CCEP Sustainability in Events 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A sponsor requests that the event provide branded single-use plastic bags for attendee swag. The sustainability policy prohibits single-use plastics. What should the planner do?
- Offer the sponsor alternative options such as reusable tote bags or digital swag, explaining the policy (Correct answer)
- Override the policy to accommodate the sponsor's request
- Accept the request and disclose it in the post-event sustainability report
- Decline all branded items from the sponsor
Correct answer: Offer the sponsor alternative options such as reusable tote bags or digital swag, explaining the policy
Planners should uphold sustainability policies while offering sponsors creative alternatives that meet their marketing goals without violating commitments.
Question 2: Which of the following is the BEST example of incorporating social sustainability into an event?
- Ensuring the event is accessible to people with disabilities and sourcing from minority-owned businesses (Correct answer)
- Planting trees to offset carbon emissions
- Eliminating all printed materials
- Choosing a venue with solar panels
Correct answer: Ensuring the event is accessible to people with disabilities and sourcing from minority-owned businesses
Social sustainability addresses equity, inclusion, and community impact — accessibility and diverse supplier sourcing are core examples.
Question 3: What does 'sustainable procurement' mean in event management?
- Selecting suppliers and products based on environmental, social, and ethical criteria in addition to price and quality (Correct answer)
- Purchasing all event supplies at the lowest possible cost
- Procuring only locally manufactured goods
- Buying supplies in bulk to reduce packaging
Correct answer: Selecting suppliers and products based on environmental, social, and ethical criteria in addition to price and quality
Sustainable procurement integrates ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) criteria into purchasing decisions alongside traditional factors like cost and quality.
Question 4: An event planner calculates that the venue's HVAC accounts for 40% of total energy use. What is the MOST impactful recommendation to reduce this?
- Coordinate with the venue to optimize HVAC scheduling based on actual occupancy rather than running at full capacity throughout the event (Correct answer)
- Turn off all HVAC during breaks
- Lower thermostat settings in all session rooms by 5 degrees
- Replace all HVAC units with new models before the event
Correct answer: Coordinate with the venue to optimize HVAC scheduling based on actual occupancy rather than running at full capacity throughout the event
Aligning HVAC operation with actual room occupancy is the most practical and impactful efficiency measure, avoiding both over-conditioning and discomfort.
Question 5: When calculating food waste reduction at an event, what is the PREFERRED order of action according to the EPA Food Recovery Hierarchy?
- Source reduction first, then donation to people in need, then industrial uses, then composting, with landfill as last resort (Correct answer)
- Composting first, then donation, then source reduction
- Donation first, then source reduction, then landfill
- Landfill first for food safety, then composting for clean waste
Correct answer: Source reduction first, then donation to people in need, then industrial uses, then composting, with landfill as last resort
The EPA Food Recovery Hierarchy prioritizes preventing surplus food first, then redirecting edible food to people, with composting and landfill as lower-priority options.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes the concept of 'event legacy' in sustainability planning?
- The long-term positive social, economic, or environmental impact an event leaves on its host community after it ends (Correct answer)
- The archival of event records for future reference
- The reuse of event branding in subsequent years
- The financial surplus generated and donated to charity
Correct answer: The long-term positive social, economic, or environmental impact an event leaves on its host community after it ends
Event legacy refers to the lasting benefits — such as infrastructure improvements, community engagement, or skill development — that remain after the event concludes.
Question 7: A planner wants to incentivize attendees to use public transportation to the event. Which approach is MOST effective?
- Providing pre-loaded transit passes in registration packets and promoting public transport prominently in pre-event communications (Correct answer)
- Posting a sign near the entrance encouraging transit use
- Reducing parking fees slightly
- Partnering with a ride-share company for discounted codes only
Correct answer: Providing pre-loaded transit passes in registration packets and promoting public transport prominently in pre-event communications
Removing cost barriers and providing clear information before the event significantly increases sustainable transportation adoption among attendees.
CCEP Sustainability in Events 5
A sponsor requests that the event provide branded single-use plastic bags for attendee swag.
The sustainability policy prohibits single-use plastics.
What should the planner do?