Sustainable Event Certification Process
Are you eager to showcase your event's commitment to sustainability through certification? With numerous benefits at stake, you might wonder where to begin. Fear not! Here's a comprehensive guide to steer you through the process, ensuring your event earns its well-deserved certification as a sustainable standout. Here are a few benefits of your future achievement:
📚🌿 Enhanced Knowledge: Gain comprehensive knowledge about sustainability practices in event management, including waste reduction, energy conservation, and eco-friendly materials.
🏅🌍 Industry Recognition: Earn recognition as a qualified professional committed to sustainable event planning, which can enhance your credibility and reputation in the industry.
📈🌱 Career Advancement: Increase your career prospects by demonstrating specialized expertise in sustainability, making you a valuable asset to employers and clients.
🥇🌳 Competitive Advantage: Stand out in a competitive market by offering sustainable event solutions that align with the growing demand for environmentally responsible practices.
🌐💚 Contribution to Environmental Goals: Contribute to global sustainability efforts by implementing eco-friendly practices in event planning and management.
Ready to embark on your journey towards hosting a sustainable event? Let's kick things off by exploring the certification process:
1. Check Out Certification Programs: Start by browsing through different certification programs that match your event's eco-friendly goals. Look into options like the Events Council (SEPC), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), or local sustainability bodies. 📚
2. Assess Your Event's Green Efforts: Take stock of what your event is currently doing to be sustainable. Are there areas where you can do better, like reducing waste, saving energy, or using eco-friendly materials? 🌱
3. Make a Sustainability Plan: Create a solid plan outlining your sustainability goals and how you'll achieve them. Think about everything from operations to management and set clear targets. 📋
4. Put Your Plan into Action: Roll up your sleeves and start implementing those green practices. Work with vendors who share your values, cut down on waste, and get creative with transportation options. 🛠️
5. Keep Tabs on Your Progress: Keep detailed records of what you're doing to be sustainable and how it's working out. This info will come in handy when you're applying for certification. 📊
6. Apply for Certification: Once you've made strides in sustainability, it's time to apply for certification. This usually involves submitting documentation and possibly undergoing an assessment. 📝
7. Stay on the Green Path: After you've earned your certification, keep up the good work! Make sure you're sticking to your sustainable practices and meeting the requirements for renewal. ♻️
By diligently following each of these outlined steps and demonstrating your unwavering commitment to sustainability, you'll not only enhance the eco-friendliness of your events but also position yourself to earn a prestigious certification. This recognition serves as a testament to your tireless efforts in organizing environmentally conscious events, showcasing your dedication to making a positive impact on the planet.
Top Sustainable Event Certifications
Here are some of the most reputable and widely recognized certifications available in the realm of sustainable event planning. These certifications have garnered acclaim for their rigorous standards and comprehensive criteria, making them highly regarded within the industry and among event planners striving for sustainability excellence.
1️⃣ Events Council: Sustainable Event Professional
The Sustainable Event Professional Certificate (SEPC) program is geared towards events professionals aiming to enhance sustainability and social impact, this online course equips participants with the knowledge and tools needed to plan and execute sustainable event planning. Developed by industry leaders and experts worldwide, the SEPC offers 16 modules covering topics such as the business value of sustainability, environmental improvement strategies, and methods for achieving social impact goals. The program includes interactive features and a digital workbook for customizing event roadmaps. Participants can earn 12 Continuing Education credits (CEs) towards CMP application or recertification, as well as 12 CAE credits. LINK
2️⃣ ISO 20121: Event Sustainability Management Systems
Events often strain resources, society, and the environment, leading to significant waste generation. The International Standard ISO 20121 aims to promote responsible consumption and alleviate pressure on local infrastructure and utilities in event-hosting communities.
ISO 20121 provides guidance to manage events and minimize their social, economic, and environmental impact. Simple actions like using tap water instead of plastic bottles and promoting public transport usage can make a difference while potentially cutting costs.
Developed with input from diverse stakeholders, including the event industry, it covers all stages of the event supply chain and includes monitoring and measurement guidelines.
Whether you're involved in the event industry or not, ISO 20121 offers practical and useful tools for sustainability. LINK
3️⃣ EarthCheck: Sustainable Event
EventCheck offers event organizers a practical framework to measure and minimize environmental, social, and economic impact, promoting responsible meetings and events. By committing to EventCheck, you initiate an assessment of your practices and develop an action plan for a more sustainable event. Aligned with the International Standard ISO 20121:2012, EventCheck provides a toolkit suitable for events of all sizes, guiding you through planning, pre-event, event, and post-event stages. It includes customizable tools and templates for creating an event sustainability policy, action plan, legislation register, impact assessment, operational procedures, benchmarking methodology, performance evaluation, and communication action plan. LINK
4️⃣ Meeting Professional International (MPI): Sustainable Event Strategist
The meeting industry is undergoing a significant shift towards sustainability. As planners, it's crucial to address inquiries from chief sustainability officers and high-level stakeholders, especially those focused on supporting UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting.
While sustainability in events has been discussed for years and many of us have made small changes, it's time to take more substantial steps and redefine our approach to planning.
MPI's latest micro-certificate delves into the specifics of sustainability, including government regulations, community impact, food and beverage considerations, carbon offsets, tracking, and engaging with the supply chain. Gain the tools you need to initiate real change in your planning processes. LINK
5️⃣ The Meetings Show: Complete Sustainable Event Course
Join our Complete Sustainable Events Course, a 6-week online program tailored to empower you in mastering sustainable event delivery. Whether you're a seasoned event planner or a supplier in the industry, whether sustainability is already part of your journey or entirely new, this course offers advanced insights. It guides you towards a strategic and authentic approach to embedding sustainability at the core of your planning efforts, ultimately driving change within the meetings and events sector.
Through a blend of theory, practical tools, and real-life examples, you'll gain the confidence to plan and execute sustainable events effectively. From understanding where to begin to measuring environmental impacts and leveraging opportunities for positive event legacies, the course covers essential aspects. LINK
When selecting a certification for sustainable event planning, it's essential to ensure that it resonates with your event's overarching goals and core values. Since each certification program operates with its distinct set of criteria and standards, it's crucial to choose the one that aligns most closely with your event's specific objectives. By carefully selecting a certification program that best suits your event's needs, you can ensure that your sustainable event certification journey is not only meaningful but also serves as a testament to your commitment to sustainable event planning practices. ✅ 🌍 ✊
