NATIONAL REPORT—Making sustainable events easy and the norm by providing best practices, resources, and support is the mission of MUSE—Members United for Sustainable Events. Specific to the U.S. events industry, MUSE will turn three years old this summer.
MUSE was founded by Michele Fox, a sustainable event consultant and event producer.
“I have always worked in the event industry and have always been an environmentalist,” Fox says. “In 2019 I worked on an event where sustainability was ingrained. I realized we could really do events that have sustainability as a focus.”
Encouraged by a member of the global Sustainable Event Alliance and after spending the first bit of the pandemic educating herself about sustainable event management, Fox launched the U.S.-focused organization.
Almost 150 Members
MUSE is a member organization with almost 150 members. Many parts of the event industry are represented—from event planners to caterers to venues. MUSE offers online classes, educational articles, and members have access to a sustainable supplier directory with almost 700 companies in it. “I even have a sustainable screen printer,” Fox says. “We all inspire each other.” Through MUSE, one can learn how to write a sustainability policy, how to use renewable energy to power events, and much more.
There are two membership levels—an individual membership at $80 per year, and a supporter membership at $200 per year. Members have access to a private LinkedIn group.
The greening of events is becoming more pervasive, Fox says. “If your client hasn’t asked for it, they are about to.”
When asked where the request for a sustainable event typically comes from, Fox said, “It is always great when it comes from a client. If it comes from the planner, that is great, too.”
“One of the first steps is just talking to your vendors—putting this language into an RFP,” Fox adds.
Local Meeting Opportunities
While MUSE members do not meet in person as an entire membership organization, Fox says she encourages members to try to get members and prospective members together in their own cities.
Fox says members typically are those who have already started practicing sustainability in their own homes.
For those events professionals interested in certification, Fox suggests opportunities available through the Events Industry Council (EIC)—the Sustainable Event Professional certificate, for example. There, one can also download the EIC Sustainable Event Standards.
The Waste Generated During Tradeshows
The need for an organization like MUSE is huge. According to MUSE, trade shows produce 600,000 tons of waste each year. Trade show participants produce around 5 pounds of waste per day. A two-day conference with 1,000 guests produces more CO2 emissions than 200 American homes per year. Sustainable event professionals can help transition the events industry from such wasteful practices.
Glenn Hasek can be reached at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
