SEWF and SEWF25 Co-hosts, Impact Hub Taipei, are committed to planning a sustainable event.
Climate change continues to increasingly impact communities around the world with disadvantaged communities, where many social enterprises work, being more significantly affected.
SEWF and Impact Hub Taipei believe that all organisations have a role in taking action to embed sustainability practices into their work. Ahead of our events in 2025, we are working with experts in sustainability to develop the SEWF25 Sustainability Strategy. This page summarises the key principles and approach to the strategy.
SEWF supports the global social enterprise movement to create local and global impact in the fight against climate change. Many of the enterprises in our community work directly to address sustainability issues, such as through campaigning and education, as well as those developing and delivering climate solutions.
As a global convener of events, SEWF recognises the significant impact the events industry, particularly those requiring international travel, has on the planet. Following consultation with our community and recognising the long-term legacy SEWF events have in the countries where they are held for positive social, economic and environmental outcomes, we will continue to offer in-person participation but with an alternate-year hybrid model to encourage online participation and reduce international travel. We will continue to review our model as technology continues to develop.
SEWF25 will demonstrate the potential of sustainable convening by delivering a world-class hybrid event. SEWF aspires to be a leader in sustainable practices and the sustainability measures taken will set new parameters for accessibility and responsible participation and will have an influence within and outside the global social enterprise community.
Our approach is guided by commitment to the following principles:
SEWF and Impact Hub Taipei have committed to investing in hybrid technology to ensure a high-quality experience for those joining online as well as in-person to reduce the need for international travel as well as to reduce barriers to access.
The Community Hub model enables local groups to self-organise around SEWF25 to meet and network locally without travelling internationally. SEWF will provide guidance to Community Hubs to encourage them to embed similar sustainability practices into their events.
Planet will be one of the priority themes for 2025, ensuring that climate is at the centre of all programming for the selection of session topics, organisations and speakers.
The selection of suppliers, including venues, local catering, transportation, technology and accommodation, will be guided by environmental standards adopted for SEWF in 2025. These standards will include commitment to sustainably sourced materials and zero waste practices relating to participant packs, stationery, PVC-free signs, booth guidelines, water refill stations, waste segregation, composting and recycling. We will prioritise purchasing products from local social enterprises, non-profit organisations and local B Corps.
The SEWF25 Sustainability Strategy will include objectives and targets that we will measure and report against. We will benchmark against other social purpose and commercial sector events to examine the relationship between purpose and sustainability and to improve future performance.