THE SHIFT supplies THE SPOT 2023 with important sustainability solutions

The SHIFT and ThinkSport have renewed their sustainability partnership for this year's edition of THE SPOT, to be held on 8 and 9 May 2023 at the SwissTech Convention Center situated on the EPFL campus in Lausanne. Very much in line with this year’s horizontal event theme of “Innovation in action for sustainable futures”, the objective is once again to further boost the organisation's efforts in the areas of circular economy, responsible catering, mobility, health, carbon footprint, water consumption, and inclusion and diversity.

This year, the partnership between ThinkSport and The SHIFT has gained increased significance, as The SHIFT is now involved in the Innovation Booster  as a theme leader for data related to sustainability.

As part of this programme, a novel framework for sustainability data will be prototyped during THE SPOT. The tool aims to evaluate an organisation's sustainability status and aid in decision-making, utilising the most effective assessment and reporting methods available. In addition, a new scorecard initiative will be piloted with Sword during the event, aiming to support various sports and other events in assessing their sustainability performance.

Some of the sustainability solutions implemented during THE SPOT, including the actions of the Innovation Booster are:         

• Circular economy: the event's eco-conception is geared towards reducing waste and single-use plastic. In collaboration with Be Wtr, water fountains will be provided as an alternative to single-use plastic bottles.
• Responsible catering: conference attendees will be served locally sourced food, mainly vegetarian, and 100% reusable tableware will be provided. Moreover, the meals' ECO and NUTRI Score values will be calculated thanks to Beelong's calculator. Lastly, the generated food waste will be weighed to best measure its economical impact. Kitro, a Swiss company, will provide the technical solution.
• Inclusion and diversity: Efforts are being made to attain a better balance of female and youth speakers, attendees, and volunteers. To evaluate diversity among the event's attendees and gather feedback from participants, a survey will be conducted.
• Carbon footprint: To identify opportunities for improvement and minimise the event's environmental impact, carbon footprint measurements will be taken. During THE SPOT, a visualisation tool will also be trialled to facilitate the understanding and management of data. The SHIFT is partnering with Synchrotech to implement this solution.
• To reduce the event's environmental impact, several sustainable transportation alternatives have been recommended to attendees, including public transportation, bicycles, and walking. These recommendations have been linked to health for a more holistic mobility approach. Participants will be able to test a watch to continuously keep track of their key health data. They are also invited to join the Strava challenge “To THE SPOT.. and beyond!!” on a dedicated mobile app, to reach the maximum distance by soft mobility the day of the event.

The implementation of all these focus points will be measured and analysed to improve it for further editions of THE SPOT. Data for sustainability will foster behavioural changes through various nudges, thanks to the local expertise of the Summit Foundation.  

The SHIFT is yet another one of several of partners, supporters and suppliers ThinkSport could win for THE SPOT 2023 and who truly reflect the spirit of their flagship event.

About The SHIFT

The SHIFT is a Swiss-based sustainability agency with a mission fuelled by purpose, passion, and innovation. Employing a unique 361-degree approach, The SHIFT assesses, advises, and implements change within global and local organisations. 

They help clients communicate, measure, and report their impact, provide management systems, deliver sustainability and innovation workshops, offer training opportunities, and devise strategies and policies that lead to tangible benefits, enhancing organisations’  impact, relevance, and reputation.

The agency works with a diverse group of clients from both the public and private sectors, including the sports and events industries. In addition, they dedicate 20% of their time and expertise to significant non-profit causes such as migration, ocean and mountain regeneration, youth empowerment, health and lifestyle, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Supported by the Service de la Promotion de l'Economie et de l'Innovation (SPEI) of the Canton of Vaud, The SHIFT has recently launched Sport Moves, a unique programme developed to financially support organisations in implementing sustainability practices.