Ever feel a bit solitary in your sustainability endeavours?
Well, you’re not alone.
No, really, you’re not! 😁
Online or off, wherever you are, there are wonderful opportunities to meet and collaborate with sustainability people just like you, stay up to date on sustainability matters, and make lasting connections.
Here are our top picks of events and organisations that keep the “social” in ESG.
1% for the Planet
If you’d like to rub shoulders with organisations like Patagonia, our friends Priory Direct, and us here at Grain, 1% for the Planet is a great way to connect and share in a credible and impactful way. 1% for the Planet is a membership organisation where participating businesses commit to donating 1% of annual sales directly to planet-saving environmental partners. Our very own Madelyn Postman joined the 1% Board in January 2024 as its first non-US-based board member. Good company indeed! 1% events to look out for include the Global Summit and regional pop-up Sessions, coming up all over the U.S. in 2025, plus Bristol, Amsterdam, and Sydney. Plus regional and global online networking for members.
Better Business Network
Our good friend and collaborator Hannah Cox created the Better Business Network as an inclusive community for purpose-driven business owners and leaders looking to make a positive impact. BBN membership offers access to events, tools, training, resources, workshops, and much more. Interested? Members and non-members are welcome at monthly online speed networking and many other BBN events like the free monthly networking breakfasts in London, Manchester, Bristol, and Brighton. Check out what’s upcoming in the BBN events calendar. Rest easy knowing that Nature is always represented in the BBN: on the board, in roundtable discussions, and in panel talks.
People, Planet, Pint
Similar to Green Drinks, People, Planet, Pint events are billed as “No agenda, workshops or webinars. Just chat over some drinks.” Organised by SME sustainability accelerator, Small99, and sponsored by green website hosting company Krystal (a B Corp and 1% for the Planet member, and host of this very website), People, Planet, Pints events help you connect with your local sustainability organisations and get involved. Find your local one here. The first 33 drinks are on Krystal, so get there early!
People, Planet, Pastry
Prefer coffee mornings to pub nights? People, Planet, Pastry could be for you. Run by Small99 and the Better Business Network, and generously sponsored by global accounting and business software giant Sage, People, Planet, Pastry events welcome the curious and the experienced to share sustainability ideas at events worldwide.
Green Drinks
Fancy a pint? Green Drinks is a casual environmental sustainability meet-up that’s been going strong since its first round in 1989 in a North London pub. It’s now an international phenomenon with events in 417 cities around the world. I had the pleasure of attending the September Green Drinks event in Edmonton, Alberta, where, along with an Electric Boogaloo Hazy IPA and a slice of pizza, I received some excellent advice on gardening with native plants. The evening also featured speakers from Waste Free Edmonton and the 350.org Heat Pumps for All campaign. Check out greendrinks.org for an event near you or learn how to host your own.
CISL Network
Numerous and delightful are the connections we’ve made through the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL). The CISL Network is a virtual community of 30,000+ leaders and innovators helping to “accelerate the movement towards sustainable societies and economies”. Members benefit from shared Impact Stories, a private LinkedIn group, guest speaker opportunities, and regional networking groups and events. Join in!
B Socials
If your business is a B Corp, you’re probably already aware of the “B Socials” in your area. In London they’re held quarterly at various locations, from the roof terrace of our client Bates Wells, to the fabulous x+why spaces (where BBN also makes its home). Log into the B Hive to find your local group, or sign up for your region’s newsletters.
Grain events
Want more networking opportunities? You’ll meet plenty of like-minded sustainability people at our popular online events. We have an online Climate Fresk coming up on 14th November and our first online Carbon Literacy Masterclass for Professional Services over 2 mornings, 6th and 13th November, 2024.
