Greener Gathering

We are committed to making continual progress and making each year’s Gathering greener. Here's some information about things we're doing to help us reduce our carbon footprint, and ways you can play your part too.

The exhibition

A greener exhibition

We have opted for tables and chairs this year, without a metal stand build. This reduces the transportation of materials to the EICC and means you can reuse existing banner stands from other events. It should also make it easier for you to get out from behind your table, to say hello to delegates and visitors to your stand.

Want to know who else is exhibiting at the Gathering? Check our exhibitor listing to see who else is coming along.

Making your stand more environmentally friendly

We ask all exhibitors to make careful considerations on what materials and merchandise you bring along to use within exhibition spaces. Instead of handing out flyers and freebies that may be thrown away, why not invite visitors to scan a QR code that links to an online form or webpage or use a tablet for them to fill out their email address? If you do need to print anything, please aim to use recycled paper or paper from sustainable forests and consider printing materials that are relevant for other events too, so that they can re-used after the Gathering.

We ask that you avoid using single-use plastic and other non-recyclable materials within your exhibition space and carefully consider the volume of materials required for the duration of the Gathering to help reduce waste.

Why not focus on the experience people have at your stand by having something interactive and visual? In previous years people have enjoyed lego, Scalextric, puzzles and free food!

Getting your materials to the Gathering

Cameron Logistics is our preferred courier for the Gathering 2025. Their highly experienced and friendly team will be happy to manage the transportation needs of exhibitors and event hosts. They'll be looking after the SCVO team's needs too!

By working with Cameron Logistics as a preferred courier, we're helping to reduce our environmental impact because they aim to consolidate their collections and shipments, use all the space within their vehicles, and use in-house storage to bulk deliver to minimise deliveries and reduce carbon emissions.

You're welcome to use this service to transport your banners, boxes and everything in between. Watch this space for more information on costs and how to sign up for this service.

On the day

Travel

We’ve chosen the EICC as the venue for the Gathering because it has good transport links. Please use public transport, walking, cycling or wheeling to get to the venue if you can. If you’re travelling from outwith Edinburgh and public transport is not an option for you, perhaps consider car sharing with other organisations from your local area.

Visit the EICC website where you can find lots of helpful information including how to get there

SCVO's printed information, promotional materials and signage

We'll only have one paper guide for the Gathering this year. It will be printed with environmentally friendly paper and ink, and we’ll only print the number we need. SCVO will also produce minimal printed promotional material. The majority of information will be displayed on screens and on reusable signage around the venue.

You'll be able to see lots of information inside the venue via QR codes, so make sure you connect to the free WiFi available at the EICC. Of course, you'll also find lots of friendly faces from the SCVO team to help you with information too.

Where possible, we'll be re-using or re-purposing stands, banners and signage from previous events and the majority of our venue dressing will be hired and re-usable to avoid buying single-use items, where we can.

Recycling

There will be recycling bins located around the EICC, so please use these to dispose of any recyclable waste. We encourage you to avoid single-use plastics.

Food and drinks

Another easy way to help us create a greener Gathering is by bringing your own reusable cup for tea and coffee (you get a 50p discount!), and a water bottle. There will be water stations you can use around the venue.

Catering at the venue will be vegetarian in keeping with our commitment to encourage more plant-based diets, and all the ingredients will be sourced from within 200 miles of Edinburgh. There will be vegan and non-gluten-containing options available. You are also very welcome to bring your own food and snacks if you prefer.

Our other commitments

We will work with the EICC to create an event impact report at the end of the Gathering. This will include information about energy consumption, waste management and plastic use. This will be considered along with our wider feedback and evaluation to help us learn and plan future events.

To help all voluntary sector organisations get to grips with the climate and nature emergencies, we have developed Growing Climate Confidence, a website packed with tips and ideas to help you think beyond the Gathering, and get help to reduce emissions and engage your community.

Get in touch

If you have any questions about the Gathering get in touch, we'd love to hear from you!