British summertime is here, and while we can revel in the (hopefully) warm weather there are many outdoor events to enjoy. From lively music festivals and thrilling sports competitions to delightful family-friendly fairs, the summer season offers an array of enjoyable experiences. However, amidst this excitement, we must not overlook the challenges it presents to both hygiene and sustainability. There are many practical and effective solutions that facility and event managers can implement to ensure a summer filled with resilient and eco-conscious hygiene practices.

Outdoor events

Outdoor events are a staple of the British summer. For organisers, the environmental consequences of event management must be considered to help make for a planet-friendly festival or event. To achieve that, there is a host of easy-to-make that come with a multitude of sustainable benefits.

It’s estimated that a festival with a capacity of 210,000 music lovers will use approximately 350,000 toilet rolls across a four-day event. On the smaller end of the scale, a festival with 10,000 attendees uses approximate 14,000 toiler rolls over four days. If those toilet rolls were made of alternate fibres, as opposed to virgin fibres from forests, the planetary impact of the event would be dramatically reduced. Alternative fibres hygiene papers are readily available and can be made from recycled materials kept within the resource stream, or sustainable virgin fibres from fast-growing plants like miscanthus or bamboo. With reduced emissions during production and greater circularity, they can be an asset in events reaching carbon neutral status.  

If the packaging they arrived in was made from recyclable or recycled material, instead of virgin plastic, those eco benefits can grow further still. Then there are plastic-free soaps, like our foam soap range which is designed with the earth’s resources in mind. It’s therefore important for facility managers and event organisers to assess their supply chains and how these products are produced to opt for environmentally sensitive alternatives. Each change is a positive step towards putting on outdoor events as green as the fields they’re held on.

Dispensing with plastic

Beyond hygiene papers and soaps, our one-of-a-kind cardboard dispenser is a picture-perfect hygiene solution for short-term events. Made from 100% recyclable cardboard, it hygienically dispenses paper hand towels one at a time, with the towel only touched by the user to minimise the spread of harmful bacteria. When the event has exited stage left, the dispensers can be effortlessly recycled as a wastepaper. It’s an innovation steeped in circularity as it helps valuable resources stay in usage streams and away from landfill sites.

Hay fever fervour

Whilst the longer, sun-dappled days are reasons to be cheerful as summer comes into full bloom, for many, hay fever is not. As pesky pollen makes us sneeze, it’s important to have measures in place to minimise the spread of infection that hay fever can help spread. Whilst facility managers can clean premises with vacuums fitted with HEPA filters to help make a difference, along with ensuring air conditioning units keep the air fresh, infection prevention must still play a key role.

Facility managers are encouraged to install hand sanitising stations through their premises or event space, be they indoor or outdoor, to promote hygienic and regular handwashing. They can go one step further too by placing tissue boxes, can help people catch bacteria, especially if they have come out without their own. Showing this extra level of thought and care for your guests can help bolster public perception too, helping them feel content and cared for.

For facility and event managers, assessing hygiene practices and their environmental viability is paramount in protecting employees and event attendees as well as protecting the earth’s resources too. There are plenty of simple yet effective changes we can make during summertime to ensure everyone remains healthy without compromising the planet.

Learn more about what services Satino can offer for your summer events by visiting our hospitality services page.