A Sustainability Push

The Events Industry Council is offering a Sustainable Event Professional Certificate course in Europe for the first time.

By Boardroom editors

A two-day training course for the Events Industry Council Sustainable Event Professional Certificate (SEPC) will take place in Monaco this spring — a first for Europe.

“The Events Industry Council (SEPC) course is the first offering in Europe after being hosted in Asia and North America,” said Claudia van’t Hullenaar, the founder of Sustained Impact and a member of the EIC Sustainability Committee.

Taking place 28–30 March at the Fairmont Monte-Carlo, the program — one of the main event sustainability certificates for the meetings and events industry — will teach attendees about the methods and standards necessary to plan sustainable events.

Sustainability efforts include reducing water and energy usage; improving accessibility, from transportation to venues; and ensuring suppliers from food and beverage to accommodations follow sustainability strategies. Planners can also learn how to develop “green” community service projects that meet clients’ CSR objectives.

The event location offers an example of how to implement sustainable solutions into all aspects of the planning process. The Fairmont Monte-Carlo’s green initiatives include the “Eco-Meet” program, which focuses on reducing resource consumption at conferences and ensures meeting rooms are equipped with recycled pens and notepads as well as plasma screens (reducing the need for disposable signage).

“The certificate course will help enhance understanding and knowledge in event sustainability, which is needed to implement new and innovative sustainable initiatives for more responsible face-to-face programs,” van’t Hullenaar said. “As sustainability is more and more a strategic priority in the corporate and leadership organizations’ world, it is essential that business events incorporate sustainable strategies.”