The Scandinavians are at it again. In 2010, Denmark released the Copenhagen Sustainable Meetings Protocol, following its COP15 event. Now, the ICCA Scandinavian Chapter has published a Scandinavian Destination Sustainability Index analyzing sustainability performance across 16 cities and 5 countries. And even though Scandinavian cities are miles ahead of many other destinations in the area of sustainable meetings, there remains potential to improve, according to the study conducted by MCI Sustainability Services. 

The research used 16 performance indicators to measure and benchmark the sustainability commitment and performance of city governments, destination infrastructure (recycling, renewable energy) and the sustainability commitment and performance of the local meeting industry. The index is just one of the deliverables of a multi-year ICCA Scandinavian Chapter project to create the world´s first sustainable meetings region. 

Already more than 50 organizations including CVBs, destination marketing organizations, venues and agencies have signed the Scandinavia Sustainable Meetings Accord launched in March 2012. The accord outlines 10 specific actions that advance sustainable development within the meeting and event industry.

How really cool!

The meeting industry is one step closer to the introduction of the very first green meetings and event standards. The Convention Industry Council (CIC) recently announced that eight of the nine APEX/ASTM Environmentally Sustainable Meeting standards are complete.

"This is a major accomplishment for the collective conventions, meetings, events and exhibitions industry," stated Karen Kotowski, CAE, CMP, Chief Executive Officer of the Convention Industry Council. "Sustainability is a strategic concern for planners, suppliers and the organizations they represent. These standards are much anticipated so this is a great moment for the volunteers who put such effort to this project.”

The standards were conceptualized and initiated by the Green Meetings Industry Council (GMIC) and the US Environmental Protection Agency. Development has taken place through a partnership between CIC’s Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX), an initiative that focuses on industry best practices and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International. The standards have been in intense development since 2007.

The APEX/ASTM standards will be comprised of nine individual "sector" standards, covering all facets of event planning and management. The eight standards that have been ratified cover:

Audio-Visual
Communication & Marketing Materials
Destinations
Exhibits
Food & Beverage
Meeting Venue
On-Site Office

Transportation

Much of the work and research behind the standards was a result of the work done by the APEX Green Meetings and Events Practice Panel, consisting of 300 planners, suppliers and sustainability experts from across nine time zones. ASTM International provided the formal standards development environment and process including comprehensive input, review and technical expertise from its members across the globe.

“None of this work would have happened without the passion, dedication and conviction of the volunteer force that spans across North America and Europe,” said Amy Spatrisano, Chair of the APEX Green Meetings and Events Panel and Principal at MeetGreen®. The level of specificity required and accountability of both the planner and supplier that is built into these standards is unprecedented. It’s a game changer.”

The completed standards will be published in November as both electronic and paper documents. Information on publication date and availability will be announced and posted on www.conventionindustry.org when the standards are available.

Source: Convention Industry Council

To learn more about sustainable event standards, check out The Full Monty: Standards Exposed.

Want to see a green trade show at work? Plan to attend IMEX America Oct. 11-13 in Las Vegas. The event giant has announced its full sustainability plan, which includes a partnership with consulting firm MeetGreen. 

The new plan covers the trade show venue, hotels, catering, print material, signage and carpeting, general service contractors and transportation. Some key measures will include Energy Star lighting plans; copper, aluminium, brass and heavy metal recycling including extension cords and power supply cards; and the reuse and/or recycling of waste wood, metal, plastic, cardboard, drywall, carpet padding, concrete, asphalt and glass. 

Electronic products will be donated to The Blind Center of Nevada and leftover food will be donated daily to the Las Vegas Mission. Through the Sands Expo, IMEX will also work with 209 local vendors, which will keep transportation emissions low and support the local economy. Also at the event, the GMIC Sustainability Center will present "green" tips and best practices. 

"Our intention is to use this first year to benchmark our performance," says Carina Bauer, IMEX Group CEO. "The first year goal is to collect baseline information from our various venues and vendors and to use that data to build a solid sustainability strategy over the long-term."

Frankfurt trade show IMEX has turned up the green heat by providing carbon-free rail tickets to all of its European hosted buyers in 2011. The ticket (courtesy of German rail company Deutsche Bahn) is called "Umwelt-Plus" and guarantees the use of renewable energy for all hosted buyer rail tickets. Unlike compensatory measures, "Umwelt Plus" avoids carbon dioxide emissions altogether, since the electricity used is produced exclusively from renewable energy sources in Germany. 

Once the show is over, IMEX will receive a certificate showing the total carbon dioxide saving made as a result of the new green tickets. Last year nearly 900 hosted buyers traveled to IMEX by rail, coming from Germany, Brussels, Amsterdam, Zurich and Paris. Deutsche Bahn's commitment to using greener energy and investing in ecological and carbon free power plants is behind the new ticket option. IMEX will pay a small levy on top of its normal ticket price to support the carbon free travel. 

Two years ago, IMEX introduced biodegradable visitor badges made from recycled and recyclable paper badges coated in corn-starch laminate. The company also runs the only Green Awards in the international meeting industry and last year offered the option of hydroelectric power to all of its exhibitors. Each year, IMEX sets new recycling targets for the show. In 2010, following a concerted campaign to educate stand-builders and exhibitors, 87 percent of the show's waste was recycled, and total waste output was reduced by 30 tons compared to 2009. In all, 32 tons of paper and 29 tons of cardboard waste were recycled during IMEX in Frankfurt 2010. The Green Team encouraged exhibitors to follow two out of three green steps in return for wearing a green lapel ribbon that demonstrated their environmental commitments.  

The IMEX Group intends to extend its green track record next year when IMEX America opens Oct. 11 in Las Vegas. The company recently appointed MeetGreen as the official sustainability partners for the new show. MPI will be providing the education at IMEX America next year.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has rolled out a system of sustainable-meeting guidelines at all of its North American properties and plans to extend the Sustainable Meeting Practices program globally in 2011. The program addresses five core components, including paperless-meeting planning, sustainable-meeting services, sustainable food and beverage practices, impact-assessment tools and socially conscious activities. It features 18 sustainable practices, including digital signage and sustainable menu choices.