1 in 5 companies ignoring sustainability according to employee survey
- Ahead of Earth Week workers share their thoughts on their company’s sustainability
- A quarter of employees are demanding more environmentally friendly events
- 1 in 3 say reduction of carbon footprint with virtual meetings is important to them
14th April 2022, London: A new report released today by event tech scale-up, HeadBox, reveals almost one in five (18%) companies are ignoring sustainability according to their employees. This is even higher when it comes to company events, with 80% of workplaces not running sustainable meetings and events.
With Earth Week next week, companies should note that while they may think they are being eco-friendly, there is still room to improve. According to the HeadBox research, 17% said that while sustainability is important to their business, it is not reflected in their events. This rises to 18% of employees in the IT industry and 26% working in retail.
A quarter of employees (24%) are now demanding more environmentally friendly events from their employer according to the HeadBox 2022 Event Trends Report survey of 2000 UK workers, with men asking for these slightly more than women (27% vs. 21%). Employees in Northern Ireland are the most eco-conscious when it comes to events, as 42% say they want more sustainable events, with Brighton & Hove workers in second place at 36%. **
Event planners should consider sourcing local food options for their upcoming meetings and events, as 19% are keen to see this on offer, rising to 37% of Gen Z.
With working from home the norm for many of us now and awareness of carbon footprint on the rise, it’s no surprise that one in 3 employees (32%) say they like that virtual meetings help reduce emissions due as they don’t have to travel, rising to 44% of Gen Z and half of employees in the business, management and consulting sectors.
“Employers should take note that they may be letting themselves down on their sustainability targets when it comes to company meetings and events, and their staff are noticing”, says Sheridan Roberts, HeadBox Head of Events. “With Earth Week coming up, it’s a great opportunity to reflect on what has been accomplished and where there is room to improve. For employees in 2022, sustainability is no longer a nice to have – it’s a top priority.”
The full report, including the list of which industry is the least/most sustainable in their events, can be found here.
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For further information please contact Kate Wilson
Email: kate.wilson@headbox.com
Notes to Editor
Data
* Data collected from survey of 2,028 UK adults aged 18+ by 72 Point Ltd on behalf of HeadBox in March 2022
HeadBox is the UK’s fastest-growing event technology company, on a mission to reinvent the global events industry through technology.
HeadBox is the easy way to plan meetings, events and parties with confidence. Book, manage and deliver everything in one place - no long searches, no stress and no hidden costs.
HeadBox has raised a total of £13.2M in funding, including £4.5M from Guinness Asset Management, £1.5M from Deepbridge Capital and €2.5M from EGORA, a Munich-based German-American tech investment group.
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