Over the past few years, virtual events have become one of the more common ways to host large gatherings. While these digital experiences may have been popularized due to the pandemic, many businesses have since continued to utilize them.
Many people have expressed their dislike for online events- even when they were completely necessary during the height of quarantine. Most complaints revolved around the poorly put-together online platforms or the inability to truly connect with others virtually. With these pressing issues, why would businesses continue to host virtual events?
The answer actually isn’t that simple.
Every company has differing reasons why they continue to host virtual events even as travel restrictions become less strict. For one, virtual events are exponentially more cost-effective than in-person events. When an event is fully virtual, there is no need for catering, venue, or travel costs. Additionally, virtual events are way more accessible to large audiences. Many people are unable to travel across the country for a single event, so virtual events are optimal for businesses that are trying to boost their attendee count.
As we reach the two-year mark since the beginning of the pandemic, however, we’re starting to see an even bigger reason why virtual events should continue.
How Virtual Events Help the Environment
Interestingly enough, the pandemic jumpstarted a more environmentally friendly future. Due to the concern for public health, remote working became the new status quo alongside virtual events. This led to a huge decrease in carbon emissions, with the majority of workers no longer driving to and from work.
Along the same vein, with airlines no longer running their regularly scheduled flights, the environment saw a huge positive impact. According to Nature Communications, over 5% of the current climate change can be attributed to flight emissions.
When a company is hosting a large in-person gathering, it’s unlikely that the majority of its audience members live close by. By converting your event from in-person to online, you’re preventing the usage of tons of carbon emissions – and that’s just by eradicating the potential air and car travel.
Here are some of the more shocking statistics that prove the benefits of virtual events:
- A typical virtual event hosting over 2,000 attendees reduces carbon emissions by around 3,300 tons.
- The average virtual event saves the use of over 36,000 pieces of paper by rendering documents digitally
- Hotels often used for housing out-of-town event attendees account for over 630 million pounds of waste each year.
Once you’ve shifted your event from in-person to virtual, you’ve essentially cut out all of these areas of potential emissions and waste. That alone is a huge step in the right direction for those trying to reduce their carbon footprint.
Conclusion
Although this information is great news for the environment, there are bound to be people that are still missing in-person events. As we mentioned before, there has always been a long list of complaints when it comes to the shortcomings of online events. For example, some attendees find it hard to network with others digitally. Additionally, there are many virtual event platforms out there that feel unfinished, uncreative, and overall sub-par.
The good news is that there are ways to fix these complaints. Not every virtual event needs to be burdened by bad design or inefficient communication. At Jumbo, we believe that each and every virtual event should be unique and customized. Our priority is to ensure that your event is engaging and unforgettable for your audience members.
Once you’ve proved to your attendees that not all virtual events need to be boring, the benefits that digital experiences have to offer are truly undeniable. After all, if an online event can be just as immersive and inspiring as an in-person one, why not choose the option that is more environmentally friendly?