Background Every major cultural event has a significant impact on the environment, encompassing issues such as waste management, energy and water consumption, transport and lack of environmental awareness. When the event takes place in an archaeological site, this environmental impact can significantly affect the overall value of the area unless precautionary action is taken. Consequently, the cost of the measures that may be necessary for the restoration of the damages both to the local environment and the archaeological sites can be very high. Ancient Olympia, situated in Peloponnese, Southern Greece, falls into this category, as it is an archaeological site where important cultural events take place. During the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, several large-scale events took place in Ancient Olympia (the lighting of the torch, among others). The need for precautionary action was urgent. Objectives The main objective of the project was to develop a plan for “greening” the cultural events taking place in Ancient Olympia, through the implementation of the EC’s Eco-management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) regulation. To this end, the experience of other European countries in implementing EMAS, and in particular of local authorities in the United Kingdom, was to be referenced and built upon. The project also aimed to promote green purchasing policies, and create incentives for local companies, hotels and restaurants. Finally, it planned to draw up a sustainable waste management plan by transferring German know-how in waste management in archaeological areas, specifically with the participation of the Archaeological Park Xanten in Kreis Wesel, Germany. The project team, composed of the beneficiary, the Municipality of Ancient Olympia Cultural and Tourist Development Company (DEPTA/DEPO), and the environmental consulting firm Global to Local Ltd (UK), planned numerous activities, which included: involving representatives of local businesses in the project management, identifying harmful waste produced from the products consumed and used during the events, planning a communication campaign and finally, auditing and evaluation systems for the actions taken. The following results were expected: • Development of a methodology for integrating environmental considerations into the organisation of cultural events; • Protection of the local environment and the cultural assets of the area; • Establishment of communication structures between local authorities and the private sector; and • Large-scale dissemination and the provision of practical advice to other local authorities located in areas of archaeological importance. Results As a result of the GreenCult project, the municipality of Ancient Olympia was integrated into the National System for the Sustainable Management of Packaging Waste according to the Greek Law 2939/01 regarding “Packaging Waste and the establishment of the National Competent Authority”. The National System for Packaging Waste Management is operated by the Hellenic Recovery & Recycling Corporation (HERRCO), which is in charge of supervising the recycling activities undertaken by Local Authorities and supports them by operating an integrated recycling system. HERRCO co-operates with local authorities in several ways depending on the infrastructures that each municipality already has (recycling centre, vehicles, bins etc.). According to the available means, HERRCO and each Municipality either split the operational cost of recycling or the provision of the required recycling infrastructure. The implementation of EMAS was another major success of the project. The municipality of Ancient Olympia is one of the first European Municipality to implement EMAS in all its local government departments (financial, administrative, sanitation and technical) and is the first Greek municipality to be registered under the EMAS Regulation. The system has contributed to the improvement of the environmental performance of the area. In parallel with EMAS, the municipality also implemented a Green Purchasing Strategy in order to guide and encourage the organisers of the cultural events. This strategy was a result of the Green Purchasing Policy that was developed and agreed by the councillors. A Green Purchasing Guide has been produced and published, which was distributed to the local community, at the final conference and to other Greek towns. EMAS is also implemented in some local tourism enterprises of Ancient Olympia. Even though in the approved proposal it was mentioned that only two hotels and two restaurants would implement EMAS, the local enterprises showed interest in GreenCult, and it was decided that more hotels and restaurants would participate in the project. Four hotels and eight restaurants participated since the beginning. Co-operation between public and private sector: Since the hotels and restaurants are directly linked with the cultural events organised in Olympia and accommodate and host the visitors, it was important to identify the significant environmental aspects of their activities and, in co-operation with the municipality, to explore ways for improvements. In parallel to EMAS implementation and in order to achieve a close co-operation between the public and private sector, workshops were organised in Olympia. At these workshops, the participating hotels and restaurants presented their experience on EMAS implementation and working together with the municipality. The participants were informed about the environmental initiatives of the municipality and its efforts to improve and protect the local environment. Finally, the Municipality, in order to strengthen the partnership with the private sector, established an awarding system for the private sector for honouring enterprises that have improved their environmental performance. The evaluation and the assessment of the ‘green companies’ was based on a list with environmental criteria. The awards were distributed during the final conference held in October 2005. The dissemination of the GreenCult activities to local stakeholders and interested parties started almost from the beginning of the project. It was important to include the local community and visitors in GreenCult activities. In addition, one of the main objectives of the EMAS is the provision of information on environmental performance and an open dialogue with the public and other interested parties (Article 1, Regulation 761/2001). Finally, with the assistance of parents, teachers and local schoolchildren participated in the recycling campaign by producing artwork, theatre, songs and through other activities such as making recycled paper. The best artwork was awarded by the municipality and published in a 2006 calendar. Some of the school events were also featured in a very attractive 24-page brochure, "Nothing Goes to Waste", which included children's quotes, artwork, photos of events and texts on the importance of recycling and environmental protection in general.