The Practical Realities of Delivering a Sustainability Program

1. The Practical Realities of Delivering a Sustainability Program AIPC – Singapore, July 2008

2. Reality • Green is Good • Meetings can negatively impact the environment. • Facilities can negatively impact the environment.

3. Reality • ‘Not meeting’ is not a realistic or acceptable way to address the environmental impacts of meetings. • Equally, it is not realistic or acceptable to ‘not address’ the environmental impacts of meetings.

4. Reality Key pressures: • Market demand and expectation • Competition • Communities and governments are demanding and taking action, and • It’s the “right thing to do”. So, what can be done?

5. Build Better Buildings Example: • Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre • 6 Star - Green Star environmental rating awarded by the Green Building Council of Australia • Advanced energy management systems; blackwater treatment system; water efficient fixtures; enhancements for indoor air quality; use of FSC certified timber

6. Build Better Buildings Example: • BT Convention Centre (ACC Liverpool) • BREEAM Rating – “Very Good” from Britain’s Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method. • Sustainable elements include wind turbines; rainwater harvesting; half of the CO 2 emissions of a traditional building.

7. Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre Expansion

8. VCEC Expansion Green Building Features • 2.4 hectare planted roof • Seawater heating and cooling • On-site grey and black water recycling system • Natural lighting and ventilation • Energy management technology • Marine habitat in foundation • Expansion being built to qualify for LEED Gold Certification • Public plaza, walkway, bikeway

9. When building isn’t an option… • Take advantage of upgrade opportunities • Replace older, inefficient light equipment • Add occupancy sensors for lights & fans • Enhance daylight sensing control systems • Upgrade HVAC systems • Upgrade to energy efficient equipment • Focus on operating practices & standards

10. Focus on the operation • Confirm the audiences • Clients, stakeholders, critics of the meetings industry • Assess current situation • Identify available infrastructure resources • Identify current practices in waste minimization, energy/water conservation, emissions controls.

11. Focus on the operation • Evaluate against objectives or identify objectives • Compliance with regulations? • Essentials? Mid-pack? Leader? • Verification & Measurement • Quantifying efforts: for clients, for self • Designations, formal recognition, articulated standards • Budget • Required for immediate and long-term needs

12. Engage Staff & Suppliers • A senior management “champion” • A cross-functional Green Committee • An on-staff “Green Specialist” • Eg: QCCC’s Eco-Advisors • Include senior level staff and suppliers – especially housekeeping and food & beverage • Inform & educate staff, early and often • Introduce practices that involve and benefit them directly

13. Operating & Building Practices • Practice green procurement • Know your vendors • Consider environmental, social, economic impacts of goods & services • Consider the life-cycle of the product • All being equal for value & quality, choose the sustainable good or service

14. Operating & Building Practices • Recycle as extensively as possible • Traditional paper, glass, cans • Organics • Plastics, wood, metal, light bulbs, batteries, • Electronic equipment & devices • Use recycled products • Paper, plastics, fabrics and others

15. Operating & Building Practices • Minimize waste • Schedule HVAC • Switch to energy efficient equipment; unplug equipment not in use • Reduce lighting where safe and possible • Adjust standards for printing – eliminate where possible, double-sided, vegetable-based inks, minimize margins, recycled paper, FSC certified.

16. Operating & Building Practices • Housekeeping • Non-toxic, environmentally safe cleaning solutions and soaps, paper products made from post-consumer material, biodegradable garbage bags • Food & Beverage • Fresh, seasonal, local, organic • Re-usable dishes, cutlery, linens • Service in bulk; minimize portion packs

17. Operating & Building Practices • Emissions Reduction • Short-term & long-term initiatives • Renewable Energy Certificates & Offsetting • REC’s as good as using Green Power • Carbon Footprinting – use an expert • GHG Accounting Standards – ISO 14064-1; WRI GHG Protocol • Voluntary Carbon Standard (www.v-c-s.org) • Effective as part of a larger strategy • Zero Waste & Zero Carbon • Near-zero is reality • Requires resources and budget

18. Client Green Practices The Other Half of the Equation: • Identify & promote the meeting’s green commitment • Promote the facility’s green practices • Allocate budget for initiatives • Carbon footprint the meeting • Minimize waste brought into the facility • Minimize waste generated by conference activities

19. Client Green Practices • Use products made from recyclable materials • Go “digital” at each opportunity • Provide timely and accurate program information for HVAC scheduling • Agree to modify HVAC expectations and promote with attendees • Implement an exhibitor program that focused on re-useable exhibitry, signage and banners and reduced hand-outs and other give-aways

20. Client Green Practices • Choose local and seasonal items for menus • Guarantee accurate numbers for meals to reduce over-production • Choose china, flatware, glasses over disposables • Accept water, juices and condiments served in bulk rather than individual portions • Choose local and seasonal for floral décor • Offer opportunities for individual delegates to purchase off-sets

21. Social Sustainability • Part of an overall Sustainability Strategy • Eg: ExCEL Centre’s recent CSR report • Ranges from local donations, high profile community involvement to ‘quiet’ evidence of commitment • Eg: serving fair trade/shade grown coffee • Increases profile, awareness & support • Offers opportunities to include clients

22. To Certify or Not to Certify • Sept. 2007 – 59% respondents to AIPC’s Sustainability Survey indicated plans to certify • Enhances credibility, provides goals, allows for comparatives • AIPC Quality Standards

23. To Certify or Not to Certify • Some familiar examples: • ISO • Green Globe • LEED • Green Star • Choose for relevance, “recognizability”, attainability • Also consider local and regional designations • Future Meetings Industry certification

24. Practical Realities • Position within local context • Position within the meetings industry • Supports business objectives • Long-term infrastructure support

25. Resources Sustainability • www.sustainablebusiness.com (e-newsletter) • www.carbontrust.co.uk (1 example, many others) • www.epa.gov (US Environmental Protection Agency) • www.ec.gc.ca (Environment Canada) • www.standardsuk.com (British Standards Institute) • www.grn.com (Global Recycling Network) • www.direct.gov.uk (Environment & Greener Living – UK) • www.fsc.org (Forest Stewardship Council) • www.grrn.org/zerowaste/articles/tzc.html (Grass Roots Recycling) • www.zerowaste.co.nz (Zero Waste New Zealand) • www.worldgbc.org (World Green Building Council) • www.ecobusinesslinks.com (Green Directory) • www.terrachoice.com (6 Sins of Greenwashing)

26. Resources Meetings Industry: • Members of JMIC www.themeetingsindustry.org • AIPC, IAPCO, ICCA • COCAL, MPI, SITE • European Cities Marketing • Green Meetings Industry Council www.greenmeetings.info • CIC Green Meetings Reportwww.conventionindustry.org