SHELTON, CONN.—Due to the increasing importance of sustainability in the events industry and calls for more independent certification, global assurance provider BPA Worldwide announced new responsibilities for John Mikstay, who will now oversee BPA’s events supply chain certification services under the new title of Manager, Assurance Services.
Effective this month, Mikstay will devote his efforts to new business development for BPA’s growing event sustainability certification offerings to industry standards, including APEX/ASTM Environmentally Sustainable Meeting Standards and ISO 20121. He will focus on those organizations seeking industry sustainability certification, including venues, convention/visitor bureaus, destinations/cities and accommodations.
”Throughout the supply chain, customers and stakeholders are demanding a reduced environmental footprint causing venues, hospitality organizations and suppliers to get up to speed on sustainability initiatives,” Mikstay said. “While BPA’s certification process documents improved performance and serves as a competitive advantage for those that choose to be certified, the standards provide a consistent framework for a more sustainable industry overall.”
APEX/ASTM Standards Explained
The APEX/ASTM Environmentally Sustainable Meeting Standards are a set of nine formal, voluntary standards developed to provide event planners and suppliers with processes and measurables to produce events in a more sustainable manner. The nine standards cover the full footprint of event industry stakeholders: accommodations; audio-visual, communications/marketing material; destinations; exhibits; food and beverage; meeting venue; on-site office; and transportation.
BPA has already certified a number of major venues and several CVBs and suppliers to their respective APEX/ASTM Standards. For a full list, click here.
Mikstay anticipates interest in BPA’s events sustainability services will only continue to grow. “Based on work we have already undertaken and on the heels of GMIC’s ‘Just Ask For It’ campaign, we are seeing strong interest in sustainability throughout the event supply chain,” he said. “Third-party certification to the APEX/ASTM Standards from BPA is public recognition of an organization’s commitment and willingness to improve the sustainability of the events industry overall.”
Mikstay, who holds Certified Exhibition Manager (CEM) and Certified Sustainability Practitioner (CSR-P) credentials, will report to Karl Pfalzgraf, BPA’s Vice President, Sustainability. The two will work together on initiatives to create association-specific sustainability standards that build on the existing standard created by GMIC. Two such initiatives are already underway with interested associations.
Go to BPA Worldwide.
