Highlighting the growing trend of eco-friendly furniture hire in the UK event industry, featuring insights on sustainable practices and their environmental impact.
In recent years, the event industry has seen a significant shift towards sustainability, with eco-friendly event furniture hire emerging as a key player in this green revolution. And rightly so. Acting in a more sustainable way in both our personal and professional lives is something that we should all be doing, as a top priority.
In the UK, where environmental awareness is increasingly influencing consumer choices, event planners and companies are now prioritising sustainability in their operations.
Today’s article explores how eco-friendly practices in event furniture hire are making a positive environmental impact and setting new standards within the industry.
Event furniture hire has long been a staple in planning for versatility and convenience. However, the environmental cost of traditional practices—such as the high carbon footprint associated with manufacturing, transporting, and disposing of furniture—has prompted a rethink. Enter eco-friendly event furniture hire, which offers an effective solution by reducing waste, utilising sustainable materials, and minimising carbon emissions.
Simple common sense dictates some of the ways that we can work in a more eco-friendly way when it comes to event furniture hire, whilst others you might not have yet considered. Let’s have a look…
Sustainable materials
One of the foremost strategies in eco-friendly event furniture hire is the use of sustainable materials. Many forward-thinking UK companies are now opting for furniture made from recycled plastics, reclaimed wood, and other environmentally friendly materials.
These materials not only reduce the reliance on virgin resources but also offer a charm and uniqueness to event settings, appealing to both eco-conscious clients and guests. This is one of the reasons why rustic furniture has come into its own – as it’s often a case of the more rustic the better.
This is just as well, as a lot of rustic furniture is made from reclaimed timber which is treated and varnished, as part of our eco-friendly operations. Take our range of rustic tables and bench sets, as an example, as well as our scaffold range of furniture which incudes the coffee table dining table and high table – all made from reclaimed timber and disused scaffolding poles – which offer a fantastic look for industrial-style warehouse events!
Local sourcing
To cut down on carbon emissions from transportation, many UK event furniture hire companies are adopting local sourcing strategies. By choosing local manufacturers and suppliers, they not only support the local economy, but also significantly reduce the environmental impact associated with long-distance transportation. We should all be looking to buy local, and event furniture hire is no different.
Durability & reusability
Eco-friendly furniture is designed to be durable and reusable, countering the throwaway culture prevalent in many aspects of event planning. Quality craftsmanship ensures that furniture can withstand multiple uses without compromising on style or comfort, thus decreasing the need for frequent replacements and reducing waste. We need to all get away from this throwaway culture – fewer, quality items is the way forward.
Energy-efficient manufacturing
Many eco-friendly furniture manufacturers are also turning to renewable energy sources to power their production processes. Solar, wind, and hydropower are becoming more common in the manufacturing of event furniture, helping to reduce the carbon footprint of each piece produced.
Of course, we’re still some way away from achieving this as standard, but taking steps now will help us all in the future. It is also encouraging to see event sites also adopting the use of solar-powered generator hire as an alternative to diesel-guzzling generators which are inefficient, loud and intrusive.
And, even though this point is not furniture-related, it’s also worth pointing out that industrial washing machines in our nationwide distribution centres are some of the most energy-efficient in the sector.
End-of-life considerations
Eco-conscious event furniture hire doesn’t just consider the use phase of the furniture but also its end of life. Many companies offer recycling programs or donate used furniture to extend its life beyond the event industry. This approach ensures that furniture is kept out of landfills and continues to serve useful purposes.
This is always priority #1 for easyEventhire, for instance, when our furniture has reached the end of its life for us. There are plenty of charities and other establishments who will have the frame of a sofa from us, for instance, and who will get it recovered as new, as just one example.
As well as furniture hire companies ‘doing the right thing’, this also has a positive effect for our clients. As public awareness and demand for sustainable practices grow, event planners who adopt green strategies are likely to attract more clients and create a positive brand image. They all have a CSR policy and target to hit, and so by working with eco-friendly suppliers, the whole supply chain benefits.
Leading the way
The UK is setting a strong example in the global event industry through its commitment to eco-friendly event furniture hire. Events like the London Design Festival and various corporate functions have showcased innovative uses of sustainable furniture, proving that environmental responsibility can go hand in hand with creativity and elegance.
Ultimately, we all have a responsibility to work more sustainability and event furniture hire is just one example of the events world can embrace this. There are plenty of other examples, such as solar generators that we mentioned above, and even reusable cups for stadia and venues, helping these places to move away from single-use plastic.
Here at easyEventhire, we are well on our journey, and hope that you will also engage on this journey with us for your next event or occasion. Don’t hesitate to browse and place your secure order online 24/7 with the experts, and put your faith in us, in the same way that your fellow event professionals already do, nationwide.
