An update from EIC’s Centre for Sustainability and Social Impact

By Meghan Green, Chairperson of EIC's Centre for Sustainability and Social Impact and Global Events, SAP 

What an incredible year it has been for the Events Industry Council’s Centre for Sustainability and Social Impact! With the launch of several milestone projects and the unveiling of our updated Sustainable Event Standards, we have so much to be proud of as the year draws to a close.

Sustainable Event Professional Certificate (SEPC)
In April 2022, we announced our first online Sustainable Event Professional Certificate (SEPC) cohort, with 126 committed event professionals earning their certification. We couldn’t be prouder! The SEPC course was developed by a global group of industry experts and covers 16 different modules around the business value of sustainability and effective methods for achieving corporate social impact goals. We hope you’ll give it a try, too! I promise you will find it interactive and engaging!

Sustainable Event Standards and new Foundations Certificate

In September 2022, we launched our updated Sustainable Event Standards, a set of eight standards designed to assess events and industry suppliers in support of environmental and social responsibility. The standards break down topics into easy-to-follow steps and provide specific guidance for event organisers and partners around the subjects of accommodation, audio visual production, destinations, exhibition services, food & beverage, integrated properties, and venues. The standards offer a framework for collaboration and provide a strong focus on guidance and metrics to allow event professionals at all stages of their sustainability journey to find the support they need to implement and measure sustainable practices.

Some exciting updates to the 2022 Sustainable Event Standards include:

• A new Foundations Level
• Improved Ease of Use and Expanded Criteria
• Integrated Property Standard
• New Certification Cadence
• Clearly Defined Roles

New for 2022, The EIC Foundations Level Certificate Programme guides organisations how to set up essential policies and launch their sustainability and social impact programmes by providing guidance, templates, examples, and coaching. For organisations with established sustainability and social impact programmes, the EIC Foundations Certificate Programme reviews an organisation’s existing policies and plans, helps identify gaps, and issues an entry level certificate.

Equity Benchmarking Study
In partnership with the EIC Equity Task Force, our committee also launched the results of our 2022 Equity Benchmarking Study at IMEX America, marking the critical first phase of EIC’s Equity Acceleration Plan. The survey revealed widespread DEI dissatisfaction amongst event professionals, minority groups, and women – affirming the important work we still have ahead of us.

This benchmarking study is Phase One of EIC’s Equity Acceleration Plan, with Phase Two including a leadership workshop to review the study and shape resources and deliverables for the benefit of EIC membership.

The EIC Equity Acceleration Plan will support event professionals in creating more diverse and inclusive environments, developing career pathways, and ensuring representation in leadership and supply chains by providing the learning and resources intended to reach and support the industry.

I am endlessly proud of the work that has been done by the Sustainability and Social Impact Committee on behalf of the Events Industry Council this year! Never have I found myself surrounded by such passionate, capable, focused professionals who share the spirit and resolve needed to move our industry towards a more sustainable and equitable future. I hope you will join us as we start the new year – with all the opportunities that SEPC, the EIC Foundations, and the Equity Acceleration Plan have to offer. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if we can help you jumpstart your sustainability journey! Happy holidays and cheers to an exciting New Year!