The Challenge
Sustainability has long been a major concern within the events industry due to its significant environmental impact. Despite increasing awareness of climate change, resource depletion, and social responsibility, the industry has seen slow progress in adopting sustainable practices. When From Now was acquired by emc3, CEO Alistair Graham was already deeply passionate about reducing the environmental footprint of events. His commitment to sustainability was clear, and he wanted to take meaningful action to address this pressing issue. emc3 tasked From Now with helping them reduce their carbon footprint and integrate sustainability more deeply into their events. The company’s objective was to move beyond awareness and make tangible, impactful changes, driving long-term sustainability across their operations.
The Solution
We worked closely with emc3 to develop and implement a comprehensive, long-term sustainability strategy that would not only address the immediate environmental impact of their events but also set the stage for lasting, positive change across the business and wider industry. The key challenge was to reduce waste, lower carbon emissions, and improve resource management across event production and operations. emc3 sought practical, scalable solutions to integrate sustainability into their day-to-day practices and long-term event planning.
Beyond individual events, we supported emc3 on a broader scale by guiding them through the process of achieving B Corp certification, a key milestone that demonstrates their commitment to sustainability as well as holding them accountable to these high standards with transparent reporting, further enhancing their reputable approach.This process involved embedding sustainable practices into their company culture, operations, and partnerships, ensuring long-term impact.
We support emc3’s clients with everything from strategy workshops to define sustainability goals to practical solutions that reduce waste and carbon emissions. We work closely with emc3 and their clients to measure the sustainability of each event by tracking emissions from the team, guests, suppliers, venue, and client. We have also implemented waste management plans as we work towards 0 waste to landfill from events by the end of 2028. Internally, we’ve introduced the Greenly platform to monitor operations and to help emc3 reduce their carbon footprint, both behind the scenes and across the entire event lifecycle.
The Results
Since partnering with From Now, emc3 has made remarkable strides in its sustainability efforts, with several key milestones marking their success. Achieving B Corp certification has been a significant achievement, solidifying emc3’s dedication to high environmental and social standards. This certification has not only boosted their reputation but also provided a clear framework for ongoing improvements in sustainability across the business. emc3’s commitment to sustainability has been further recognised with multiple industry awards, including the Best Sustainability Approach at the Campaign Experience Awards, highlighting their leadership in integrating sustainable practices into event production as well as Power’s 30 most Sustainable agencies. From Now’s guidance also directly contributed to emc3 winning the Sustainability Pioneer Award 2024 at the Conference News Awards, a testament to the tangible impact of their collaboration.
In terms of event-specific outcomes, initiatives like repurposing materials and collaborating with organisations such as Food Rescue Alliance and Habitat for Humanity resulted in zero waste at emc3’s client HP’s event, where leftover food was donated to food-insecure communities. Due to From Now’s work, this event also achieved carbon-neutral status, setting a new standard for sustainability. Working with From Now, emc3’s efforts to offset carbon emissions through tree planting have been another major success, with over 20,000 trees planted to date.
“Partnering with From Now has been transformative for emc3. As part of the emc3 collective, they’ve not only helped us embed sustainability into the heart of our operations, they’ve challenged us to go further, think bigger, and act with greater urgency. From helping us achieve B Corp certification to supporting all our events and guiding our team with measurable, actionable insights, From Now have been instrumental in turning our sustainability ambitions into reality. Their expertise, passion, and accountability have set a new standard, both for us and for the industry.”
– Alistair Graham, CEO
