EIC’s Enhanced Sustainable Event Standards
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The EIC Sustainable Event 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 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.
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.
