The International Federation for Exhibition and Events Services (IFES) has been championing the adoption of more sustainable practices to its members for years, through its internal Sustainability Committee and various initiatives. The latest of these initiatives is a training partnership with two leading consultants – Arnold Clemens of 2bdifferent and Beatrice Eastham of Green Evénements.
2bdifferent has experience working with organizations from the events, sports, trade fair and congress industry, while Green Evénements has assisted many companies on their way to ISO 20121, including stand designers and manufacturers. Its therefore a powerful pairing to fast-track IFES members to achieve ISO 20121 certification and create an enduring culture of sustainability, both within the next nine months.
Jörg Zeissig, Co-Chair IFES Sustainability Committee & Co-Chair of the Net-Zero-Carbon Events Initiative says, “Sustainability is one of the drivers of the next generation – our future clients. The industry needs to understand this as an obligation and to drive a change of perspective, also by heart. Sustainability will be THE license to operate our future business in the event industry, no matter where we stand in the value chain. Sustainable solutions are no add-ons to our usual course of actions, it will become standard. We need to step forward.”
EU legislation driving corporate sustainability
In April this year, the European Union adopted a Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive which requires all large companies to publish a sustainability report from 2023 onwards. Other listed companies will similarly be required to do this from 2026. These strategies are intended to force the rapid implementation of sustainable principles in order to support the Parisian agreement and its bold climate change mitigation goals. It is in this context that the IFES fast-track programme offers immense value to IFES members.
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