Opinions on sustainability within society have changed considerably over recent years. It is no longer associated with renunciation and asceticism. As the "Future Institute" says: “Sustainability is fun, aesthetic and pleasure orientated.”
This image shift has also impacted on the event industry. Increasing numbers of congress and trade fair organisers are incorporating measures toward climate protection, regional value creation and social compatibility into their event planning. The private sphere is not the only place in which people should take a responsible approach to nature. Austria has assumed a pioneering role in Europe with its ‘Austrian Ecolabel - Green Meetings’ quality seal.
On to point 1: What is a "GREEN" event anyway?
Regina Preslmair, responsible for corporate environmental protection and technology at the Austrian Federal Ministry for Sustainability and Tourism, summarises as follows: “Green meetings are about making events at which people meet – and a lot of resources are consumed – more environmentally friendly.”
“Green thinking flows into every area of an event, be it travel, accommodation, venue, catering, procurement, material and waste management, social aspects or communication. Moreover, a green meeting can generate a positive image among participants, sponsors and the general public,” says Michaela Schedlbauer-Zippusch, Managing Director of the ACB (Austrian Convention Bureau).
Exactly what constitutes a green meeting worthy of the Austrian Ecolabel is clearly regulated in Austria. Guideline UZ 62 for green meetings and events enables organisers to achieve a significant reduction in the environmental impact of their event – its carbon footprint. A congress certified as a green meeting manages to save around 30% of residual waste and even up to 55% of paper,” the MD of the Austrian Convention Bureau continues.
A meeting must meet requirements in the following areas according to a comprehensive catalogue of criteria:
- Environmentally-friendly travel options
- On site mobility and CO2 reduction
- Environmentally-friendly accommodation
- Venue requirements, catering and booth building
- Environmentally-friendly procurement
- Material and waste management
- Social aspects and communication
Hence, green meetings and events do not just integrate sustainable components - certification also helps organisers to save money.
Who can certify your meeting?
Regina Preslmair explains the basic idea behind certification: “Each event must be certified. The certification process is carried out by professional licenced specialists. The organiser or PCO (Professional Congress Organiser) must make a general commitment to sustainable management in their day to day business, and information on sustainability and environmental protection in event organisation must be available within the company.”
“An existing licensee, such as a PCO, convention bureau, event agency, seminar hotel or congress centre, can be commissioned with the overall organisation of the event – or solely with certification. The licence holder is responsible for correctly processing and storing required formal documentation,” says Michaela Schedlbauer-Zippusch, describing the procedural specifics.
What requirements must an event fulfil to be certified as a green meeting?
A wide variety of events can be certified: congresses, conferences, trade fairs, incentive events, seminars, product presentations and team building events.
Michaela Schedlbauer-Zippusch explains: “Prerequisite for the certification of an event is the fulfilment of all mandatory criteria, plus a sufficient number of target criteria, in order to achieve the minimum number of points in the sustainable events criteria catalogue.”
The criteria catalogue covers the following 9 areas:
- 1. Mobility and climate protection
- 2. Accommodation
- 3a. Event venues: Buildings / sports facilities
- 3b. Venues: Built on open space / in nature
- 4. Procurement, material and waste management
- 5. Exhibitor/Booth builder
- 6a. Normal event catering / Event catering with drinks only
- 6b. Catering
- 6c. Catering stalls
- 7. Communication
- 8. Social aspects
- 9. Event technology
Event requirements are set out in the UZ62 Green Meetings and Green Events Ecolabel Guideline and must be complied with exactly as formulated therein. Implementation must be demonstrated in a credible and comprehensible manner.
Are there any other types of certification in the event sector?
In addition to UZ 62 for Green Meetings & Events, the Austrian Ecolabel has 2 other guidelines relating to events:
- UZ 75: Exhibition booth construction
- UZ 200 covers these items: Accommodation, seminar hotels, conference and event venues, event catering and party service.
Summarising the situation in Austria, Regina Preslmair says, “The certification system has proved very successful. Austria can already boast many certified venues with and licensees that support their clients when organising an event in a way that conserves resources. There are also many ‘green caterers’ in Austria, meaning regional suppliers of environmentally friendly products.”
How much do organisers have to pay for certification?
Certification is free of charge. However, only events that meet the minimum requirements of the criteria catalog will be certified.
“Green meetings do not always entail extra expense. On the contrary, money can even be saved. Among other things, this can be done by using fewer printed materials, omitting congress bags, using regionally sourced, seasonally-grown products in catering, and so on. It is important to incorporate Green meeting criteria into congress planning right from the start, and to inform all project partners about the intention to achieve certification,” says Michaela Schedlbauer-Zippusch of the Austrian Convention Bureau.
The event expert concludes: “The organisation of a sustainable event doesn't have to be expensive, it just requires a little creativity and a return to the basics.”
Plan your Green Meeting in Salzburg
There’s plenty to be said for organising an event more sustainably. On top of the reassuring feeling of doing something to protect the environment, a lot of money can be saved. On the information page on Green Meetings & CSR you will find an overview of the certified venues and licence holders in the city of Salzburg and Salzburger Land.
Talk to us! We always have lots of ideas on how to organise your occasion as a sustainable event, and about which partners and providers can help you achieve your goals.