Sustainability has long been a hot topic in the events industry, but while discussions on reducing waste and carbon emissions have been making waves, the role of staffing in the sustainability conversation has been somewhat overlooked. Now, The Occasionall Group, the event staffing agency behind Festivall Staff and Occasionall Staff iis taking bold steps to change that.
From its inception in 2021, The Occasionall Group has championed sustainable event staffing, continuously exploring ways to reduce the environmental impact of recruitment. Now, with its latest initiative, ‘Trees-For-All’, the company is offering clients a simple yet effective way to make a tangible difference: for every staff member booked through The Occasionall Group, a tree can be planted, either on international soil or right here in the UK.
This initiative isn’t just a symbolic gesture. It has the potential to become the industry’s first carbon-negative staffing solution, actively offsetting emissions from staff travel while contributing to wider reforestation efforts. In a sector where travel is often unavoidable, the ability to counterbalance carbon footprints in real-time is a game-changer.
A Commitment to Long-Term Change
The ‘Trees-For-All’ initiative is a natural extension of The Occasionall Group’s long-standing sustainability efforts. Since 2021, the company has pledged to plant a tree for every staff member booked per season. In 2024, they expanded this promise, offering trees as an alternative to gift vouchers for staff completing their End of Summer Survey and Festive Feedback Forms. This small change led to an impressive 1,064 trees being planted in 2024 alone, a figure the company is committed to increasing year after year.
But it’s not just about planting trees; it’s about changing mindsets. At this year’s Event Production Show and International Confex, The Occasionall Group unveiled ‘Trees-For-All’ with an interactive pledge called ‘Tree-o’Clock’, where they committed to planting a tree for every visitor who stopped by their stand between 3-4 PM. The result? An additional 19 trees added to the growing Occasionall Forest, offsetting the travel emissions of their own event staff for these exhibitions.
The Future of Sustainable Staffing
While many event companies have focused on sustainability in production, venue management, and catering, The Occasionall Group is proving that staffing should be an integral part of the conversation. Their vision is clear: to work with events and clients who share their commitment to sustainability while offering a staffing solution that actively contributes to a greener future.
With ‘Trees-For-All’, the industry has a fresh opportunity to rethink how event staffing can align with environmental responsibility. Whether it’s planting trees for every hire or opting for a carbon-negative workforce, this initiative is a call to action for companies to do more than just reduce their impact, it’s about creating a net positive change.
To learn more about ‘Trees-For-All’ and how to get involved, visit www.theoccasionall.group/trees-for-all.
