As Indianapolis continues to grow as a hub for events and conventions, the environmental impact of these gatherings becomes harder to ignore.
Lauren Smith, founder of Earthlight, is changing the game with her innovative, eco-friendly approach to event badges and lanyards. Earthlight, an SBA-certified woman-owned business based in Indianapolis, offers sustainable solutions for event organizers looking to reduce single-use plastic waste. From plastic-free, recyclable name badges to a unique Lanyard Rental & Reuse Program, the company is making sustainability more accessible and impactful for events of all sizes.
Smith’s commitment to sustainability is deeply personal. Inspired by her passion for environmental stewardship and the demands of a client seeking eco-friendly options, she created the products she couldn’t find in the market. Today, Earthlight’s innovative offerings reduce waste and align with key local initiatives like Thrive Indianapolis and the updated Indianapolis Event Waste Guide.
In this Q&A, Smith shares the inspiration behind Earthlight, the challenges and rewards of building a green business and how local organizations can join the movement toward a cleaner, more sustainable future.
What inspired you to start Earthlight, and how does sustainability drive your mission?
Smith: I used to work as an executive in the travel industry. I was VP of marketing for some international touring brands, and they were very committed to sustainability. Just seeing the impact of travel and our footprint globally was kind of where some eye-opening things started. I started an online shop called sustainabletravelandliving.com as a personal passion project to help travelers make more eco-friendly choices and think about their impacts.
Then, my shop started getting inquiries from some major brands about doing more eco-friendly corporate gifting. That’s kind of where Earthlight started. We then really helped some big brands consider how to do corporate gifts more thoughtfully, whether it’s using recycled materials, locally sourced items or adding more consumable pieces.
How did the idea for Eco Name Badges and the Lanyard Rental & Reuse Program come about?
Smith: One of our major national clients asked us if we knew of any eco-friendly lanyards and badges. That turned into this eight-month-long exploration development because the answer was no. We really couldn’t find anything. We felt delighted standing behind and thought this was a huge opportunity or kind of a big piece of single-use waste and events that no one was addressing in a way we thought was adequate, so that’s where we started developing our eco-badge line.
How does Indianapolis’ growing reputation as an event hub influence Earthlight’s strategy?
Smith: My favorite stat that I heard from Visit Indy is that they estimated more than 1.8 million people are attending the 65 events on their convention and events calendar. … We’re kind of slowly trying to reach out to all those events coming to the city.
If you had a 4×6 badge holder and a lanyard laid out (to represent) those 1.8 million people coming to our city, that would be almost 13,000 football fields worth of badges and lanyards laid out. … We like to show that these small decisions can significantly impact.
What is your vision for Earthlight’s impact on the event industry in the next five years?
Smith: I hope to get big corporations and event planners to rethink how they do badges. It’s been such a standard thing that no one’s changed for decades, so if we can rethink that one little piece together, we can all reduce so much waste … There’s also an opportunity to make events of greater support to the local community. If we can help events coming to our city leave less waste in our town… then hopefully, too, we can use events as a point to inspire others that small changes can make significant impacts.
To explore Earthlight’s offerings and make a purchase, visit Earthlight.Eco.
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Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
Hanna Rauworth is the Health & Environmental Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, where she covers topics at the intersection of public health, environmental issues, and community impact. With a commitment to storytelling that informs and empowers, she strives to highlight the challenges and solutions shaping the well-being of Indianapolis residents.
