When We Meet, We Change the World

Ten years ago, I knew sustainability made business sense and thought it would be obvious to everyone else who delivered or hosted events as well. Who wouldn't want to save money by reducing waste while giving back to the community?
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By: Fiona Pelham

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Change often begins with what seem like a few small, insignificant actions. The start of Positive Impact was no different. Ten years ago I was managing an event in Manchester. I was a young(er) and slightly naive event manager, freshly returned from a stint in Austin, Texas where environmentally friendly and socially inclusive initiatives for events were the norm. So I chose to be optimistic when the Manchester venue people smiled and nodded through my bin, tap water and recyclable cup questions ahead of the event.

Then the morning of the event saw me removing non recyclable cups, creating my own labels for bins and positioning staff members to help attendees use the bins correctly. Ten years ago, I knew sustainability made business sense and thought it would be obvious to everyone else who delivered or hosted events as well. Who wouldn't want to save money by reducing waste while giving back to the community?

What I instead encountered was not enough understanding of the value of sustainable events, enough access to best practice or enough good case studies to catapult sustainable events practice into the mainstream. So Positive Impact was born.

So what learnings can I share from the last 10 years?

Sustainability makes business sense, but not every business is prepared to think long-term. This is a risk issue.
Most budget holders don't understand the financial opportunities that sustainable events practice creates. If they did, every player in the event supply chain would be training their staff, sharing their sustainability learnings with their clients and providing impact reports after every event.

Future generations will expect sustainability.
Over the last 10 years I have spent the equivalent of several days being interviewed for student dissertations. Each student has been passionate about the potential of events to have a positive social, environmental and economic impact. These people are the future managers of the event industry, and they care about sustainability.

Events professionals have access to global standards and best practice on sustainability, yet still often do not use them.
The events industry is the only one to have its own ISO standard. The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) -- recognized global leaders in sustainability reporting -- have created a reporting framework for the event industry. There has been a proliferation of standards, which are confusing and a challenge to consistency. Using the same frameworks enables consistency approach which helps when transposing, say, international sporting events from one country to another. It also makes collaboration between sport, business and government leaders easier.

Our environment will make the tough choices for us if we don't.
The Brundtland definition of sustainability is often used in events -- the idea that the needs of the future must not be compromised to meet current needs. Taking that to its logical conclusion, every event that has new carpeting, gives away freebies or wastes food is takes resource from future generations. And imagine the cost savings if there was no new carpet, freebies or food waste? Sustainable events practice is win-win.

Technology will make measuring and telling the story about the positive impact of sustainability easier.
In the age of social media and online resources, access to information is staggering. There really is no excuse for not knowing about and implementing good sustainable events practice. Our campaign, Share a Positive Impact, for example, helps people to share good practice and learn from each other.

Sustainability is more than 'the new health and safety.'
There are a wealth of opportunities for innovation -- like, say, food packaging made from wax or sugar -- that could build credentials and consumer loyalty, built on personal values. Sustainability is not a checklist, like health and safety. It is a mindset that sees value beyond economic impact.

The belief that sustainability is the event industry's opportunity to show global, world changing leadership has driven me over the last 10 years and will continue to drive me. The event industry is full of passionate, collaborative, inspirational people. What we need is an openness to establishing new ways of doing things a willingness and hunger to lead by example and action.

Pioneers for Change is a seed-bed for innovative thought. An activator of personal potential. A catalyst for collective energy. A community to drive social change.

Our annual, international Fellowship is open to anyone aged 28 -- 108 years old. We gather changemakers -- a business person, a community person, an investor, a thinker or doer -- who are willing to harness their talents, energy and resources as a force for good. 2016 dates available soon. Pioneers for Change is an initiative of Adessy Associates.

About Fiona Pelham:
Fiona launched not for profit Positive Impact in 2005 to provide education for a sustainable event industry. Fiona is also managing director of Sustainable Events Ltd and voluntary chair of ISO 20121 a management system for event sustainability inspired by London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Fiona has recently received an honorary doctorate from The Leeds Metropolitan University for services to the event industry in sustainability. In July 2015 she will become international chair for Meeting Professionals International, a global association of over 20,000 members.

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