Events Industry Council Launches Sustainability Resource Hub, Green Standards Revision at IMEX

September 24, 2019

The Events Industry Council continues its commitment to greening the global events industry with the launch of the EIC Centre for Sustainable Events, unveiled Sept. 10 at IMEX America in Las Vegas. The new Centre will provide resources to increase industry-wide sustainable practices adoption and support a stronger alignment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals

The virtual hub will offer online reference materials, on-demand education via EIC’s new learning management system, monthly webinars and access to education from 33 member organizations, according to EIC officials.

“The Centre will provide the sustainability education our industry needs for us to make a collective impact on the climate crisis as well as champion social and economic community needs,” saidTina Wehmeir, board chair of EIC.  

Wehmeir added that the Centre will coordinate global, industry-wide collaboration with intergovernmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, industry associations and sustainability thought leaders to help accelerate sustainable practices, increase resiliency and support innovation in the events industry.

“We recognize the responsibility we all have – both professionally and personally – to bring about a number of positive changes in the world,” said Carina Bauer, CEO of IMEX Group, a founding sponsor of the Centre. “This begins with education and with collaboration – and we’re delighted to be working with EIC on the launch of this invaluable new resource.”

Meanwhile, the Centre will deliver EIC’s existing sustainability programs, including the Sustainable Event Professional Certificate, Principles for Sustainable Events and the Annual State of Sustainability survey.  

MGM Resorts International was the Centre’s presenting sponsor at IMEX. According to Yalmaz Siddiqui, MGM’s vice president of corporate sustainability, the new resource comes at a time when event planners are increasingly seeking sustainable options for their events.

“We are finding more and more meeting planners are interested in collaborating to help protect the planet and improve society,” Siddiqui said. “EIC’s new Centre will help drive further adoption of these practices.” 

A central initiative of the new Centre is the release of the EIC Sustainable Event Standards, which revise the APEX/ASTM Environmentally Sustainable Meeting Standards. The new guidelines maintain the same level of rigor but are easier to adopt and implement.

In addition to environmental criteria, the EIC Standards place greater emphasis on regional relevance, social justice, accessibility, and diversity and inclusion. As part of EIC’s commitment to eradicating human trafficking, training on this topic will be required to achieve one of the four certification levels.  

Released in a one-year provisional status to allow for additional input from early adopters, the Standards were developed with the help of more than 100 industry-leading event sustainability practitioners, including representation from 15 countries.

“The events industry’s economic, environmental and social impact puts it on par with that of major nations,” Calvert said. “This creates both the opportunity and the responsibility to take coordinated actions to magnify our influence.” 

  

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