An international standard for an event sustainability management system is looking more likely after the project committee’s decision, taken at last month’s Paris meeting, to advance to the next step in the ISO process.
The meeting included experts from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, Norway, Spain, Sweden, UK, and USA and leading organisations Meeting Professionals International, The Green Meetings Industry Council and UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry.
“It was a great opportunity for Australia to sit at the table in an international arena and to be referred to as an expert on this important issue, and ensure the unique Australian event environment is considered in the standard,” said Margaret Crichton, General Manager, Exhibition & Event Association of Australasia.
There are over 30 countries involved as either participants or observers in the development of the various drafts and who can submit comments which are addressed during meetings.
ISO 20121 will be a voluntary standard and take a management systems approach requiring identification of key sustainability issues like venue selection, operating procedures, supply chain management, procurement, communications, transport, and others.
British Standard (BS 8901) was used as the basis for ISO 20121 and other national standards have been referred to during the development of the International Standard.
Australia recently stepped up its involvement from observer to a participating role and will create a mirror committee of experts who will review and contribute to the work done during the project committee meetings.
Meegan Jones from SEA (Sustainable Events Alliance) represented Australia in Paris.
“The international experts have made significant contribution to the development of ISO 20121 and the general consensus is that ISO 20121 will be a strong, useful and useable international standard,” said Fiona Pelham, Chair of ISO/PC 250.
The standard is expected to be finalised in 2012 to coincide with the London Olympics.
