Together with our host venue, we aim to run the EAUC Annual Conference as sustainably as possible and in line with our conference ethos. This includes: 

• Collaborating on venue sustainability initiatives and sharing good practice. 

• Working with catering teams to follow good practice in sustainable food, drawing on the Sustainable Restaurant Association guidelines, WRAP recommendations and Food for Life standards where applicable. 

• Offsetting carbon emissions from activities related to the conference, including venue use, catering and staff travel. 

• Asking the venue and all suppliers to share evidence of their sustainability credentials, including relevant environmental policies, carbon reduction plans and certifications. This ensures that suppliers and partners can evidence their sustainability commitments, giving delegates confidence that the organisations involved in the conference uphold the same values and standards as the EAUC community. 

We recognise the vital role that food and environment play in both climate action and wellbeing. All conference catering is vegan and, wherever possible, locally sourced and seasonal. 

We support delegate wellbeing by offering fruit, water and healthy snacks throughout the day. Catering is served on non-disposable crockery and cutlery, and bottled water is avoided water. Tap water is available across the venue. 

Where possible, we offer early-morning outdoor or movement-based activities such as walking tours, yoga or jogging routes on campus to support physical and mental wellbeing.

We encourage low-carbon travel choices for everyone involved with the conference. 

• Delegates, exhibitors and speakers are strongly encouraged to use public transport wherever possible. 

• EAUC staff travel to the conference by public transport. 

• Car sharing is supported through Liftshare. 

• EAUC offsets emissions from venue use, catering, staff and speaker travel, and where data allows, delegate travel and accommodation. 

• Offset funding is returned to the host venue or local community, supporting sustainability projects with a long-term impact. 

We aim to minimise resource use and reduce waste wherever possible. 

We use a conference platform (supported by Crowdcomms) and an interactive website to reduce the need for printed materials. When printing is unavoidable, we use 100 percent recycled paper and the most sustainable printing techniques available. 

Delegate materials are provided onsite to avoid unnecessary packaging. We avoid conference bags, pens and paper and encourage delegates to use digital devices or bring their own notebooks. 

Recycling points are available across the venue, and we ask delegates to return badges and lanyards for reuse or recycling. 

Exhibitors and sponsors are a visible part of the delegate experience, so we work with them to ensure their presence aligns with our sustainability ethos. 

We request: 

• Evidence of sustainability policies, carbon commitments or relevant certifications. 

• Use of recycled or sustainably sourced materials. 

• Avoidance of unnecessary single-use merchandise or promotional items. 

Sustainability and EDI are interdependent. We are committed to creating an inclusive, accessible and respectful conference environment. 

We actively consider the diversity of our speakers and contributors. We strive to design a conference that is welcoming to delegates from a wide range of identities, roles and institutions. All organising bodies are expected to be tolerant of the beliefs of others and sensitive to ethnic and cultural background, disability, gender, marital or family status, sexuality, socio-economic background and age. 

Our event code of conduct and equity, diversity and inclusion policy outline our expectations around respectful communication and behaviour.  

For our 2026 conference, we're pleased to offer delegates use of the Haven - the multi-faith and community centre for Bay Campus. The Haven welcomes everyone as a safe space offering a quiet room, social spaces and muslim prayer rooms.

Our commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion (EDI) and sustainability directly supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG):    

• Goal 3 – Good Health and Wellbeing 

• Goal 4 – Quality Education 

• Goal 5 – Gender Equality 

• Goal 10 – Reduced Inequalities 

• Goal 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities 

• Goal 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production 

• Goal 13 – Climate Action 

• Goal 17 – Partnerships for the Goals

We will continue to use the SDGs as a framework to shape and evaluate the impact of future conferences.

Our sector is being asked to navigate uncertainty, inspire collective action and lead institutional transformation. The Inner Development Goals (IDGs) offer a practical framework for the inner skills needed to do this well, including:

• Awareness and presence

• Perspective-taking and critical reflection

• Collaboration and communication

• Courage, creativity and resilience

• Commitment to purposeful action

We are integrating the IDGs into the conference experience to help delegates deepen their leadership practice. During registration, delegates can reflect on their strengths and development priorities. Throughout the conference we will connect programme content back to the IDG dimensions, supporting people to leave with a clearer sense of direction, stronger confidence and renewed energy for change.

This approach enhances the learning journey, strengthens leadership capability and supports personal wellbeing, recognising that the inner capacity of sustainability professionals shapes the outer impact of the sector.