Producing Less Waste Is Quickly Becoming a Priority for Events Worldwide
Skift Take
As environmental awareness grows, everyone in the meetings supply chain has to demonstrate their green credentials. For now, events with environmental certifications may have an advantage, but as expectations rise, this will soon be a minimum requirement.
The meetings industry has a huge environmental impact – from the millions of miles delegates have flown to attend events to the reams of paper squeezed into bulging delegate bags and the kilowatts of energy used to light exhibitions and displays around the world.
Now green culture is taking hold and event stakeholders are thinking carefully about environmental impacts, becoming keen to show their sustainability credentials.
Olivia Galun, member services manager of the UK-based International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO), has noticed increased awareness of the importance of sustainability in meetings and events around the world from clients, organizers and the various stakeholders involved.
“There is more of a focus on the long-term impact of a meeting and the throwaway mentality is now being challenged,” she said.
Ian Cummings, vice president of EMEA for CWT Meetings & Events, is among those who see the trend towards sustainable meetings and events as much more than a passing fad. “It has certainly been growing every year as a key buying factor,” he said, noting that some clients go as far as ensuring their events comply with the ISO 20121 sustainable event standards.
Clients who have a strong company culture based on sustainability require it
