Sustainability at SB events
Learn how SB events are designed to reduce environmental impact while supporting sustainability initiatives in our host communities.
We are committed to reducing the environmental impact of our conferences while partnering with our community to produce more responsible events and support sustainability initiatives in our host cities.
At the heart of this effort is the adoption of the SB Nine Sustainable Behaviors™, a framework that helps brands align internal practices with consumer engagement to drive good growth and close the sustainability intention-action gap.
The SB Nine Sustainable Behaviors™
Address Climate Crisis
Eat More Plants
Moderate meat consumption and eat mostly plant-based foods.
SB partners with PlanetFWD to provide transparency to our attendees about our menus' carbon footprint.
Be Energy Smart
Conserve energy and use renewable energy sources where possible.
SB partners with ClimeCo to help us calculate and mitigate our emissions impact at our events.
Think Durable
Purchase durable, reusable products and use fewer disposable ones.
SB partners with Republic Services to increase our event waste diversion rate.
Preserve Resources For Life
Reduce Water and Food Waste
Use only what you need and find ways to reduce water and food waste.
SB is partnering with Copia to track our food donations throughout the event and BEF to offset our water usage.
Go Circular
Choose products made with recycled content and recycle, rent, share and buy used over new products.
Prioritizing recyclable and reusable materials for on-site attendee materials with Rareform Gift Bags.
Choose Nature-Friendly
Buy products with clean ingredients and products that protect habitats and biodiversity.
Our partnership with the CSWA helps promote sustainable winegrowing practices, while YBC Productions supports the production of sustainable print graphics on site.
Foster Resilient Societies
Support Women and Girls
Support causes and products that support women and girls, that includes purchasing from women-owned businesses.
SB strives to create representation & opportunities for women and girls through plenary and breakout content along with small group discussions
Expand Equity and Opportunity
Support brands offering inclusive and equitable products, policies and practices.
Loop & Tie offers inclusive and equitable products from around the globe.
Show Up
Actively participate in organizations, buy from companies that support sustainable living, and vote.
SB partners with Tea Huntress to provide a strategic way to start and end your day, and with 4ocean to support a beach cleanup, educational boat cruise, and the removal of one pound of ocean-bound plastic per attendee.
SB'26 Sustainability Partners
Climate Labeling Partner
SB has partnered with Planet FWD to provide transparency to our attendees about our menu’s carbon footprint. Each menu item at our event will be labeled with the item’s associated carbon footprint.
Carbon Emission Partner
Partnering with ClimeCo allows us to offset our event’s environmental footprint through high-integrity carbon credits that support verified global decarbonization projects, ensuring our commitment to sustainability is both measurable and impactful.
Waste Diversion Partner
Republic Services is a leader in environmental services, focused on creating a more sustainable world by partnering with customers including the Town & Country Resort and SB to manage waste and recycling responsibly.
Food Surplus Donation Partner
SB is partnering with Copia to track our food donations throughout the event. In 2025 SB donated 635 pounds of excess foods to the Veteran’s Village and Salvation Army of San Diego, feeding over 500 meals to others.
Water Restoration Partner
Water use is balanced in partnership with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation’s (BEF) Water Restoration Certificates® (WRCs). These WRCs, sourced from the Merced Seasonal Wetlands, will balance the estimated water impacts from the Town & Country Resort for three days.
Sustainable Gift Partner
Our partnership with Rareform, allows us to give away one-of-a-kind bags recycled from billboards to. Prioritizing recyclable and reusable materials for on-site gift giving.
Sustainable Wine Resource
The California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA), which champions sustainability “from grape to glass,” is our key resource for sustainably sourced wine selections. Their expertise ensures that the wine featured at our opening reception meets the highest standards for environmental and social responsibility within the industry.
Sustainable Gift Partner
Our partnership with Loop & Tie allows for thoughtful, curated gift giving experiences focused across three core areas of sustainability: environmental, economic and social. All gifts have a double carbon offset, are sourced from independent creators, makers and artisans or can be used to support charities, non-profits or causes that matter to our community.
Health and Wellness Partner
SB partners with, Sarah Scarborough, Tea Huntress to provide a strategic way to start and end your day. By anchoring your morning in intention and your evening in gratitude, we provide the mental framework necessary to make your health goals sustainable, one sip at a time.
Sustainable Print Partner
YBC Production is a print production partner specializing in high-quality signage, displays, and branded graphics. We help brands bring their visual experiences to life with thoughtful material choices, including sustainable substrates and ink options that support more responsible short-term event production.
Sea Protection Partner
SB is proud to partner with 4ocean to help protect our seas. Join us for a hands-on beach cleanup and an educational session on ocean conservation while boating on the Pacific. For every person who attends SB’26, one pound of plastic and debris will be removed from the ocean, rivers, and coastlines on your behalf. Let’s turn the tide together.
Sustainable Wine Partners
Gloria Ferrer
The Gloria Ferrer estate was founded with an eye on generational continuity and long-term sustainability and the commitment has not wavered. Our holistic ecosystem ensures we are living in harmony with and protecting the natural environment and conserving resources. Just as important as mother nature are our people and community. We respect and take care of the people who work across the Gloria Ferrer estate and the broader community to which we belong.
Grgich Hills Estate
Grgich Hills Estate is dedicated to crafting world-class wines renowned for their elegance, complexity, and balance. The winery’s mission is rooted in regenerating the earth and fostering peace through friendship while building a better future for generations to come. All grapes are estate-grown in Napa Valley and are 100% certified regenerative organic, with a deep commitment to natural, minimal-intervention winegrowing practices that capture the essence of the vineyard and vintage in every bottle.
J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines
Founded fifty-two years ago by Jerry Lohr and still family-owned and operated today, J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines grows, produces, and bottles a full line of internationally recognized wines from its more than 4,000 acres of Certified California Sustainable estate vineyards in Monterey County’s Arroyo Seco and Santa Lucia Highlands appellations, Paso Robles, and St. Helena in Napa Valley.
Lange Twins
LangeTwins is a family-owned and farm-first winery in the Lodi appellation of California, committed to cultivating a lasting impact. Behind a glass of our wine is a legacy of responsible land stewardship and forward-thinking sustainable winegrowing practices ensuring the unique estate vineyard blocks we’ve farmed for generations are preserved for the future.
St. Supéry
St. Supéry Estate Vineyards and Winery produces 100% estate grown, certified Napa Green wines, focusing on sauvignon blanc, cabernet sauvignon, and additional red Bordeaux varietals.
Napa Green is an environmental certification program for vineyards and wineries. The Napa Green program is one of the most comprehensive environmental accreditations in the wine industry, covering every step from soil to bottle and requiring continuous improvement to maintain our certifications.
Wente Vineyards
Wente Vineyards has been farming sustainably since its founding in 1883. Throughout its history, Wente Vineyards has been a leader in sustainable practices helping implement the non-profit trade organization’s Code of Sustainable Winegrowing Practices. Wente Vineyards is proudly a certified sustainable vineyard and winery from the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance. Fewer than ten percent of wineries hold both the vineyard and winery certifications.
Willamette Valley Vineyards
Willamette Valley Vineyards focuses on sustainable winemaking through decades of stewardship, with estate vineyards certified sustainable through LIVE and Salmon-Safe, while continuing to explore biodynamic farming and traditional winemaking practices to craft wines that reflect their origin.
Sustainability FAQ's
To ensure our events embody the very principles we champion, Sustainable Brands integrates sustainability into every layer of our operations. We move beyond “best effort” by implementing data-driven strategies to reduce waste, designing low-impact menus, and partnering with industry-leading organizations to restore the resources we use.
Our commitment is a collaborative journey. We invite you to explore our full suite of Sustainability Programs and Partnerships to see our values in action.
Have a sustainability partnership opportunity or a bold new idea? We want to hear from you. Please reach out to Ineke to discuss how we can continue to push the boundaries of sustainable event management.
We are committed to providing a culinary experience that is plant-forward, inclusive, and waste-free. To achieve this, we focus on three core pillars:
- Low-Carbon Menu Development: We collaborate with the food service teams at the Town and Country Resort and Planet FWD to design menus that prioritize low-carbon ingredients without sacrificing flavor. These menus are engineered to respect diverse dietary preferences while nourishing all attendees.
- Zero-Waste Operations: We strive for a circular system by partnering with Copia to recover and donate edible surplus food. For materials that cannot be donated, we work with Republic Services and the Town and Country Resort (a San Diego-approved waste facility) to ensure rigorous recycling and composting standards are met.
- Sustainable Sourcing: Every wine served at our events is intentionally sourced from vineyards certified by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance, ensuring our beverage program supports regenerative agricultural practices.
We take a holistic approach to minimizing the environmental footprint of our Flagship event through rigorous materials management and resource restoration:
- Restoration & Offsetting: We collaborate with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) to restore local water ecosystems by offsetting event water usage through Water Restoration Certificates (WRCs). Additionally, we partner with ClimeCo to calculate and offset the carbon emissions generated by the event’s operations.
- Circular Materials: Our commitment to a circular economy is reflected in our event collateral. We utilize 100% recyclable materials for all event signage, alongside compostable badge stock and recyclable lanyards.
- Waste Diversion: To ensure these materials reach the correct stream, we have partnered with Republic Services. This collaboration allows us to maximize our waste diversion rate and ensures that our recycling and composting efforts meet the highest industrial standards.