Event SustainAbility February 24, 2017 ● Benton Harbor, MI Michigan’s Great Southwest Sustainable Business Forum

Who has struggled with creating or implementing a sustainability program? - We’re here to provide you three examples of SustainAbility success stories from the community, municipal, and private point of views.

Lakeshore Art Festival – Muskegon, MI Community SustainAbility Lakeshore Art Festival – Muskegon, MI Sunshine Artist 200 Best Art Festivals in the country (#83) 3 year recycling totals: 3,457 pounds with a 20% diversion rate Over 100,000 attendees since 2013 with a $1.5 million economic impact Program is driven primarily by the Chamber of Commerce and their event director Aspirations have grown to work towards a zero waste event over the next couple of years

Lakeshore Art Festival – Muskegon, MI Community SustainAbility Lakeshore Art Festival – Muskegon, MI Why the program has achieved success: Generated sponsorship revenue Integrated into existing event logistics Kept the program simple What you can do: Identify what you need and available resources You do not have to create something from scratch Why the program have achieved success: They made the CHOICE and then found solutions They found a sponsor to help cover costs of the program Use festival volunteers to assist with set-up, servicing the bins, and tear down They have kept the program simple, recycling highly produced commodities with cardboard, used beverage containers, and food waste What can you do: Identify your needs and wants with available resources with private companies such as Schupan, your waste hauler, or city recycling programs Rather than creating a program from scratch, integrate into existing infrastructure of your event. You already have a team servicing trash cans, you already have volunteers, you already have sponsors, etc. Don’t make it more complicated than what it has to be.

Wayne County Public Works Municipal SustainAbility Wayne County Public Works Founding members of the Schupan Community Circles Program in 2017 In 2016, 3 events were serviced with an anticipated 9 events in 2017 Community Circles is a program that allows for shared resources and knowledge within a community to grow a sustainability effort. Think of it as the snowball effect as more programs jump on board, the infrastructure builds and so does the institutional knowledge. We create systematic behavioral change this way. Allowing Schupan Events Recycling to provide a rebate as the program grows.

Wayne County Public Works Municipal SustainAbility Wayne County Public Works Why the program has achieved success: Top down support and buy-in from key stakeholders “We have been encouraging Wayne County Parks for a long time to provide recycling at their events.  The driving force of change is real persistence in cooperation between all parties and emphasizing the importance of recycling for these events.” What you can do: Identify events in your area Work with your current recycling program and waste partnerships to create efficiencies and to determine viability of any public-private partnerships. Why the program has achieved success: There was a push from the government to embrace on the go recycling in the community. On the municipal level, with that executive support, programs will struggle to succeed What you can do: Identify events in your area that can use recycling services. Keep in mind that not all events need the service, focus on highly attended, important community events Work with your current recycling program and waste partnerships to create efficiencies and to determine viability of any public-private partnerships.

LPGA Volvik Championship Private SustainAbility LPGA Volvik Championship 7,080 pounds of recyclables collected over 9 days Coordination with the LPGA, private event management firms, and vendors to achieve program success Aspire to have one of the greenest LPGA events on the circuit The event is currently looking to secure a sustainability sponsorship, which to increase value for the event and their sponsors As a first year event in 2016, they wanted to create a niche from the beginning in the Ann Arbor area and identified sustainable event management practices as one area of influence Washtenaw County has a strong program of recycling and sustainable business practices

LPGA Volvik Championship Private SustainAbility LPGA Volvik Championship Why the program has achieved success: Recognized the added value the program will have on their overall attendee experience and brand strength Found ways to integrate into the community through utilization of local labor, resources and vendors What you can do: Evaluate the impact sustainability can have on your key stakeholders to create leverage procurement of sponsorship revenue Think long term in your program implementation to develop your strategic planning to maximize your return on investment in both perceived value and measurable impressions (such as social media) Why the program has achieved success: The event believes in the value and power of being environmentally friendly and that commitment will pay off in the long run Increase their brand strength and connection to the community What you can do: Evaluate the impact your event can have on the community, your sponsors and key stakeholders stance on environmentally friendly business practices To increase the brand strength takes time – you must be willing to make the investment at the expense of short term gains Think long term in your program implementation to develop your strategic planning to maximize your return on investment in both perceived value and measurable impressions (such as social media)

Sponsorships and Marketing SustainAbility Value Sponsorships and Marketing Studies have found a strong correlation between increased brand strength with environmentally friendly business practices (Brand Finance Study) Cultivate your program If you’re an event, research local organizations and companies who have a stake in your community and region who may be willing to partner with you on a program. If you’re a company, research local events for which you can promote your business and create the added value from being environmentally friendly Cultivate – if people don’t know about your program, you can’t get the ROI back on your sponsorship investment

Event SustainAbility Is Achievable Make the choice and commitment and work to find solutions to integrate in your existing event logistics Seek buy-in from key stakeholders. Understand the brand value a sustainability program can have on your event and those involved and take advantage of those opportunities to raise money and awareness Key component is having a long term vision - If there isn’t buy-in from the top down, achieving any measurable success will be difficult

Schupan Events Recycling www.eventsrecycling.com events@schupan.com SustainAbility Schupan Events Recycling www.eventsrecycling.com events@schupan.com PH: 269-382-2200