Sustainability has always been about the environment and the people. What does it mean to manage events through a sustainable process? How can you reduce your carbon footprint for your next event?

1. The Gold
Standard
for Sustainable
Events Presentation by Ken Hickson
to the GEVME Xchange
12 January 2016

2. Sustainability has always been
about the environment and the
people.
What does it mean to manage
events through a sustainable
process?
How can you reduce your carbon
footprint for your next event?
Best practices in making events
sustainable globally.
Case study of a sustainable project
for an event in Singapore.
The Gold Standard for Sustainable Events

3. “Staging an event
is inherently
un-sustainable”
Phil Cumming and Fiona Pelham
Authors of “Making Events More
Sustainable: A Guide to BS 8901” An event is also often a
great platform to
communicate
sustainability to a new
audience and change
behaviour.

4. Sustainability Report and Roundtable Discussion
Industry Leadership Initiatives by CEI Asia
Stakeholders as partners: working together as an industry to shape the future of
sustainable corporate travel and events
Latest issue – Sustainability needs to be Smarter

5. Sustainability needs to be Smarter
“If sustainability is built in to your
company values…if you are
planning an event, you have to
consider sustainability.“
Fiona Pelham, Sustainable Events
& Positive Impact
“We’re not seeing the
bread and butter of the
events industry
embracing the most basic
of sustainability
principles”.
Meegan Jones, Green Shoot
Pacific
“Getting sustainable events off the
ground in Asia is still a work in
progress; progress is painfully
slow.” Ken Hickson

6. The introduction of the Gold Standard for Events
London Olympics setting the new gold standard for
sustainable events

7. London Olympics setting the new gold standard for
sustainable events
ISO 20121 is an event sustainability management system –-
providing guidance and guidelines to ensure that events, ranging
from local celebrations to "mega events" such as the Olympic
Games, leave behind a positive legacy.
1. Access
2. Local area
3. Energy & Water
4. Transport
5. Reduce and Re-use
6. Responsible Sourcing
7. Food & Beverage
8. Keepsakes
9. Make it easy to Recycle
10. Health, Safety & Security

8. The London Olympic Games
Organising Committee adopted
“Sustainability” as the by-word,
going beyond “green” to cover
everything associated with the
games.
In addition to establishing and
achieving the ISO 20121 standard
for the management of the
Games, others associated with the
event also went through the
process:
Coca Cola did for its sponsorship
management of the Torch Relay,
Venue Operations, Hospitality and
Merchandising.
,

9. Where the action is on Sustainable events in Asia Pacific
Taiwan
Events and facilities ISO 20121
certified in 2013, 2014 and
2015 led by private sector
with Government grants
Australia
Many events and facilities,
including Sydney Festival,
have been ISO 20121
certified

10. Where the action is on Sustainable events in Asia Pacific
Singapore
Encouragement from STB and
SACEOS, but to date only
Marina Bay Sands, as a
facility, has been ISO certified
Thailand
The Convention and Exhibition Bureau
was the first in Asia to adopt sustainable
best practice using the ISO 20121 Event
Sustainability Management System.
MICE operators & venues have followed
suit, receiving certification, signalling a
trend for the future.

11. Case Study:
Sustainability for
Events
What was done to make
i Light Marina Bay Asia’s first
and only sustainable light art
festival:
We started with the principles
of a globally acceptable
standard – BS8901 – which
evolved into ISO 20121
2012 and 2014 events
and now for 2016

12. Four Guiding Principles for
Sustainable Action Plan for
i Light Marina Bay:
• Accessible and Inclusive
• Minimise any Negative Impact
on the Environment
• Leave a Positive Legacy
• Encourage Sustainable
Behaviour

13. Objectives:
• Build up and reinforce the Festival’s
position as the leading sustainable light
art festival in Asia;
• Promote Marina Bay as a forward-
thinking, culturally-vibrant, sustainable
urban district to local and international
audiences;
• Increase visitorship and spending from
locals and tourists in the precinct during
the Festival period;
• Raise and promote awareness of new
sustainable lighting technologies to
professionals, building owners, tenants
and the public.

14. Highlights: Art Installations 2012
• Metering of each of the 31 installations was
undertaken: 6568 kWh of energy used – or
3.40 tonnes of CO2 equivalent – for the three
weeks of the festival (24 nights).
• Air travel for each artist/group was
accounted for and freight involved in shipping
materials to Singapore.
• The total energy use contributed to the
carbon footprint of the festival - including
the ancillary events and activities - 80 tonnes
of CO2 e.
• This was more than offset by the associated
energy saving campaign.

15. Art Installations in 2014
The total energy used by the 28 light art
installations over the three weeks was a mere
5602 kWh - or 2.90 tonnes CO2 equivalent - as
all artists incorporated energy savings measures
in the design, construction and operation of their
works. The carbon footprint associated with the
installations by way of freight and flights for the
artists added another 76.49 tonnes CO2e.

16. • In 2012, 47 properties joined in & saved 210,424 kWh of energy or
109 tonnes of CO2e over three weeks. Energy usage of 800 4-room
HDB flats over 3 weeks.
• 77% of properties committed to continue with the energy saving
measures. 52% will introduce additional energy saving measures.
• In 2014, the total energy savings achieved by the three week long
“Switch Off Turn Up” (SOTU) campaign - from 52 buildings - was
268,890 kWh, which equates to 139.55 tonnes of CO2e.
“Switch off, Turn Up” Campaign
Switch off, Turn Up” Campaign

18. Sustainability Initiatives
• Workshops & Competitions
• Education & communication
• Sponsorship
• Symposium & Artists Talks
• Introducing eco products & displays
• Making Paper Work
• Recycling and reducing waste
“Art & Sustainability” by Sacha Kagan

19. i Light Marina Bay 2012 and 2014 were
recognised as Asia’s first and only
sustainable light art festivals & setting a
new benchmark for Sustainable Events in
Singapore by:
o making a positive contribution to the environment
and the community, through energy saving measures and
effective use of all resources;
o using the festival as a means to educate and
inform all stakeholders and the general public;
o demonstrating that it is possible to manage a
major event designed for enjoyment and entertainment in
a sustainable fashion.

20. Making MICE events in Singapore
More Sustainable
• International standards – ISO 20121 – &
Singapore should be setting the pace.
• Apply to all MICE – large, small, venues, events
• STB & SACEOS want to see it happening
• Guidelines to call on and examples to follow.
Use the SEMS tool
• Look at what SEC is doing with Green Label
and Eco Office
• Singapore Exchange has introduced
sustainability guidelines for listed companies
• Singapore committed to make 80% of all
buildings Green Mark rated by 2030
• Some hotels & venues committed to
Earthcheck, Green Globe & GreenBizCheck
• Take practical steps to make sure all events are
sustainably managed

21. Services provided by:
Email: Kenhickson@sustain-ability-showcase.com
i light Marina Bay 2016
4 to 27 March.
Earth Hour 19 March