The Black and White Ball – eco-friendly and glamorous

The Black and White Ball in Edinburgh shows that environmentally friendly events can be glamorous too.

This is Scotland's first green carpet event. Everything from the food and wine to the transport home is not harmful to the environment.

Amy Sieweke, from the company Capgemini, has to make sure the ball at the Sheraton Grand Hotel is as eco-friendly as possible. "We worked with the hotel to help us make the ball as eco-friendly as possible," she says. "Everything on the menu is produced locally in Scotland. We looked for the best organic and sustainable source. For example, we're having organic wine at the cocktail reception and there are jugs of water instead of plastic-bottled water."

There is also advice for women to wear an eco-friendly dress on the evening, and there are no plane tickets for raffle prizes. Amy says, "We're encouraging women not to buy a new dress for the ball. They should buy vintage (second-hand) or wear a dress they already have in their wardrobe. If women want to buy a new dress, they should look at designers who make ethical clothes."

"There are also no plane tickets for the raffle. Instead, there are prizes such as a wind turbine."

There are two aims for the Black and White Ball. The first is to raise funds for the Prince's Trust in Scotland. This is the UK's leading charity that helps young people get into work, education or training. The second aim is to encourage people to change their behaviour about saving the world's resources.

"People are encouraged to take the train, rather than the plane to come to Edinburgh," says Amy. "At the end of the evening, we've asked people not to take a taxi home. It's not environmentally friendly to have just one person in a taxi. Instead we will be having walking guides, who will lead groups home. We'll also have pedicabs (cars for two people, which are powered by a cyclist) and we've hired a bus."

The ball is also a carbon neutral event. This means it makes up for the amount of carbon dioxide emissions by investing in environmentally friendly projects (carbon off-setting). The Black and White Ball have invested in a project in Tanzania through a company called Carbon Accountable.

"I feel that anybody who is organising a ball or corporate event should stop and think about how to make it green. It can be green and glamorous at the same time," says Amy.

"Scotland has embraced being eco-friendly with the Black and White Ball and I hope we can keep up these changes for the good of the environment.

"The help and support I've had from people has made me very humble. It's made me think, why aren't all events green?"

The Black and White Ball takes place on Friday 15 August 2008, 7pm-1am at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Edinburgh. More information about the ball, and how to buy tickets are available on their website: www.theblackandwhiteball.org.

Related Links

• More information about Carbon Off-setting
• The Prince's Trust
• Capgemini 
• Edinburgh Pedicabs
• Read about green tourism at the Scottish Seabird Centre
• Scotland's Independent Food Producers
• Top 5 Places that make Scotland Green