In September 2025, the Event Greening Forum (EGF) assessed the sustainability of various landmark events hosted by the Department of Tourism. These included:
- The Tourism Minister’s Summit at Kruger National Park
- The G20 Tourism Ministers Gala Dinner
- The G20 Tourism Working Group in White River
- The Tourism Hackathon
- The Inaugural Tourism Investment Summit
Here’s a peek at these events and some of the sustainable practices they adopted – such as sourcing locally crafted products (including backpacks made from leather off cuts from car seats, donated by car manufacturers!), local entertainment, using organic materials for decor (which can be more readily recycled or composted), reducing plastic packaging, and using refillable glass water bottles.
The bigger (greener) picture
These assessments formed part of the EGF’s 2026 Certification Programme pilot, setting the stage for how South African events can be measured and certified for sustainability. This will create a credible, recognised standard for sustainable event management in South Africa.
Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille highlighted the importance of sustainable development in South Africa’s tourism sector, saying, “By integrating sustainability into every stage of the tourism journey, we can strike a balance between economic growth and environmental stewardship.”
Look out for more details on the EGF Certification and a case study on these events in the coming months…