WeWork India’s first Sustainability Summit: The A to Z of planning an eco-friendly event

Discover how we keep sustainability as a core value, integrating it into all business practices—from building operations to innovation—ensuring accountability and commitment to our environmental impact.

In today's world, sustainability isn't merely a trend; it's a necessity. As we deepen our understanding of our environmental impact, it's crucial that we integrate this awareness into every aspect of our business practices.

At WeWork India, sustainability isn't just about our CSR and sustainability initiatives; it's woven into the fabric of our brand. From the operation of our buildings to our approach to innovation and ideation, we strive to instil sustainability into everything we do.

A couple of years ago, we made a significant commitment to this cause by incorporating "Be Sustainable" into our core values to hold ourselves and all teams accountable in our sustainability journey.

Our journey of championing sustainability in Real Estate

Recognising the substantial environmental impact of the real estate sector, we took strides to become a catalyst for proactive change. We aimed to bring together companies in the sustainability space to foster connections and showcase innovative solutions for waste management and biodiversity preservation.

The Sustainability

achieved its goal of raising awareness about the diverse initiatives—both large and small—being undertaken by companies on the ground. The summit included 24 vendor showcases centred around upcycling, recycling, and the circular economy. We hosted 16 distinguished panellists, including the BBMP commissioner, and two esteemed guest speakers who shared profound insights on sustainability, biodiversity, and solid waste management.

This event marked a significant step for WeWork India's sustainability journey, furthering our commitment to drive and inspire sustainable change in the real estate industry.

Here's a comprehensive guide on how we planned this sustainable event:

1. Start with a green mindset:

Before we were able to dive into the logistics of planning the event, our priority was cultivating a green mindset and gaining insights into the challenges of solid waste management and biodiversity conservation in Bangalore. This involved engaging with numerous vendors and experts in sustainability, enabling us to establish a robust network.

2. Choose the right venue

When selecting an event venue, prioritising sustainability is very important. Since our inception in India, we've been dedicated to reducing energy and resource consumption across our buildings. We specifically chose to host this event at WeWork Galaxy due to its sustainable features. The building's large atrium maximises natural light, minimising the need for artificial lighting. Additionally, water flow restrictors in all washrooms conserve water, and occupancy sensors for lighting enhance energy efficiency, making it the perfect venue.

3. Minimise waste

The event was designed with sustainability at its core. We eliminated single-use plastic, ensuring that all food vendors utilised compostable dinnerware and utensils. Instead of disposable plastic bottles, we provided refillable water stations. Prior to the event we also requested guests to bring their own lunch boxes to avail food discounts on the day of the event.

Instead of new merchandise like wristbands, we repurposed old WeWork T-shirts by stamping them with the WeWork Summit logo—a creative initiative that aligned with our sustainability goals. While we initially planned to offer this as an activity at the Summit, we decided against it due to challenges in executing the process in an eco-friendly manner, particularly concerning colour wastage.

In total, the event generated 143 kg of waste, all of which was effectively managed. Of this, 96 kg was recycled, and 47 kg was composted. Additionally, we successfully processed all rejected waste in-house with the assistance of Neo San incinerators. This comprehensive waste management approach reflects our commitment to minimising environmental impact and promoting sustainable event practices.

4. Eco-friendly production and communication

To further minimise environmental impact, we ensured all event production was executed in an eco-friendly manner. We ensured all the pop-up booths and vendor logos were crafted from eco-friendly materials such as old newspapers and upcycled wood. We had no print outs. We deliberately forwent traditional decorations to reduce waste generation.

We also eliminated paper waste by using digital invitations, event programs, and standees to outline the event flow on the day itself. Essential details were communicated to attendees through email, social media, and event websites, eliminating the need for printed materials.

5. Sustainable catering

The event featured a vegetarian menu, collaborating exclusively with caterers committed to sourcing local, organic, and seasonal ingredients. We opted for a buffet-style setup to minimise food waste, ensuring that only a minimal amount of food was left uneaten.

6. Eco-friendly services

We encouraged all guests to carpool to the event, bringing along any e-waste for recycling and old clothes for donation or thrifting. This initiative aimed to reduce carbon emissions from transportation and promote responsible disposal and reuse of electronic and textile materials.

7. Carbon offsetting

We encouraged all guests to calculate their monthly carbon footprint using the Climes carbon footprint calculator and take steps to offset it. We matched the amount offset by guests to further support carbon neutrality.

In addition, we calculated and offset the total carbon footprint of the event. WeWork's efforts neutralised a total of 19,582 kgCO2e emissions, equivalent to the impact of planting 324 tree saplings and nurturing them for 10 years.

8. Leave no trace:

After the event, we conducted a comprehensive waste cleanup and recycling process. Any leftover items were thoughtfully donated to our vendors, promoting reuse and minimising waste.

We had a fantastic experience organising this sustainable event. By integrating eco-friendly practices into every stage of planning and collaborating with incredible vendors from Bangalore's sustainability ecosystem, we created a memorable Summit. Our efforts not only reduced our carbon footprint but also aimed to inspire others to adopt similar practices.

If you're interested in partnering with us for future sustainable events, please reach out to us at csr@wework.co.in.