The national Green Events Code of Practice (GECoP) has been updated to provide a clear, robust, and nationally consistent framework for event organisers, local authorities, and the supply chain. The revised code reflects current best practices and aligns with national policy, aiming to help the UK live events sector achieve ambitious environmental targets.
The GECoP is published by Vision for Sustainable Events, with the review chaired by LIVE Green. It was supported by a working group that included event sustainability experts—specifically A Greener Future, Creative Zero, and Hope Solutions—as well as event promoters Festival Republic and AEG.
Following a successful 2024 pilot with 10 local authorities focused on integrating the code into their processes, the updated GECoP will be adopted by more than 20 UK cities in 2025. This expansion is the next step toward a national roll-out, ultimately aiming to provide an off-the-shelf framework and baseline for nationally consistent event assessment.
Chris Johnson, Chair of the Vision for Sustainable Events Forum, comments:
“Fundamentally, the Green Code aims to answer the question, ‘What does good look like?’ This refresh brings the code up to date, providing clarity for the sector on best practice and on the action we need to take to achieve meaningful reductions in the environmental impacts of events.”
GECoP is intended to establish a common understanding of best practice, offering clear and robust minimum standards that can be assessed to achieve national consistency. The updated code articulates the sector’s continued commitment to achieving a 50% reduction in emissions by 2030. It also emphasises the industry’s role as a driver of wider societal change.
Targets for energy have been strengthened in this second version, now including a 100% reduction in onsite fossil fuel consumption at live events by 2030. This aligns with wider creative, TV, and film industry commitments. HVO fuel is acknowledged as a transitional bridge where electric or green hydrogen solutions cannot yet meet power needs.
Read the updated code at https://visionsustainableevents.org/green-events-code/
This update originally appeared in our September 2025 Vision for Sustainable Events newsletter. Sign up to receive monthly event sustainability news, case studies and guest blogs direct to your inbox.