The Sustainability Team’s Handbook for events is here!

The first version of the Sustainable Events Handbook is finally launched! 🎉

Over the past months, members of the Sustainability Team have been sharing their ideas and experiences on how WordPress community events can be held more sustainably. All this input has formed the basis of the first draft, which eventually became the first version we are excited to announce today. 

As there’s no perfect or defined way of being environmentally sustainable, the current objective of this handbook is to provide organizers and attendees with ideas of how they can contribute to making WordPress events more sustainable. 

Here is what we’ve included in the handbook:

• Actionable tips for organizers. We know how much effort it takes to organize WordPress events, so we’ve simplified the ways you can make it more sustainable. Our suggestions cover all aspects of the event and include tips for reducing waste, saving energy, promoting eco-friendly practices at the events, and more. 
• Information for attendees. Whether you want to participate more sustainably, or you’re an organizer seeking ways to raise awareness among attendees – we made a section for you.
• Flexibility. There are no hard rules, but every suggestion you turn into action is a step forward. We hope this handbook inspires you to help make our WordPress event more sustainable.

To ensure its longevity, the Handbook’s future versions should include information that will help the sustainability of events, not only from an environmental perspective but also from a social and economic one. To ensure the longevity of our planet, we hope this Handbook will be merged with the WordCampWordCamp WordCamps are casual, locally-organized conferences covering everything related to WordPress. They're one of the places where the WordPress community comes together to teach one another what they’ve learned throughout the year and share the joy. Learn more. and MeetupMeetup All local/regional gatherings that are officially a part of the WordPress world but are not WordCamps are organized through https://www.meetup.com/. A meetup is typically a chance for local WordPress users to get together and share new ideas and seek help from one another. Searching for ‘WordPress’ on meetup.com will help you find options in your area. Organizer Handbooks.

Do you have suggestions or notes on the first version? You can contribute to it through the GitHub repository.

Do you want to join us in developing the social and economic aspects of the Handbook and help us make it easier for organizers and attendees to make WordPress events more sustainable?

Let’s meet next Thursday, June 13th, at the Sustainability Team’s table at the WordCamp Europe 2024 Contributor Day, or our next team meeting. 

We’re looking forward to your feedback!

This text has been reviewed by: @celigaroe and @lirommil