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Sustainable Event Management

Positive Impace is a not-for-profit education project set up to deliver education and awareness on sustainability and BS8901 (British Standard) to the event industry (venues, planners & suppliers). BS 8901 is the standard for sustainable event management being adopted by London 2012 and they are encouraging their own supply chain to look at. For charitable and community organisations, it is an option to consider to add a sustainable dimension to your event.

 

Positive Impace has just launched a series of Autumn workshops for anyone who is planning to implement sustainability within a venue or event or working  or planning on implementing BS 8901.

 

The BSI developed BS 8901, a specification for a sustainable event management system, in November 2007 and is in the process of consulting on a new version of the standard.

 

Pravin Jeyaraj, on behalf of The Big Opportunity Direct, attended a Positive Impact seminar earlier this year to find out more. David Stubbs, Head of Sustainability at London 2012, was one of the speakers.

 

He said that London 2012 is aiming for a sustainable event in three ways.

  1. 1. Regeneration of East London;
  2. 2. “The power of the Games to inspire people to take up sport and health lifestyles.”
  3. 3. “Influencing behaviour and encouraging discussions about sustainability and transfer of knowledge legacy to future Games and other, smaller events.”
  4.  

Stubbs said that London 2012’s own Sustainability Plan is based on BS 8901. He said that there are a number of factors at which any organisation planning an event should look.

 

Venue Selection

 

  • Is it accessible by public transport and by disabled people?
  • How does it deal with waste and energy conservation?

 

Impact of venue on local area (particularly for an outdoor event)

  • Stakeholder engagement with the local community is important.

 

Transport and Travel

  • Stubbs said that 2012 venues were only accessible by public transport and by walking.

 

Sustainable Sourcing

  • Do you need it? (Don’t overstock.)
  • Where does it come from?
  • What is it made off?
  • What is it wrapped in? (Packaging)
  • What will happen to it afterwards (Disposability)

 

Health, Safety and Security


Energy Consumption

 

Waste and cleaning

  • If inputs are controlled and it can be channelled into recycling and reuse, there could be opportunities for saving or making money.

 

Communications