2009-07-07

Call for Interest: Proposal for a new work item - Sustainability in event management

The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) is seeking feedback from your organization on the development of a new international standard on Sustainability in event management, submitted by Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas (ABNT) and the British Standards Institute (BSI) to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

The event management industry has significant impacts on environmental, social and economic facets globally.  Currently, there are no international standards to provide requirements for, and guidance on how the event management sector can reduce and address the impacts on these facets.  The benefits of the development of an international standard for this sector are that it should help reduce carbon emissions and waste, improve efficiency of the event supply chain and increase efficiency in planning and encourage the re-use of equipment.

This standard will aim to:

• Minimize and manage environmental, financial, and social impacts linked to venue selection, operating procedures, supply chain management, procurement, employment, communications, transport and “end of life” issues linked to post event management;
• Be applicable to any type of event and be available for use by any organization or individual involved in the management of events;
• Enable industry to demonstrate its commitment to sustainability and assist those companies in developing their own systems.

The proposed standard will include terms and definitions, requirements for a sustainability management systems scope, statement of purpose and values, sustainability policy, planning, performance and implementation, verification and corrective action and a management review.

For more information, or to submit comments including support for or opposition to the proposals, please contact Lynne Gibbens, Senior Program Officer ISO via email, [email protected] or by telephone +1 613 238 3222 ext. 452.

All comments submitted to SCC will be considered to generate a recommended Canadian position and comments on these proposals.

The deadline for submission is August 10, 2009.