ISO 20121 — international standard for sustainable event management (most relevant for planners). EU Ecolabel — EU-recognised, strong on energy and waste. Green Key — hospitality-specific, widely recognised in Europe. LEED / BREEAM — building-level certification (good signal, not event-specific). Avoid self-declared badges with no third-party auditing.
What percentage of electricity comes from renewable sources? What is your policy on single-use plastics during events? How do you handle food waste from events (composting, food bank donation)? Do you offer a plant-based DDR menu option? Can you provide a post-event carbon footprint report? Is your conference waste separated and recycled?
Ditch printed programmes — use QR codes or event apps. Request digital delegate badges (reusable or recycled). Ask for F&B with seasonal local produce (hotels often do this anyway and it reduces cost). Choose venues within walking distance of public transport hubs to reduce transfer emissions. Offset residual emissions via a certified scheme (Gold Standard, Verra).
Add sustainability as a weighted criterion (10–15% of total score) in your RFP evaluation. Ask hotels to self-score against your criteria and provide evidence. Hotels with genuine programmes will welcome the question; greenwashers will struggle to answer with specifics.
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