Environmental Sustainability of an Event : Case: Tampere Christmas Market 2013
Lyyski, Anniina (2014)
Lyyski, Anniina
Tampereen ammattikorkeakoulu
2014
All rights reserved
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201405066059
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201405066059
Tiivistelmä
The aim of this thesis was to find out how environmentally sustainable Tampere Christmas Market 2013 was as an event. This topic was chosen based on the author’s personal interests and also because this factor had not been researched on before about this particular event. Environmental sustainability is also a very relevant topic in tourism nowadays. From economic and social aspect the event had received positive comments already in the earlier years. The purpose of this thesis was also to investigate whether environmentally sustainable practices were applied in Tampere Christmas Market 2013 and how the event could be improved in terms of environmental sustainability.
To help the assessment of the environmental sustainability, different information sources were used. In addition to expert literature, participant observation and a thematic interview were executed. The observation took place on the event site during three of the Tampere Christmas Market opening days and the interview was done with the event’s producer Rami Lehtinen via telephone. The questions used in both the observation and the interview were mainly based on the Organizer’s checklist created by the Finnish Tourist Board together with the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Environment and Suunnittelukeskus Ltd in 1999 and supported by the Sustainable Event Checklist by Meegan Jones. As the research focused on one specific phenomenon, the data was mainly analyzed using qualitative method by the means of a case study.
The main result of this research was that Tampere Christmas Market is largely an environmentally sustainable event. The most environmentally sustainable practices involved the amount and reuse possibilities of certain materials and structures, fairly minor amount of waste and minimal water use. However, some aspects like lighting, tableware materials and recycling possibilities for consumers were found to be in need of improvements. This research also revealed that the organizers are well aware of the event’s shortages and intend to make changes over the years. Nevertheless, as the event is arranged outdoors and in demanding conditions in winter, there will always be challenges with the environmental sustainability.
To help the assessment of the environmental sustainability, different information sources were used. In addition to expert literature, participant observation and a thematic interview were executed. The observation took place on the event site during three of the Tampere Christmas Market opening days and the interview was done with the event’s producer Rami Lehtinen via telephone. The questions used in both the observation and the interview were mainly based on the Organizer’s checklist created by the Finnish Tourist Board together with the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Environment and Suunnittelukeskus Ltd in 1999 and supported by the Sustainable Event Checklist by Meegan Jones. As the research focused on one specific phenomenon, the data was mainly analyzed using qualitative method by the means of a case study.
The main result of this research was that Tampere Christmas Market is largely an environmentally sustainable event. The most environmentally sustainable practices involved the amount and reuse possibilities of certain materials and structures, fairly minor amount of waste and minimal water use. However, some aspects like lighting, tableware materials and recycling possibilities for consumers were found to be in need of improvements. This research also revealed that the organizers are well aware of the event’s shortages and intend to make changes over the years. Nevertheless, as the event is arranged outdoors and in demanding conditions in winter, there will always be challenges with the environmental sustainability.