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Pioneering Green Events Code Gains 96% Support in National Pilot
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By Ryan Moss
- 17 Feb 2025
- 4 min read
Image: Yvette De Witte / Unsplash.com
A pioneering pilot project has highlighted the potential of local authority-led assessments to drive sustainability in outdoor events, laying the groundwork for future policy development.
The Green Events Code of Practice (GECoP) was developed after a sector consultation and is led by Vision for Sustainable Events and Julie’s Bicycle, aiming to fill the gap in national standards for sustainable event practices.
It focuses on areas such as governance, energy, travel, waste, and water. Ten local authorities across England, including Bristol, Reading, and Liverpool, tested GECoP’s effectiveness across 60 events that attracted 2.3 million attendees, ranging from large music events like Parklife Festival to community gatherings.
The results were overwhelmingly positive. Analysis showed that 96% of event organisers and all participating local authorities supported the creation of consistent, national environmental standards, which they believe would help them better meet sustainability goals.
“This groundbreaking project has gone a huge way to creating a blueprint for policy around environmental sustainability in the outdoor events sector,” said Richard Phillips, Climate Change Specialist for Music at Julie’s Bicycle.
Notably, 60% of event organisers adopted new environmental measures as a direct result of the pilot, and 92% committed to further improvements in the coming year.
The pilot also highlighted the benefits of GECoP in fostering better relationships between local authorities and event organisers. “The pilot has shown that GECoP successfully creates a common understanding of ‘what good looks like,’” said Chris Johnson, Chair of the Vision for Sustainable Events Forum.
80% of event organisers reported increased conversations with stakeholders about sustainability, emphasising the value of stronger networks in overcoming challenges. Furthermore, 83% of participating events reported improved environmental awareness, and 80% gained confidence in taking environmental action.
This initiative is part of a wider movement, with 84% of UK jurisdictions having declared a climate emergency. As Bristol City Council Leader Tony Dyer noted, “GECoP offers flexibility for smaller events to improve sustainability while supporting our city’s ambition to exceed national targets.”
The success of the pilot underscores the growing need for environmental action, with outdoor events emerging as a key area for policy development. As the project moves forward, the goal is to expand GECoP’s reach, creating a national framework that will drive sector-wide change.
To discover more about the pilot or download the full report, visit https://bit.ly/GECoP_Pilot_Report
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