Michael Begley, managing director of venuedirectory.com, explains why it is vital organisers hold suppliers accountable for sustainability claims.
Behind each green venue listing lies substantial scrutiny of the standards and practices each venue – or venue group – subscribes to. We look for evidence of procedures and governance behind their sustainable activities.
Sustainability questions to ask suppliers
Before the venue is confirmed on our platform we speak with them to delve into the detail, with questions including the following:
- What are the current sustainability measures in place?
- Do they cover core areas: key areas e.g. energy, water, waste, travel, purchasing, suppliers, food and beverage
- Do they align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals?
- How are they communicated?
- What are your goals and how is progress tracked?
- Do you subscribe to any external accreditations?
- What’s the criteria of these accreditations?
What we’re after is an auditable trail and evidence underpinning each of the sustainability claims. For example, how does a venue group ensure compliance – via spot checks across a small selection of venues or throughout every single one in the portfolio? Measurement is also key here – the common phrase ‘you can’t manage what you can’t measure’ is very fitting. I’d also add that you can’t progress what you can’t measure.
The very notion of sustainability as a journey implies that progress is made on an ongoing basis. No single company is expected to have all the answers straightaway; it’s about taking small incremental steps and building on what you achieve. This is where sustainability accreditations can play a significant role.
Accreditations bring benefits
The benefits of sustainability accreditations extend well beyond a rating or certificate. The process itself becomes a journey to creating a green corporate culture and a more sustainable, socially responsible business. A sustainability certification programme also engages employees and drives company-wide commitment and purpose.
The targets and assessment deadlines that accreditation schemes provide help to maintain momentum and keep goals front of mind. Most of the viable accreditation programmes for our sector, including our partners ECOSmart (Greengage), Green Meetings, Green Key, Green Tourism Standard and Quality in Tourism, work with venues to develop a green action plan which pinpoints, among other things, core goals and areas to improve. A yearly review then checks what progress has been made on these goals. Then – and only then – is the accreditation awarded again. These standards are by no means an easy win, and therein lies the value.
What’s certain, in this current climate of uncertainty, is that greater scrutiny will be applied to environmentally friendly claims. We’re all aware if the perils are greenwashing, and this is driving people to ask more questions and looking for proof to back up claims: whether that’s businesses scrutinising their suppliers or planners booking venues.
At venuedirectory.com we’ve seen demand among planners for green venues continue to rise. Currently, one of the biggest search filters for venues is ‘sustainability’ and the term also figures highly in many RFPs. As well as sourcing sustainably, it’s essential to scratch beneath the surface of claims and double check that standards continue to be met along the way.
