materials to local groups or reuse them in future projects.
- Consider whether printed materials are needed. And if so, consider about how many are really needed, and what would be the most sustainable way of producing.
- Consider whether you could make sustainability part of your activity – Like UCL in 2017, who created a bike-powered cinema screen by the student union.
- Consider the locality of speakers and how they are able to travel to the event and/or topics of conversation about how we can have a net-positive impact on our environment.
2. After delivering your activity:
- Ensure rubbish is disposed in considered manner, and reducing waste as much as possible.
- Where materials have been used for your activity, action your plan to donate materials to local groups or reuse them in future projects.
- Reflect on what worked and set goals for next year.