Corporate, Non-Profit & Association Events
CNO Financial Indianapolis Monumental Marathon 2022
Client: Beyond Monumental
Date: November 5, 2022
Venue: Downtown Indianapolis, Ind.
Event Description: The Monumental Marathon is one of the 15 largest marathons in the U.S. This year more than 11,000 participants finished the marathon, half marathon, and 5K courses. The post-race party provided refreshments and entertainment for participants, spectators, and volunteers. Ecosystem Events implemented recycling and compost collection at the post-race party and other key areas of the race operations.
Results: 2,850 pounds of event waste diverted from the landfill and incinerator via recycling and composting.
Indy Half Marathon at Fort Ben 2022
Client: Beyond Monumental
Date: October 1, 2022
Venue: Fort Benjamin Harrison State Park, Indianapolis, Ind.
Event Description: The Indy Half Marathon at Fort Ben is a family-friendly road race featuring half-marathon, 10K, 5K, and kids’ one-mile courses running through a scenic state park. Ecosystem Events implemented recycling and compost collection for the 3,000-participant event.
Results: 1,000 pounds of event waste diverted from the landfill and incinerator via recycling and composting.
College Football Playoff Championship 2022
Client: Green Sports Alliance
Date: Jan. 6-12, 2022
Venue: Downtown Indianapolis, Ind.
Event Description: The College Football Playoff (CFP) is a postseason event to determine college football’s national champion. Through its Playoff Green sustainability program, the CFP strives to minimize the environmental footprint of the national championship game and its ancillary activities.
The Green Sports Alliance, coordinator of the Playoff Green program, hired Ecosystem Events to sustainably manage waste at two CFP ancillary events: a 3-day concert series on Monument Circle, and the Taste of the Championship gourmet food event at the Indiana State Museum. Ecosystem Events designed and implemented programs for recycling, composting, food donations, and material donations from these events.
Results: As part of the Playoff Green team, Ecosystem Events contributed to the following results for the overall CFP Championship footprint:
- Hand-sorted and recovered over 117 tons of materials during two weeks throughout downtown Indianapolis
- Rescued 80% of all CFP-generated waste from local landfills
- Donated over 35,000 meals from event activities
- Donated over 75,000 pounds of reusable goods to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Indianapolis to support affordable homeownership
CNO Financial Indianapolis Monumental Marathon 2021
Client: Beyond Monumental
Date: November 6, 2021
Venue: Downtown Indianapolis, Ind.
Event Description: The Monumental Marathon is one of the 15 largest marathons in the U.S. This year more than 10,000 participants finished the marathon, half marathon, and 5K courses. The post-race party provided refreshments and entertainment for more than 35,000 participants, spectators, and volunteers. Ecosystem Events implemented recycling and compost collection at the post-race party and other key areas of the race operations.
Results: 2,122 pounds of event waste diverted from the landfill and incinerator via recycling and composting.
Ethnic Expo Festival Series 2021
Client: Citizens Advisory Committee to the Bartholomew County Solid Waste Management District
Dates: June 19, Aug. 28, Sept. 11, and Oct. 2, 2021
Venue: Downtown Columbus, Ind.
Event Description: Ethnic Expo is a series of events celebrating cultures that come together in Columbus, Ind., to create a vibrant, welcoming community. To reduce landfill waste from these events, Ecosystem Events implemented recycling programs at the Juneteenth, Chinese Expo, and Ganesh Festival of India events. For the Fiesta Latina event in October, we implemented a composting program in addition to recycling.
Results: 49%, or 950 pounds, of the four events’ total solid waste was diverted from the landfill via recycling and composting.
Meijer Tail Greater Party for the Big Ten Football Championship
Client: Indiana Sports Corp
Date: Dec. 6-7, 2019
Venue: Georgia Street
Event Description: The Meijer Tail Greater Party celebrates the Big Ten Football Championship with food trucks, live music, and entertainment for thousands of fans leading up to the big game. To reduce the event’s waste, we executed our dual-stream recycling program. Working with The Can Lady Project, cans collected separately funded a grant for surf desks for students at IPS Rousseau McClellan School 91.
Results: 880 pounds of materials recycled and $139 raised for schools.
“We hired Julia because we wanted an expert to help us improve our sustainability efforts. The biggest thing I learned from working with Julia is how intentional one must be to have a significant sustainability impact. Julia is detail-oriented, responsive, professional, and knowledgeable, and her services will provide a great enhancement to your event.”
— Chris Panyard, Events Director, Indiana Sports Corp
FFA National Convention & Expo 2019
Client: National FFA Organization
Date: Oct. 29 – Nov. 1, 2019
Venues: Indiana Convention Center and multiple downtown Indianapolis hotels
Event Description: To connect with the ag industry’s growing sustainability needs and preserve the valuable products of America’s farms, the National FFA Organization contracted us to conduct a food waste recovery program at five key banquets during the 2019 national convention. More than 3,000 total guests attended the five banquets, each of which celebrated different aspects of FFA’s agricultural and leadership programs.
Results: Overall, the program diverted 2,234 pounds of food waste from the landfill and incinerator. Nearly all diverted food was directed to an agriculture-related use such as composting, anaerobic digestion, or animal feed.
Masquerade 2019
Client: Pacers Sports & Entertainment
Date: October 19, 2019
Venue: Bankers Life Fieldhouse
Event Description: For the second year in a row, my team and I designed and executed the zero waste program for this gala benefiting the Simon Youth Foundation and the Pacers Foundation. Nearly 600 guests enjoyed dinner, entertainment, and dancing with a fun “IU vs. Purdue” theme.
Results: 91.3% of the event’s solid waste was diverted from the landfill as either recycling, compost, floral donation, or rescued food.
Harvest 2019
Client: Newfields
Date: October 3-6, 2019
Venue: Newfields
Event Description: Newfields debuted event composting at their inaugural Harvest festival, which attracted 14,000 guests over 4 days to enjoy seasonal activities, food, and beverages. I consulted with Newfields on the design of their waste diversion program, providing an operations manual, sign templates, and other resources to facilitate the launch of the new program.
Results: 45% of the event’s solid waste was diverted from the landfill as either recycling, compost, or donations. 850 pounds of food was donated to Second Helpings, a local hunger relief organization.
“We hired Julia when we were developing our Harvest festival and wanted to be as sustainable as possible. With Julia’s help, we created a model for sustainable festival management that we will continue to implement seasonally. Julia is extremely knowledgeable and flexible, and she is willing to go above and beyond to make sure the event is successful. I absolutely recommend her services.”
— Kathryn Haigh, COO, Newfields
ILEA Association Meeting
Client: ILEA Indiana
Date: Sept. 18, 2019
Venue: The Grand Little Barn at Artisan Acres Estate
Event Description: Small events deserve to be run just as sustainably as big ones – and their small scale offers a great opportunity to collect amazing results. At this intimate 40-person meeting of the ILEA Indiana chapter, my team and I provided a waste diversion program to recover and measure compostable lunch serviceware, recyclables, and floral arrangements.
Results: 96.7% of the event’s solid waste was diverted from the landfill via reuse, recycling, and composting.
Photo credit: Aimed Photography
Corporate Challenge 2019
Client: Indiana Sports Corporation
Date: Aug. 24, 2019
Venue: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Event Description: Companies from across central Indiana compete in this annual athletic field day. After last year’s rain-out, this year’s event went off without a hitch. My team and I designed and executed the waste diversion program for this 6,000+ person event.
Results: 82% of the event’s solid waste was diverted from the landfill via reuse, donation, recycling, and composting.
“We wanted an expert to take sustainability at our event to the next level and own the process from start to finish. Julia’s waste diversion service definitely added to the event, and her professionalism was key. Being able to depend on a vendor is essential in the events business, and Julia was always right with it and super responsive. She will create the plan, get the information you need, and deliver results.”
— Caleb Kolby, Events Manager, Indiana Sports Corp
Gen Con Block Party 2019
Client: Visit Indy
Date: July 31 – Aug. 4, 2019
Venue: Georgia Street
Event Description: Gen Con drew 70,000 gaming enthusiasts to Indianapolis in 2019. Block Party is Gen Con’s outdoor presence on Georgia Street, running throughout the convention and featuring the Sun King Beer Garden and more than 65 food trucks. I designed and executed a dual-stream recycling program at Block Party. Through a partnership with The Can Lady Project, cans collected separately went to fund a classroom rug at IPS Center for Inquiry School 2.
Results: 2,418 pounds of materials recycled and $374 raised for schools.
Global Forest Watch User Summit 2019
Client: The Side Lobby
Date: June 17-18, 2019
Venue: George Washington University
Event Description: I worked with The Side Lobby, an event planning company in Washington, D.C., to design a waste diversion program for the inaugural Global Forest Watch User Summit, hosted by the World Resources Institute. The event drew nearly 400 forest protection advocates from over 30 countries.
Results: 71% of the event’s solid waste was diverted from the landfill via recycling and composting.
Cummins 100th Anniversary Celebration
Client: Cummins
Date: June 15, 2019
Venue: Downtown Columbus, Ind.
Event Description: Cummins’ 100th Anniversary Celebration welcomed current employees, retirees, and their families to Cummins global headquarters in Columbus, Ind., for commemorative remarks, entertainment, a picnic, and a display of Cummins’ products from past to present. My team and I partnered with volunteers from Cummins to collect recyclable and compostable waste, as well as divert surplus food for reuse and donation.
Results: 5,104 pounds of food and other items reused or donated; 3,113 pounds of material composted; 433 pounds of material recycled
Photo credit: Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Corks & Forks 2019
Client: Pacers Sports & Entertainment
Date: March 20, 2019
Venue: Bankers Life Fieldhouse
Event Description: Our second year aiming for zero waste at Second Helpings’ annual fundraiser was a success! My team and I, along with an excellent group of volunteers from Second Helpings, coordinated waste sorting and measuring efforts to qualify the event as officially zero waste for the second year in a row.
Results: 93% of the event’s solid waste was diverted from the landfill for reuse, recycling, composting, or as rescued food to advance Second Helpings’ mission.
Read the official press release >>
“As an organization that rescues more than 2.5 million pounds of food each year, fighting waste is central to Second Helpings’ mission to transform lives through the power of food. With Julia’s guidance, we were thrilled that our largest fundraiser Corks & Forks qualified as the most sustainable event in the history of Bankers Life Fieldhouse, and qualified as zero waste for the second year in a row. Corks & Forks is now a reflection of the work that we do throughout the year thanks to Julia’s expertise.”
— Jen Tornatta, Special Events Coordinator, Second Helpings
Masquerade
Client: Pacers Sports & Entertainment
Date: October 13, 2018
Venue: Bankers Life Fieldhouse
Event Description: This magical Alice In Wonderland-themed gala raised funds for the Simon Youth Foundation and the Pacers Foundation. Guests enjoyed a banquet, dazzling performances, and remarks honoring Kelly Krauskopf of the Indiana Fever organization. My team and I designed and executed the event’s zero waste program.
Results: 90.0% of the event’s solid waste was diverted from the landfill as either recycling, compost or rescued food.
Corporate Challenge 2018
Client: Indiana Sports Corporation
Date: August 25, 2018
Venue: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Event Description: This athletic field day competition for local companies was unfortunately cancelled on event day due to torrential rain and lightning. My team and I pivoted from our planned zero waste program to ensuring the event’s supplies were donated or recovered for future use, in addition to recycling and composting waste from the lunch served to staff & volunteers. Read more about the event in my blog post.
Results: 1,477 pounds of unused food donated and 388 pounds of banners, signs & shirts reused or donated.
Live Nation Concert Venue Zero Waste Consulting
Client: Live Nation
Date: June 2018
Venue: Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center
Description: Live Nation is piloting waste diversion programs at venues across the country, with the goal of having multiple zero waste venues by 2020. I consulted with the staff at Ruoff at the beginning of the 2018 concert season to document their progress so far and create a venue-specific plan for implementing the zero waste program. I also trained maintenance staff, coordinated with vendors, and provided on-site support for the pilot of an expanded composting program.
Results: 444 cubic feet of compostable waste diverted from the landfill over 6 shows.
Meeting Professionals International WEC18
Clients: Visit Indy, Accent Indy
Date: June 2-5, 2018
Event Description: MPI’s World Education Congress (WEC) attracted 2,200 event professionals from 35 countries to Indianapolis. As leaders in the meeting & events industry, MPI planned the 4-day conference with guidance from the ISO 20121 sustainable event standard. A broad waste diversion program was one of the event’s major sustainability initiatives. Engaging with MPI’s local planning partners, my team implemented the collection, separation & measurement of recyclable and compostable waste at 5 key events during WEC.
Educational Villages, Indiana Convention Center
Results: 72.5% of solid waste was diverted from the landfill as recycling or compost.
Opening Reception, White River State Park
Results: 50.4% of solid waste was diverted from the landfill as recycling or compost.
Networking Food Truck Lunch, Georgia Street
Results: 85.3% of solid waste was diverted from the landfill as recycling or compost.
Networking Lunch, Lucas Oil Stadium
Results: 73.1% of solid waste was diverted from the landfill as recycling, compost, or donations.
Closing Reception, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Results: 71.1% of solid waste was diverted from the landfill as recycling or compost.
“We were fortunate to have Julia Spangler as our Sustainable Event Consultant for MPI’s 2018 World Education Congress. Julia was an incredible asset to our team, the venues that were utilized, and the MPI staff during the 18-month planning period.
“The innovation and expertise that Julia brought to the table directly contributed to the success and sustainability of WEC in Indianapolis. Partnering with Julia resulted in unmatched sustainability and CSR efforts in the history of WEC.”
— Missy Berg, Senior Event Marketing Manager, Visit Indy
Dropping Dimes 2018
Client: Pacers Sports & Entertainment
Date: April 7, 2018
Venue: Bankers Life Fieldhouse
Event Description: The 50th reunion of the American Basketball Association welcomed more than 600 basketball fans and legends to Indianapolis. All proceeds from the event supported the Dropping Dimes Foundation, an Indianapolis-based charity that assists former ABA players and families who have fallen on hard times. I coordinated the event’s zero waste program, which surpassed the 90% threshold to qualify Dropping Dimes as a zero waste event.
Results: 92.5% of the event’s solid waste was diverted from the landfill as either recycling, compost or rescued food.
Indy VegFest 2018
Client: Indy VegFest
Date: March 31, 2018
Venue: Biltwell Event Center
Event Description: In 2018, Indy’s premier vegan lifestyle expo and food festival expanded to offer 3x more food vendors, 2x the venue space and more than 5,000 attendees. Even with this dramatic expansion, our zero waste program diverted 7.1% more waste than in 2017!
Results: 85.6% of the event’s solid waste was diverted from the landfill as recycling or compost.
“Julia spearheaded Indy VegFest’s zero waste program for two years in a row. She is highly organized and communicated with food vendors, venue staff, and volunteers so that everyone was on the same page. She provided a list of suggested serveware for food vendors and advised us on adjustments we could make beyond food and drink that could prevent unnecessary waste from single-use products such as signage. Thanks to Julia’s leadership, we diverted 400 lbs. of compostable waste from the landfill at the 2018 Indy VegFest.”
— Katelin Rupp, Indy VegFest
Corks & Forks 2018
Client: Second Helpings
Date: March 14, 2018
Venue: Bankers Life Fieldhouse
Event Description: Second Helpings’ annual food & wine tasting fundraiser attracted 800 guests to an exclusive evening at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. I coordinated the zero waste program, which surpassed the 90% threshold to qualify Corks & Forks as a zero waste event.
Results: 92% of the event’s solid waste was diverted from the landfill as either recycling, compost or rescued food to advance Second Helpings’ mission.
“One of Second Helpings’ organizing principles is ‘We believe that waste is unacceptable.’ Julia worked with us to provide information, logistics and staff so that our largest fundraiser Corks & Forks could achieve zero waste. She is professional, well-informed and flexible. We look forward to working with Julia on future events.”
— Statia Murphy, Partnership & Donor Engagement Manager, Second Helpings
AZA Zoo Day
Client: Indianapolis Zoo
Date: Sept. 13, 2017
Venue: Indianapolis Zoo
Event Description: The Indianapolis Zoo welcomed the 2017 Association of Zoos & Aquariums annual convention to Indy and hosted more than 1,700 attendees at a fun-filled Zoo Day event. Zoo professionals are naturally an environmentally-conscious audience, and the zoo placed a high priority on sustainability for the event. I provided the zoo with a sustainability plan and headed up the event’s zero waste program. Zero-waste stations were placed throughout the event spaces and staffed with volunteers to help guests sort waste appropriately.
Results: 73.5% of the solid waste measured from the event spaces was diverted from the landfill as either recycling or compost.
Indy VegFest 2017
Client: Indy VegFest
Date: April 29, 2017
Venue: The Pavilion at Pan Am Plaza
Event Description: This indoor festival highlighting vegan cuisine and the benefits of vegan living attracted 4,500 attendees. The organizers of Indy VegFest were committed to incorporating sustainability into the event from the start. We collaborated to conceive a waste-reduction program that would be practical for attendees, vendors and the planning team. Zero-waste stations containing recycling bins, compost bins and trash bins were placed throughout the venue and monitored by a team of volunteers throughout the event.
Results: 80% of the solid waste generated by the festival was diverted from the landfill as either recycling or compost.
“We were fortunate to work closely with Julia, who made the process of managing and reducing waste seamless. With clearly marked containers and easy-to-follow signage, in addition to a team of volunteers trained by Julia, guests were quickly able to dispose of recyclable and compostable waste. We highly recommend Julia Spangler to make all of your events greener.”
— Katelin Rupp, Indy VegFest
Weddings
Spangler/Clayton Wedding (i.e. my wedding!)
Client: Julia Spangler & Mark Clayton
Date: Sept. 25, 2020
Venue: The Barn in Zionsville
Event Description: Our intimate wedding for 35 guests was planned to be low waste from the very beginning, from renting reusable dishes and glassware, to ordering food we could save for leftovers instead of throwing away, to choosing reusable decorations (many of which we reused from another friend’s wedding!). We set up recycling and compost bins to collect the remaining minimal waste.
Results: The wedding generated only 22 pounds of waste overall, with 17 pounds being recycled or composted. We also saved an estimated 50 pounds of leftover food to eat at home.
Client: Marisa & Jacob Sudduth
Date: June 8, 2019
Venue: The Grove at Fairfield Friends Meeting
Event Description: Marisa and Jacob were eco-wedding rock stars. They already planned to have no disposable dishware or cups and all reusable decorations. We brought in recycling and compost stations to collect the minimal waste from the event, and helped with the collection and rinsing of dishware.
Results: 44.8 pounds of recyclable or compostable waste diverted from the landfill.
“What we liked best about working with Julia is how smoothly everything went! We had a wedding that was eco-friendly, and also inspired others to want to do the same in the future. I felt at first it may be a little pricey, but quickly felt the opposite after seeing all that Julia could and would do for us. The biggest thing I learned working with Julia is that weddings create a lot more waste than you think, and that it is important to think about the environmental impact you are having every step of the planning process.”
– Marisa Vidal-Sudduth
Russell-Hays Wedding
Client: Mica & Corbin Hays
Date: July 7, 2018
Venue: Indiana Historical Society
Event Description: This couple wanted to minimize the environmental impact of the plastic cups and other recyclable waste generated by bar service at their reception. My team provided recycling bins, on-site support, and appropriate disposal of recyclables.
Results: 80-90 pounds of recyclable waste was diverted from the landfill.
“We loved working with Julia to find ways to make our wedding reception a more eco-friendly event! I was amazed that we had 80-90 lbs of recyclables diverted from the landfill just by making small changes! Julia and her staff worked with the reception venue, catering staff, and bar staff to make this possible; it was no extra work for us and Julia kept us posted each step of the way.”
— Mica Russell-Hays
Black Wedding
Client: Allison & Paul Black
Date: Sept. 30, 2017
Venue: Lower Shelter, Brown County State Park
Event Description: Environmental friendliness was very important to the bride, as was staying on-budget. Attractive palm leaf plates and wooden cutlery were compostable and also added to the rustic decor. Compostable plant-based plastic cups were used for beverages. Three waste stations consisting of compost bins and trash bins were placed throughout the shelter and affixed with signage to help guests sort items.
Results: 55 pounds of compostable waste was diverted from the landfill.
“Julia is such an efficient, organized and prepared individual, and SO passionate about sustainability. She was our consultant for our wedding. She gave me great tips on items to purchase to help reduce our waste, and during the wedding had the waste areas clearly labeled, with pictures!, so even the little kids couldn’t mess it up. And when we had a last minute addition to our food line up, some donated Jell-O shots in plastic cups, she prepared last minute signs to help guests know what to do with those! And it’s truly a feel good moment when, after it’s all said and done, she tells you how much waste in pounds you diverted from a landfill. I would highly highly HIGHLY recommend Julia to help out at your next event!”
— Allison Black
Meyer Wedding
Client: Crystal & Garrett Meyer
Date: June 3, 2017
Venue: The Cedars Banquet Hall, St. Louis, MO
Event Description: This kind couple wanted to extend the life of the 25 floral centerpieces from their reception. The centerpieces were collected and delivered to a local memory care assisted living facility for enjoyment by the residents.
“Julia coordinated the donation of my wedding flowers after the reception. She chose a local assisted living facility for individuals with memory and cognitive impairments. After the investment we put into them, it was great to know that the flowers could continue to bring joy to others – they were so excited to receive them! Best of all, Julia took care of the logistics without an ounce of extra stress on my part!”
— Crystal Meyer
Nadi Wedding
Client: Valerie & Aymane Nadi
Date: May 20, 2017
Venue: The Barn in Zionsville
Event Description: This eco-conscious couple wanted a sustainable and budget-friendly solution for disposable tableware at their small wedding. Compostable plates and utensils were used for dinner and recyclable plastic cups were used for beverages. Two zero-waste stations containing recycling bins, compost bins and trash bins were placed at each end of the barn with informational signs to guide guests.
Results: 28 pounds of recyclable and compostable waste was diverted from the landfill.
“Julia consulted with us to make our wedding more sustainable and environmentally friendly. She was professional, creative and courteous. It a weight off our shoulders knowing that we didn’t have a bunch of extra ‘stuff’ accumulating or going to waste because of our big day.
I’ve had the pleasure of working with Julia in other roles, including corporate events, and can say hands-down she is one of the most hardworking, reliable, and intentional people you’ll meet. I wish I had opportunities to work with her more — she’s one in a million!”
— Valerie Nadi
