In preparing for this event, a number of parallels have surfaced between matrimonial vows and, well, a solid sustainable business plan (or plan for sustainable events). Maybe such parallels are evident only for those whose wedding anniversary happens the same week as the event in question, but we persist with the analogy. In the points [...]
Filed under: CSR@MCI, General Sustainability, Meetings and Events | Tagged: CSR, Green Meetings, Leadership, Practical Tips | 4 Comments »
We continue to see a demand for answers to fundamental questions related to ‘green’ or ‘sustainable’ events. What follows are responses to some of the questions which, while general, may provide some helpful background of the concepts related to this rather complex process and which may help with the growing challenge so many people are [...]
Filed under: General Sustainability, Meetings and Events | Tagged: BS8901, Green Meetings, Practical Tips, Standards | 2 Comments »
There are hundreds of definitions of sustainability, and many people agree and disagree on what should be included. At the GMIC we follow the “Natural Step” Principles that define 4 conditions for developing sustainability. These were develop by an international network of scientists who have unanimously and publically concluded that human society is damaging nature and [...]
Filed under: General Sustainability | Tagged: GMIC, Natural Step, Practical Tips | 1 Comment »
This recent article about food waste in the United States, and the energy it represents, offers reminder that this is an area worthy of focus for event professionals and their suppliers. Indeed, a recent session at the MPI WEC conference offered practical actions to reduce carbon emissions related to events. Reducing food waste is by [...]
Filed under: Exhibition and Congress Centers, General Sustainability, Meetings and Events | Tagged: climate change, Green Meetings, Practical Tips | 1 Comment »
Many have observed that the BP oil spill is a reminder that corporate responsibility to community and the environment requires more than a clever re-brand. There’s something missing from the conversation, however. These observations of BP (and the many companies who are very glad they are not BP), don’t seem to make the link between [...]
Filed under: General Sustainability | Tagged: CSR, Leadership, Practical Tips | 5 Comments »
Integrated into the COP15 event sustainability report was an excellent study of local carbon emissions conducted by the Copenhagen office of Deloitte. COP15 Carbon Footprint Deloitte 2010.pdf With lessons learned from the carbon footprint measurement of COP15, Deloitte is providing a list of recommendations for successful carbon footprint measurements for future COP meetings. 1. Establish [...]
Filed under: Meetings and Events | Tagged: cop15, Measurement, Practical Tips, Reporting | Leave a Comment »
When it comes to sustainable events, most professional meetings planners understand the ’why’ but not the ’how’. An intrepid few invest time and effort to piece together different tactics in support of a more responsible event, but rarely does the approach have any strategic plan. Rarer still are the events which produce a thoughtful report [...]
Filed under: General Sustainability, Meetings and Events | Tagged: APEX, BS8901, Certification, cop15, Copenhagen, Green Meetings, Measurement, Practical Tips, Standards | 1 Comment »
Meeting planners, do you know what happens to the waste from your event? Many communities incinerate waste in an effort to reduce costs (financial, aesthetic, perhaps environmental?) associated with landfills. The act of incineration often provides a secondary benefit of generating energy. In Copenhagen, Denmark, for example, 5% of the energy source mix comes from [...]
Filed under: Destinations, General Sustainability, Meetings and Events | Tagged: Destinations, Green Meetings, Practical Tips | 6 Comments »
A new Yale study examines the environmental performance of 163 nations with some revealing results. The Environmental Performance Index 2010 Top 5 positions are not a surprise but Costa Rica at #3? Well done! Congratulations to Iceland, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Sweden and Norway whose collective efforts to observe environmental stewardship in a systemic, long term [...]
Filed under: Destinations, General Sustainability | Tagged: Destinations, Green Meetings, Practical Tips | 1 Comment »
