Conferences and other events can affect the environment in a wide variety of ways. It is often the journeys occasioned by such events and their influence on the climate that stand to the fore, but the consumption of paper, water and electricity caused by events, the traffic generated at the event venue and the minimisation of the volume of waste produced are also important issues for organisers seeking to put environmentally sound arrangements in place. The environmentally friendly procurement of products and services is another field that requires attention. Environmental concerns, as well as broader aspects of sustainability, such as social standards relating to the manufacture of products, therefore need to be incorporated into the planning and organisation of events at an early stage.