Sustainable Events Summit opens at The Crystal

The Sustainable Events Summit opened today (24 January) at Siemens’ The Crystal in East London.
 
The summit, organised by agencies Smyle and Sustainable Events, was designed to promote the continuous development of a global sustainable events industry. “The aim of the summit is to facilitate all to be involved in the sustainability conversation and communicate learning and vision,” said Managing Director of Sustainable Events, Fiona Pelham.
 
The opening plenary focused on what the legacy of London 2012 meant for sustainability in the UK events industry. Nick de Bois, MP, Chair of the UK All Party Parliamentary Group for Events said there is an opportunity for London to become world leader in the field of sustainability following the games and the introduction of standards such as IS020121.
 
“The 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games demonstrated London’s lead in the issue of sustainability,” he said. “With the creation of two frameworks, a proven model exists that can ensure sustainable practices at every stage of an event cycle.
 
“Today the world’s major corporate brands demand sustainable events; its part of their DNA. But if sustainability is to succeed, we need all parties across the supply chain to engage on all levels. My message to the industry is that everyone needs to get on board with sustainability more fully,” de Bois added.
 
To help the industry develop and engage further in sustainability practices, London 2012’s Learning Legacy is sharing the knowledge and lessons learnt from staging the Games, and Coca-Cola has developed an ISO2012 workbook. “By sharing this information the London Games can leave behind a lasting legacy,” said Environment Manager at The Coca-Cola Company, Olivia Knight Adams. “It would be wrong to learn all that we have in terms of sustainability and not share it with the event industry.”
 
De Bois also revealed during the summit that an enquiry into the competitiveness of the event industry, which includes issues such as sustainability, would soon be launched. “The conclusion from this enquiry, I hope, is that we will publish it with the support of the BVEP, put it to government and secure a debate in parliament. This time next year I hope the report will be out and being discussed.”
 
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