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Erasmus+ now requires applicants to address the environmental impact of their projects. Beyond the funding requirements, there is a straightforward ethical dimension: if your organisation's programmes are about sustainability, the way you run those programmes should reflect that. Here is a practical guide to making your events and exchanges more sustainable — without sacrificing quality.
Travel: The Biggest Variable
For most youth exchanges and training events, travel accounts for the largest share of the project's carbon footprint. The most impactful decision you can make is to choose train travel over flights wherever feasible. Within Europe, this is often possible — Interrail routes cover most of the continent — and Erasmus+ now provides travel support for lower-emission transport options.
When flights are unavoidable (for Turkish participants travelling to Northern Europe, for example), consider offsetting emissions through certified schemes — and be transparent with participants about the footprint of their travel. This can itself become a learning moment about the real costs of mobility.
Venue Selection
- Prioritise venues with environmental certifications (Green Key, EU Ecolabel)
- Choose venues accessible by public transport from the nearest train/bus station
- Ask venues about their energy sources, food procurement, and waste management practices
- Consider residential venues that minimise daily commuting
Food and Catering
Food choices are one of the most significant — and most visible — sustainability decisions at any event. Plant-based catering has substantially lower emissions than meat-heavy menus. Local and seasonal procurement reduces food miles. Reducing food waste through accurate headcounts and composting programmes completes the picture.
The intercultural night does not have to become a meat-fest. Every culture has plant-based dishes that are central to its food identity. Asking groups to present their country through its plant-based food traditions is a genuinely interesting constraint — and often produces more creative results.
Materials and Printing
- Move to digital programme booklets and share materials via QR code or shared drive
- Avoid single-use branded items (pens, notepads, lanyards) — they are invariably thrown away
- If you do produce physical materials, use recycled paper and soy-based inks
- Design activities that use found or reusable materials rather than dedicated craft supplies
Waste Management
Set up clear recycling and composting systems on the first day, explain them explicitly, and make them visible. Appoint participant groups to monitor and manage waste as a project activity — this creates ownership and embeds sustainability into the programme rather than treating it as a logistics issue.
Measure and Report
Use a simple carbon footprint calculator (the SALTO tool or similar) to estimate your project's emissions. Share the results with participants. Use them in your Erasmus+ reporting. And use them year-on-year to track your progress. What gets measured gets managed — and what gets shared becomes part of the culture.