Association Voice
I
ndustrial sustainability means
having the means to define, measure
and score the sustainability goals and
pledges we need to meet if we are to
make an impact on global climate
targets. The urgency of the situation
is clear on both local and global scales,
and the event industry is no exception.
Early last year, at a meeting of the
cross-association Sustainability
Working Group, the chair and vice-
chair, Martin Cottrell (A1 Event &
Exhibition Cleaners Ltd) and Lucille
Ryan (Informa plc), respectively, led the
discussion on what the industry’s long-
and short-term sustainability goals
should be, and what gradually emerged
over the year was a series of workshops
with MICE Machine culminating in an
ambitious programme to define up to
twelve achievable, key commitments for
event industry businesses.
Thanks to Olympia London’s presence
on the working group, we were
introduced to The MICE Machine, who
had previously helped the venue devise
and deliver its successful, staff-led
sustainability programme, ‘The Grand
Plan’. We are tremendously grateful
to Olympia London for enabling
the working group to pioneer this
programme. It’s telling that Olympia
London was the first British venue to
be ISO 20121 certified and indeed, was
38 — February
Step up to
sustainability
AEV director Rachel Parker
helps to deliver a strong
sustainability programme
instrumental in the creation of the
international standard itself.
Following a second workshop in
August 2019, we provided our members
with this framework enabling them
to work towards these commitments
within two years, which will include
specific eGuide content, templates,
guidance documentation, and sharing
best practice through the working
group. Initially, it will be members of
the working group that will adopt them,
which will be periodically reviewed for
progress, and assistance given where
possible. We will be launching the
programme to the wider membership in
Spring.
The reality is that many of our venue
members have already fulfilled a
number of the commitments through
their own, existing sustainability
strategies and initiatives, ISO
compliance and partnerships with local
communities - and it’s these examples
of great practice we need to share
widely and ensure these achievements
are sustained.
Manchester Central has achieved 70
per cent LED lighting throughout the
venue as part of a complete replacement
programme, which has already led
to a 40 per cent reduction in power
consumption in the offices alone.
SEC capex programme sees continual
improvements to the campus through
replacement of heating, ventilation and
AC equipment on site to achieve energy
efficiencies and reduction in resources.
They are also repurposing old furniture
and reupholstering with sustainable
fabrics. The SEC has also engaged a
specialist consultant to help identify
areas that we can drive sustainability
on our campus. Telford International
Centre’s success with free water
refilling points, zero waste to landfill,
and food miles monitoring, has led to a
Green Tourism Award, Silver Class and
ambitious plans for EV charging points,
plant-based menu options and much
more.
The Business Design Centre has held
its carbon neutral certification for 10
years and uses only renewable energy
to power the building. Its aggressive
recycling and reuse policy has led to
near-zero waste to landfill.
ExCeL London has reduced its overall
energy consumption by 22 per cent and
it has a firm commitment to consume
100 per cent renewable energy by Q3
2020. It, too, has adopted free water
filling stations, any waste that can’t be
recycled is used to create renewable
energy, ensuring zero waste to landfill.
Menus have changed to include 25 per
cent plant-based dishes and a steady
reduction in red meat dishes, aiming
to cut red meat consumption by 50 per
cent by 2021.
All these venues, and many other
members, have been leading the way for
some time on sustainability matters.
If you are an AEV, AEO or ESSA
member and you’d like to get involved
in the cross-association Sustainability
Group, please get in touch.