Important Update: Green Meeting Standards

I just received this email from Pat A. Picariello, Director, Developmental Operations, ASTM International on the standards development and wanted to pass it along…

“I wanted to give you all a brief update on the current state of the standards development activity organized last February for green meetings and events. On June 10, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was formally signed between ASTM International (ASTM) and the Convention Industry Council’s APEX activity. The MOU details the collaboration between our two organizations from a standards development process perspective; in summary, core standards for green meetings and events will be initially developed by the APEX initiative, and then submitted to ASTM’s sustainability activity for refinement and approval. Note that more detailed press releases on this topic will be distributed from ASTM and the CIC in the near future – as you represent those stakeholders who have expressed direct interest in participating in this process, I wanted you to receive advance notice.”

Amy Spatrisano, APEX Green Meeting Task Force Chair, adds that subcommittees are now being formed and if you’d like to be part of this industry setting initiative you should contact Tori Frazier at TFrazier@conceptsworldwide.com. Let Tori know which of the following subcommittee you want to participate in: destination, accommodation, meeting venue, food/beverage, exhibits, transportation, communication, onsite office, AV/production.

News about Green Meeting Standards

A quick update about the development of green meeting standards straight from Amy Spatrisano, CMP, APEX Green Meeting Panel Chair:

“Good news: The meeting industry standard setting body – APEX (https://www.conventionindustry.org/apex/about.htm)
is collaborating with the US Environmental Protection Agency’s standard setting organization ASTM to develop the standards.

This collaboration between government and our industry is a fairly new concept --at least in my limited experience. So, we’ve been working out all the logistics of how the process will work and who will take the lead. ASTM didn’t even know we were an industry until last year. I think they’re still trying to figure out who we are and exactly what we do. They are a great organization and have been developing standards for decades. It’s just--you know--we’re not your average industry. We interface with so many other industries to produce meetings and events. It can be confusing to those outside the industry.

The response from industry professionals wanting to participate in this process has been phenomenal which a good thing for developing standards the majority will embrace. The standards will be created by a volunteer, consensus-based process. This means you, your friends and your colleagues can weigh in on them. You’ll be given lots of opportunities to do this online, in select city venues and as a part of industry meetings. Look for news in mid-June about the next steps and how you can
participate.

I think this is an amazing opportunity for all of us to be a part of a legacy for our industry and hope you might too."

Here, here!

EPA Checklist: Inquiring Minds Want to Know

Everybody’s wondering what 14 questions the US Environmental Protection Agency’s meeting planners are now required to ask when sourcing a meeting. Me too! Tracking them down was time-consuming, so as a benefit to my faithful blog readers—here are the EPA questions:

1. Do you have a recycling program? Please describe.
2. Do you have a linen/towel reuse option that is communicated to guests?
3. Do guests have easy access to public transportation or a shuttle service?
4. Are the lights and AC turned off when rooms are not in use? How do you ensure this?
5. Do you use bulk dispensers for beverages, condiments and food?
6. Do you provide reusable utensils, napkins and tablecloths when serving food and beverages?
7. Do you have an energy-efficiency program? Please describe.
8. Do you have a water conservation program? Please describe.
9. Do you have paperless check-in and checkout?
10. Do you use recycled and recyclable products?
11. Do you source food from local growers?
12. Do you use biobased and biodegradable products?
13. Do you train your employees on these green initiatives?
14. What other environmental initiatives are in place?

My guess is you have developed some questions to add to this list! Let us know what they are.

Red light, yellow light, green light....GO!

Some good news has emerged for those seeking a universal standard for green meetings! The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX) are looking to collaborate on the creation of a Green Meeting Standard.

On the heels of two planning meetings, industry stakeholders gathered in Vancouver, Canada at the Green Meeting Industry Council’s Greening the Hospitality Industry Conference to discuss the preliminary scope, content and process for moving forward with the standard. The standard would enable meeting professionals to ask the right questions, make environmentally and socially responsible decisions and measure the impact of these choices. The standard could also potentially identify minimum criteria for being called ‘green’ in our industry, a baseline for which is sorely lacking.

The working group has identified a need to create credible, consistent and recognizable standards within each area of meeting management: destinations, accommodations, venues, food & beverage, transportation, communications & marketing and exhibits.

Input and participation in planning for the standard is presently being sought from stakeholders within and outside of the industry. Committees are now being formed. If you are interested in joining this important process, please send an email to operations@meetingstrategiesworldwide.com