The public comment period for ISO 20121 (the international event sustainability management system) will continue through Sept. 11. So what are you waiting for? Apply your knowledge to a standard that will positively affect the growth and sustainability of the meeting industry for the foreseeable future.
The standard will be applicable to all event industry organizations and will take a management-systems approach, requiring identification of key sustainability issues relevant to the standard user. ISO 20121 is expected to be finalized in 2012 to coincide with the London Olympics.
"Everyone is encouraged to engage with their national standards body or one of the liaison bodies and share their feedback," says Fiona Pelham of Sustainable Events Ltd, the chairwoman of the ISO technical committee (ISO/PC 250) that is developing the standard. "Now is an opportunity for everyone to get involved with the development of sustainability within the event industry."
Twenty-nine participating countries, nice observing countries and six liaison bodies comprise the working group for ISO 20121. Recent meetings held in Tokyo and San Francisco included representation from Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Japan, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the U.K., the U.S. and liaison bodies such as MPI and The Green Meetings Industry Council.
MPI is the only global association with one representative (Roger Simons) actively engaged in standards development with ISO, GRI and APEX providing a direct connection from our 23,000 members world-wide to the decision making process around these standards that will directly affect future operations of our industry. MPI is committed to this level of engagement as part of our larger Environmental and Social Responsibility thought leadership initiatives funded by the MPI Foundation and in large part by IHG Intercontinental Hotel Groups.
To locate your national standards body, email U.K. Secretariat Jose Alcorta or contact any of the liaison bodies below.
MPI (email Roger Simons) International Association of Convention Centres
European Federation of the Association of Professional Congress Organisers
Green Meeting Industry Council
Hotels, Restaurants and Cafes Europe
The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry
The Global Reporting Initiative
Download frequently asked questions and answers here.