Background
BS 8901 is the British Standard which specifies requirements for a sustainable event management system.
BS 8901 is the very first standard to define a sustainable management system for the meetings and events industry. This standard was designed specifically for the events industry and defines the requirements for a sustainable event management system.
This standard was piloted at the European Meetings and Events Conference in
The eventual goal for this standard is to become an international standard (ISO) for all events.
How does BS 8901 work?
BS 8901 employs a way of working which takes into consideration the environmental, economical and social impacts of the event. The standard is either self-certified or externally certified by a third-party.
BS 8901 is a three-phased system:
Phase 1 – Planning
The planning phase involves developing an overall plan for sustainability that includes specific measurable objectives and metrics, identifying and engaging the stakeholders, and identifying the key issues specific to your event.
The first step in this phase is to appoint a "Sustainability Champion" for your event. This person's role will be to manage the overall three-phase process for certification.
The next step is to define the performance objectives, preferred solutions, and key performance indicators/targets that will affect your stakeholders and drive your development plan.
Phase 2 – Implementation
Implementation is the development and acceptance of the key elements of the sustainable event management plan. Phase 2 typically involves the coordination of supply chain management and the event managers. The key to implementation is communication and operational control.
Phase 3 – Monitoring to control
This phase focuses on reviewing compliance and performance in relation to achieving specific measurable objectives. Monitoring and control is the implementation of procedures to measure performance against established metrics. Audits and reviews should be done regularly and the procedures should be continually updated to demonstrate improvement.
The diagram below, from SES "BS 8901 – What is it?" illustrates how each of the phases affects the overall approach. (http://www.bs8901.com/BS8901PhApp.aspx)
CERTIFICATION
Certification of your event requires the following steps:
Certification is typically valid for three-years for reoccurring and multi-event certifications. The certification of a single event is only good for the duration of that specific event.
In order to retain certification, follow-up visits by the audit committee may be necessary.
Additional Resources:
MPI: www.positiveimpactevents.co.uk
Sustainable Event Solutions: http://www.bs8901.com/Home.aspx
To order copies of the BS 8901 standard: www.bsi-global.com