The sustainability-led initiative Clean Slate: Rethinking Events has released a documentary exploring the environmental cost of temporary event structures and processes.
The sustainability initiative Clean Slate: Rethinking Events has officially released a new documentary titled Clean Slate: Rethinking Events. Released on 27th January 2026, the film examines the environmental impact of the global events industry, specifically asking what happens to materials and structures once an event concludes.
Created by three women, Claire Goodchild, Nova Abbott, and Sarah Goodchild, the project draws on their collective experience of over twenty years in global events. The documentary explores the environmental cost of delivering large-scale, high-pressure events around the world. It focuses on the temporary structures, materials, and processes that often disappear within days but leave a lasting impact on the planet.
Claire Goodchild, Creator and Producer, explains the shift in perspective that drove the project. She comments, “For a long time, we simply accepted that this was how events were done. But becoming mothers sharpened our perspective. We started looking more closely at not just what we were creating, but what we were leaving behind.”
The creators began to examine event waste, ranging from build materials and processes to single-use items such as cups and banners. The team were struck by the long-term environmental consequences of these short-term experiences.
Nova Abbott comments “ One uncomfortable realisation sat at the heart of the project. If we, with all our years working inside the industry, had not fully confronted the scale of event waste, how could anyone else?”
According to the founders, the film does not aim to assign blame but to create space for reflection on transparency and responsibility. Sarah Goodchild says, “The film isn’t about blame, and we don’t claim to have all the answers. But we hope it creates space for everyone to reflect and think about how we can be more transparent and responsible. How can we design better? And let’s be honest about the true lifecycle of events, not just the parts everyone sees.”
The documentary is now available to watch. The initiative invites industry professionals to engage with the conversation regarding responsible design and the lifecycle of events.
Claire Goodchild concludes, “This film is about seeing more clearly. Once you know better, the question becomes unavoidable: what’s the right way to do this now?”
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