Legacy and impact activities in Bergen

An increasing number of meeting and event planners explore the opportunity to leave a positive footprint at their host destination. This can for example be a part of a sustainability strategy to compensate for the negative impact involved with participants flying to the destination.

In Bergen, there are several ways for associations and organizations to contribute to local regeneration. Here are a few suggestions:

Photo: Visit Bergen / Casper Steinsland - visitBergen.com

Beach cleaning in the Bergen region

Since a goose-beaked whaled with a stomach filled with plastic was fond in Sotra, west of Bergen, in 2017, the issue of plastic waste in the ocean has been a hot topic in Norway. With one of the world's longest coastlines, cleaning up Norway's shores is a tremendous task.

Many organizations organize beach cleaning events on a regular basis. Visit Bergen / Bergen Convention Bureau cooperate with The Green Warriors of Norway, who can arrange a beach cleaning for group of up to 20 people on request. If you want them to facilitate a beach cleaning for your event/organization, please note that a donation to support the organization’s operating expenses is expected.

Learn about sustainable food production and management

Bergen is a UNESCO City of Gastronomy and there are many initiatives working on urban and sustainable food production. Bergen even has its own urban farmer. 

Bærekraftige liv / Lystgården is a neighbourhood movement aimed at making small communities in Bergen more sustainable. They can facilitate a visit to the Food Forest on Landås and learn you more about sustainable neighbourhood development. 

Matsentralen Vestland, the local food bank in Bergen, also provides learning sessions on reducing food waste. You might consider combining a lecture on this topic with The Bergen Impact Menu.

The Bergen Impact Menu

The Bergen Impact Menu is an initiative for organizations facilitating dinners/galas as part of their events. The concept involves turning one course of a set menu into a donation to a local charity. For example, you could serve a three-course meal at the event and donate the cost of the fourth course to a charity, such as Matsentralen.

The Bergen Charity run

If you want to invite the participants at your conference to be active during the program, why not organize a charity run? Together with the local sports team Viking, we can help you set up a charity run where the price of participation is donated to a local charity of your choosing. 

Sustainability key notes, lectures and more 

There are numerous opportunities to invite speakers to hold learning sessions about sustainability and sustainable practice as part of your event/conference. Contact Bergen Convention Bureau and we will help you find a suitable speaker/organization.

Bonus tip: donate the gifts 

Many conferences typically give a small gift to speakers and host at the conference. Instead of gifting the speakers/hosts chocolate and flowers, consider donating an amount to a local charity or give them a gift card where they can donate an amount to a charity of their choosing. Gi Gaven Videre is a Bergen-based organization offering these kind of gift cards. 

Feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions about impact activities in Bergen.