DENVER—The Colorado Convention Center (CCC) has become the first event and conference venue in the world to be certified to a new international sustainability standard introduced earlier this year to promote responsible environmental and social practices in the event industry. CCC achieved Level One certification with the ASTM Standard pertaining to the Evaluation and Selection of Venues for Environmentally Sustainable Meetings, Events, Trade Shows, and Conferences (E2774-11).
E2774-11 is one of nine formal, voluntary standards developed by the meetings, conventions, exhibitions and events industry to provide event planners and suppliers with specifications for producing events in a more sustainable manner. The standards were created in partnership with ASTM International, an ANSI-accredited standards development organization.
The E2774-11 Venue Standard delineates the procedural requirements for venue selection—the practice of researching, evaluating and choosing the facility for an environmentally sustainable event. The standard specifies specific performance criteria for staff management, communications, waste management, energy, air quality, water, procurement, and community partners.
Evidence of Sustainability Commitment
The CCC is an SMG managed facility. John Adams, regional vice president for SMG and general manager of the Convention Center said, “We are proud to take a leadership position in advancing a positive environmental and social agenda for the event industry. Being the first venue to be certified to the new standard is clear evidence of our commitment.”
“The Level One Certification mirrors Denver’s reputation for environmental awareness,” said Kent Rice, executive director of Arts & Venues Denver, the city agency that owns the Colorado Convention Center. “We’re proud that the staff of SMG at the Colorado Convention Center represents our city in providing real sustainability.”
Tamara Kennedy, executive director of the GMIC (Green Meeting and Industry Council), the nonprofit professional meetings association that spearheaded the development of the ASTM Sustainable Meeting Standards, added, “This is an important moment for the sustainability movement in the event industry. CCC’s adoption and certification of compliance with the venue standard is a critical first step that will drive uptake of the standard and inspire others in the industry to follow Denver’s lead.”
iCompli, a division of BPA Worldwide, a nonprofit international auditing organization headquartered in Shelton, Conn., developed the certification protocols for the new standards and performed the independent third party certification of CCC’s compliance with the venue standard. Glenn Hansen, CEO of BPA Worldwide, commented, “Our certification of the event sustainability standards driven by GMIC and now adopted by CCC continues our long-standing partnership with the event industry to promote transparency and support the industry’s move toward a more sustainable future.”
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