Policy paper

European Political Community (EPC) meeting 2024: event sustainability

Published 9 July 2024

The UK is committed to delivering a sustainable European Political Community (EPC) event. 

EPC will be a carbon-neutral event, with sustainability at its core, that will leave a positive legacy. 

Through key measures including certification to the International Standard for Sustainable Events (ISO 20121) and our comprehensive Carbon Management Plan, we will demonstrate leadership within the field of sustainable event management relating to environmental, social and economic performance through the lifecycle of EPC.  

How we are making the EPC a sustainable event 

​​​For an event to be considered sustainable, it must take into consideration environmental, social and economic factors and show how it is addressing each of them.  

Our approach is guided by our EPC sustainability governing principles: 

• protect the environment and deliver social value 

• deliver accessible and inclusive events 

• encourage more sustainable behaviour 

• embed responsible and circular sourcing 

• leave a positive legacy 

We have collaborated with our delivery partners and suppliers to enable innovation and amplify our contribution, with the aim of delivering positive legacy impacts beyond the EPC itself. 

Examples of how we are making EPC a more sustainable event 

• enabling staff and media to use more sustainable travel options including bus transport and trains

• prioritising low carbon alternative energy sources such as 100% renewable energy source at Blenheim Palace and hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) in generators instead of diesel

• catering that prioritises locally sourced, nutritious and in season menu choices, including a large amount coming from Blenheim Palace’s own estate to minimise mileage for transportation and supports local business 

• contractors employing local people for event roles and using local suppliers

• prioritised sustainability by including explicit requirements in our supplier procurements and with partners

• avoiding waste to landfill by having clear waste management processes on site, avoiding single use plastics, and reusing and recycling materials

• building sustainability considerations into design and material choices, including prioritising hiring over buying

• processing food waste in Blenheim Palace’s on site ‘EcoBot’ into compost which is then used to grow crops on the grounds

• donating furniture and materials post event to local charities and community and charitable organisations for enduring re-use and re-purposing

Carbon neutrality 

EPC will be a carbon neutral event and we will achieve validation using PAS 2060 international standard on carbon neutrality.  The key priority through the application of our Carbon Management Plan is to reduce and avoid emissions in the first instance. 

All carbon accounting is being carried out in line with the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol and other sources of best practice guidance and will be published once the event has been delivered. 

Our carbon offsetting approach 

The unavoidable carbon emissions from EPC will be offset through the purchase of internationally recognised offsets such as Certified Emission Reductions (CERs).  

We will ensure that all offsets: 

• are of the highest possible standard, ideally Gold Standard certified 

• have Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) co-benefits 

• represent a global spread of projects including developing countries 

• represent a range of offsetting project types