EcoVadis rates Australian events management company in top 3% globally for sustainability

EcoVadis, a leading provider of business sustainability ratings, has awarded Australian events management company Synergy Effect a gold medal for sustainability rating the company in top 3% of event management companies worldwide.

The Sydney-headquartered company Synergy Effect was awarded gold medal for sustainability initiatives that encompass environmental, labour and human rights, ethics and culture.

Synergy Effect Directors Michael Fleck and Ruth Hirst believe it has never been more important for businesses to seek innovative brand experiences to build culture, ignite brand and strategy, unite your people, engage their heads and hearts, and maximise business results - and that hybrid multisite and online business events are the way of the future.

“Events and conferences have been proven to be hugely effective in aligning people with strategy, motivating, building culture and engagement – however traditional business events are by their nature exclusive – being limited by venue size and high per-head costs, as well as resulting in a significant carbon footprint,” Co-Director Michael Fleck said, pointing to studies from The Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research which shows the annual carbon footprint for the event industry is on par with the yearly greenhouse gas emissions of the entire United States, responsible for more than 10% of global CO2 emissions (Fossil CO2 and GHG Emissions of all world countries).

Fleck added “at Synergy Effect, we're focused on creating impactful event solutions that deliver business goals as well as being more sustainable and inclusive. By focussing on highly experiential hybrid multisite and online experiences, businesses can reduce the carbon footprint of events by up to 95%, plus engage ten times the people and lower the per head cost by up 90%.”

Synergy Effect co-Director Ruth Hirst revealed three of the strategies that saw Synergy Effect awarded an Ecovadis Gold Medal and ranked in the top 3% of event management companies, they are:

1. Go hybrid multi-site and online

"We often get asked, what is hybrid multisite? Simultaneous, in-person events in multiple locations where your people are, all joined by technology to experience the same presentations, brand activations and engagement elements – plus online attendance. Remote presenters beamed in live from anywhere in the world, with the option to join in-person presenters on the same stage with our 3D 360-degree sets. A great example of this is Synergy Effect’s Galderma First Impressions event, which won the Best National Live or Hybrid Brand Event at the 2022 Australian Event Awards.”

2. Focus on inclusivity as a core pillar

“When planning presentations, look for ways to include a wide range of voices from your industry or organisation. Pre-film content segments to ensure you include people from the factory floor and manufacturing plant to mid-level management, C-suite and more through panel discussions, video compilations, or behind the scenes dive-ins.

“Seek to invite ALL your people to give everyone a chance to attend at one of the multisite venues, or online and heighten engagement with a customisable event app - housing all event communications here to do away with brochures, flyers and hand-outs which create paper waste, PLUS promote 360-degree ongoing discussion boosting inclusivity.”

3. Consider environmental and social impact in every element of event design

“Keep sustainability and inclusivity in mind when you’re planning every element of your event. Choose reusable wherever you can and look for ways to build connection, interactivity and empowerment to ensure your event has a positive social impact."

Synergy Effect has been crafting captivating meetings, incentives, conferences and events - designed to awake, ignite, connect and reward - for over 30 years. Contact Synergy Effect to start planning your next business event to focus on sustainability and inclusivity.

Image: Synergy Effect won the Best National Live or Hybrid Brand Event at the 2022 Australian Event Awards