Go Green Strategy

I. OUR COMMITMENT

At Asociația Convey, we believe youth work should leave a positive mark not only on the people who take part but also on the places where our activities happen. This Go Green Strategy explains how we reduce the environmental footprint of our projects, from choosing venues and planning travel to the everyday habits we practise during an activity.

It follows the environmental priorities of the Erasmus+ programme and the European Green Deal, and we update it as we learn.

II. VENUES AND ACCOMMODATION

II.1. How We Choose Venues

When we choose where to host an activity, we look for places that:

- Use energy efficiently, with good insulation and efficient lighting and heating.

- Save water and sort waste for recycling.

- Serve healthy, local and seasonal food.

- Are close to nature, or within walking distance of the activity spaces, to cut down on daily transport.

- Hold eco-certifications or take part in local environmental initiatives, which count in their favour.

II.2. During the Stay

We ask participants to limit waste, reuse materials and avoid single-use plastics while they stay at the venue.

III. GREEN TRAVEL

III.1. Choosing How to Travel

- We prefer train, bus and car-sharing over flying whenever the route allows it.

- We encourage participants and staff to choose the lowest-emission option available, and we make use of the Erasmus+ green travel support where participants are eligible for it.

- We organise shared transfers between stations or airports and the venue.

- During activities, we walk or cycle whenever possible.

III.2. When Flying Is Unavoidable

If there is no realistic alternative to flying, we choose direct flights where possible and encourage participants to offset their emissions through certified climate projects.

IV. LEARNING ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT

IV.1. Topics

Environmental awareness is part of the learning programme in our activities, whatever their main theme. Depending on the project, we explore topics such as:

- Climate change and what young people can do about it

- Local nature, biodiversity and ecosystems

- Waste, recycling and the circular economy

- Sustainable lifestyles and green entrepreneurship

IV.2. Methods

We use workshops, games, creative sessions and hands-on local actions, so that participants can connect what they learn with their everyday habits and take new habits home with them.

V. LESS WASTE, SMARTER CONSUMPTION

V.1. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

- We go paperless wherever we can, using digital tools, online forms and digital certificates such as Youthpass.

- We avoid single-use plastics at our events.

- We encourage reusable bottles, cups, dishes and cloth bags.

- We provide clearly labelled bins so waste can be sorted where it is produced.

V.2. Food

- We encourage everyone to take only as much food as they will eat.

- We compost food waste where the venue allows it.

- Where possible, we donate surplus food to local people or organisations.

These principles are explained at the start of every activity, reminded through simple signs around the venue, and modelled by our team.

VI. SAVING ENERGY AND RESOURCES

We ask everyone to:

- Switch off lights, heating and devices when they are not needed.

- Keep showers short and avoid wasting water.

- Use daylight and natural ventilation whenever possible.

As organisers, we also buy from local suppliers to reduce transport emissions, and we reuse and upcycle materials for workshops and decorations.

VII. PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE PLANET

We work with partners who share our environmental values. Together we:

- Agree on common sustainability standards for joint projects.

- Share good practice on running greener activities.

- Organise or support local green actions, such as clean-ups, tree planting and awareness campaigns.

VIII. MONITORING AND IMPROVEMENT

To make sure this strategy works in practice, we:

- Assess the environmental impact of each project while planning it.

- Keep an eye on energy, water and waste during activities.

- Ask participants for feedback on our green measures.

- Include environmental indicators in our project evaluations and reports.

- Review this strategy once a year with our team and partners.

IX. GREEN HABITS FOR PARTICIPANTS

We ask everyone who takes part in a Convey project to:

- Bring a reusable water bottle and cup.

- Pack eco-friendly toiletries and a reusable bag.

- Choose digital materials over printed ones.

- Consume mindfully and respect nature.

- Leave every place cleaner than they found it.

X. OUR VISION

We want Asociația Convey to show that youth projects can be both fun and responsible. By making green choices part of how we work, we aim to shrink our own footprint, inspire young people to live more sustainably, and contribute to the European Climate Pact and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Last updated: October 2026