From consoles to conservation: Gaming events embrace sustainability
January 11, 2024 - The gaming industry is a hot topic in an era where virtual reality meets the real world. As gamers unite, the industry is leveling up its commitment to economic, environmental, and social awareness, implementing measures to safeguard the sustainability of events.
From energy-efficient consoles to sustainable packaging, companies are rethinking the lifecycle of products. These initiatives impact a healthier planet and resonate with environmentally conscious gamers who want sustainable practices from their favorite gaming brands.
Sustainability isn't just about energy; it's about waste and water reduction too. Emerging research suggests a rising trajectory in the environmental footprint of the video gaming industry, including extracting materials for gaming consoles and energy demands associated with cloud gaming. However, possibilities exist for enhancing sustainability and for individual gamers at gaming events.
- More than three billion people around the world play video games.
- Over 70 percent of video gamers think global warming is happening.
- In the US, gamers produce 24 million tons of carbon emissions annually.
Microsoft estimates that the average gamer using a high-performance gaming device emits 72 kilograms of carbon emissions annually, which is equivalent to more than 32,000 smartphones charged.
But steps have been taken to make gaming more sustainable, like Playing for the Planet, which supports the video games industry to take action to reduce its environmental impact, while Xbox is the first console platform to release dedicated energy and carbon emissions measurement tools designed for game creators.
But what about in-person gaming events? Having a sustainable event management system is imperative as the gaming industry moves towards a greener future.
ISO 20121 has been developed for the events industry to help put sustainability first when managing and delivering events. It considers the geography, culture, and social demographics of these events. This standard lets you take a long-term view and identify all potential impacts early on.
It covers every aspect of a sustainable event, including leadership, planning, communication, supply chain management, and measuring performance. It also includes guidance and information to help implement the standard effectively. Being environmentally conscious not only enhances efficiency through green practices but also serves as vital motivation for businesses, focused on the substantial potential for cost savings.
Benefits of ISO 20121:
- Cost and resource saving
- Legal compliance
- Responsible ‘corporate citizen’
- Competitive edge
- Corporate reputation
- Risk management
BSI developed the world's first events sustainability management standard and remains at the forefront of sustainability advancements, covering a wide spectrum of areas, including environmental management, energy management, corporate social responsibility, product carbon footprinting, and biodiversity conservation.
BSI is prepared to support your environmental steps for a greener future. If you haven't yet joined the green community, there's no better time than now. Regardless of the size of your business or any potential budget or time constraints, you can still deliver exceptional gaming events with a strong sustainability focus. Wherever you currently stand in terms of event management, there are services that can be tailored to your specific needs.
Sustainability is not a trend, but a crucial responsibility the entertainment industry must bear. Gaming events have the potential to inspire positive change globally while uniting a community of people. To find out more about standards and how BSI can help your company become more resilient, click here.
Follow along for the next blog in the series, The future is now: Creating our sustainable planet together.
