“What is Green?” is an ongoing question for anyone involved in promoting sustainability, whether in businesses, building, cleaning, schools, farms or community services. The wide variation in types, sizes and complexity of events makes measuring “greenness” a particularly thorny question in the events and exhibiting arena.
Up to this point, most green meeting advocates have relied on the minimum guidelines and best practices outlined by the Conventions Industry Council’s 2004 Green Meeting Report, as well as on the numerous voluntary guidelines and certification programs developed by nonprofits, state and local government and industry associations. (The various existing guidelines and programs are compiled in The Green Events Source Book, which can be accessed through our website at www.greeneventsource.com). Nonetheless, there is still no simple way to measure whether a particular event has achieved a threshold that means it is “truly green.”
Now meetings industry leaders are embarking on the process of answering that question by developing a comprehensive standard leading to certification. Under the auspices of the CIC’s Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX), the Green Meeting Industry Council, USEPA, ASTM and BSI 8901 are working together to produce a first draft of a standard by August 2008. A steering committee of 10 members representing the leading industry associations, consultants and suppliers are charged with generating content and getting feedback. Subcommittees are being established in eight key areas identified in the original CIC report (Destination Selection, Accommodations, Meeting Venue, Exhibits, Food & Beverage, Transportation, Communication, and Onsite office). The process is open and names are being sought for participation. Interested individuals can contact amy@meetingstrategiesworldwide.com to submit a name.
Green Events Source is involved and will be reporting on proceedings as they become public and including updated information in the second edition of The Green Events Source Book due out in January 2009. If you have specific questions or concerns about the standard or issue you would like us to address in this newsletter and other communications, please email editor@greeneventsource.com
