EIC Launches Enhanced Framework for Sustainable Events

There is no doubt that sustainability and social impact are critical issues and decision-making factors addressing not only our industry, but our society as a whole. To support our industry’s transformation, the Events Industry Council (EIC) this week launched an enhanced framework for collaboration in the form of the EIC Sustainable Event Standards. This milestone represents a continued commitment from EIC to deliver educational opportunities, support, and guidance to organisations across the spectrum on their journey towards sustainability and social impact.

The EIC Sustainable Event Standards, a set of eight standards have been designed to assess events and industry suppliers in support of environmental and social responsibility. They provide specific guidance for event organisers and partners, including accommodations, audio visual and production, destinations, exhibition services, food & beverage, integrated properties, and venues

The webinar took participants through the EIC’s sustainability learning journey which includes the industry leading Sustainable Events Professional Certificate (SEPC), targeted at event professionals interested in accelerating sustainability and social impact in their organisations and events and the newly introduced Foundations Level Certificate for organisations. Also highlighted was the additional support available in the new framework which includes examples of plans, policies and identified organisations and suppliers who have already certified.

Meghan Green, Marketing Communications, SAP Global Events and Chair-Elect of EIC’s Sustainability and Social Impact Committee, who is currently undertaking the online SEPC course commented: “The SEPC programme is one of the best training programmes I’ve ever participated in – it is so well worth the investment of time and money in terms of upskilling yourself and making yourself an expert in your own team.”

Talking from a supplier perspective, WeeMin Ong, CEM, CMP, Vice President of Marina Bay Sands, in Singapore said: “As a team, sustainability has been weaved into our operations since 2015. When we looked at the EIC’s sustainability standards we felt the programme provided us with a very straightforward template to check what’s needed to be done to achieve the correct level of professionalism within the field of sustainability.

“Working through the standards was a very rewarding journey and the entire convention centre remains fully aligned with the process, working collectively to further sustainability in our venue. Team members were very inspired and, after achieving the standards, we wanted to look at how to further the learning experience.

“We chose to put three of our team through the SEPC online course. We then looked at their learning experience and realised the knowledge and skillsets on the online course helped our team members structure their own learning on their own time basis. We are now putting 100 of our client-facing team members through the course. The key driver for this is the ground-up sustainability movement from our team proactively wanting to know and understand more and have a base knowledge from which to lead in the conversations in the future.”

The webinar then moved on to cover the purpose of the new Standards and how and why they have been enhanced and adapted to ensure they continue to deliver appropriate guidance, metrics, and support for event professionals at all stages of their sustainability journey.

The updates to the 2022 Sustainable Event Standards include:

Foundations Level:

A new Foundations Level replaces the ‘Industry Wide Criteria’ and has a greater emphasis on education, tools, and resources to support adoption.

Improved Ease of Use and Expanded Criteria:

Criteria, assessment, and guidance have been updated for greater flexibility for regional adaptation, and have been expanded in areas of diversity, equity and inclusion, accessibility, and climate action. Points values were also adjusted to reflect materiality and investment.

Integrated Property Standard:

A new integrated property standard was introduced to incorporate elements of the accommodation, venue, and food and beverage standard for properties that offer all three services.

New Certification Cadence:

A new certification model for industry suppliers that now includes a comprehensive audit in the first and fourth years and surveillance audits for a smaller number of criteria for the second and third years was introduced for suppliers. A streamlined process for events using the same suppliers was also added.

Clearly Defined Roles:

The Event Standard now clearly indicates the responsibilities for the event organiser and for their suppliers in meeting the standard's criteria.

Amy Calvert, CEO of the Events Industry Council concluded the webinar saying: “EIC believes deeply in our sectors ability, as the industry that fosters human connections, to be a be a catalyst for meaningful change driving economic and social impact through business events worldwide; this is the most important part of the story we have to tell. Through the tremendous support of our members and strategic partners, we have developed resources and guidance to assist in educating, fostering a community-wide collaboration to inspire action.

“We understand that as professionals looking to champion these actions many are just beginning this journey and that the ability to leverage the framework available through the SES and SEPC is a way to set specific target for achievement and continues improvement, measuring and celebrating these achievements along the way."

Gayle Murphy, CEO, Global Green Events and member of the EIC Sustainability and Social Impact Committee said: “The climate crisis isn’t something that is only going to affect future generations, it is affecting us and the planet in real time. Often, we can feel overwhelmed and not know where to start with sustainability. That's why I am really excited about the launch of the Standards; they provide a great framework for organisations to get started on their sustainability journey and gives them guidance and support to help them through the process step by step. We, as an industry, have a huge potential to change not just our impacts on the world, but the global impacts through education, awareness and inspiration. We can guide the way through our events and operations, to a better future for all, environmentally, socially, and economically, together, starting today!” 

Commenting on the new Standards, Stephanie Glanzer, CMP, Senior Vice President & Chief Sales Officer of MGM Resorts International said: “MGM Resorts International is proud to support the Events Industry Council Centre for Sustainability and Social Impact and the launch of the standards. As MGM Resorts is focused on what matters: embracing humanity and protecting the planet, we are deeply committed to the continued education of sustainability standards within the meetings and event industry. We fully align with EIC on this important initiative and celebrate the future of this partnership.”

Flavia Santoro, President of ProColombia said: “We are honoured to join forces with the Events Industry Council to support the advancement of the sustainability agenda in our industry. This is neatly aligned with Colombia's national strategy and Sustainable Tourism Policy which aims to establish sustainability as the pivot of the development, competitiveness, and growth of the tourism sector in Colombia and worldwide and supports our purpose of positioning the country as a thought leader and referent in the meetings industry.”

EIC has enjoyed a great partnership with Encore, IMEX Group and MGM Resorts International who have been supportive of the Sustainable Event Standards and for the launch of the enhanced Sustainable Event Standards, we received additional support from ProColombia, the national tourist board of Colombia.

EIC began an extensive consultation process in 2019 to review the standards, including surveys, webinars and sessions with key contributors. In total, 300+ individuals from over 20 countries provided feedback, including members from more than 20 industry associations.