Global Experience Specialists (GES) has once again been certified as ISO 20121 compliant, having been judged to fully satisfy the requirements for the event sustainability management systems standard, after a searching audit of GES’ processes and procedures, management configuration and sustainability practices was completed in July 2013.
The audit comprised observation of GES in action over two days of servicing events, interviews with personnel, and review of documentation and records related to GES’ sustainability management system. The British Standards Institute defines sustainability as “an enduring, balanced approach to economic activity, environmental responsibility and social progress” and not a destination in itself, but a journey. GES’ sustainability team, charged with delivering ISO certification, began the journey in 2010 and have maintained steady progress, resulting in this year’s reaffirmation of its international sustainability credentials.
ISO 20121 is a complex and challenging international standard accreditation that takes a management systems approach to running more sustainable events. It provides a framework to help remove or reduce negative environmental, economical and social impacts from events, through improved planning and processes.
GES’ compliance with ISO 20121 has led to improvements in key sustainability issues such as transport, recycling and reusing waste, creating a sustainable strategy and creating skills, employment and business legacies.
GES’ UK group operations director Gary Styles expressed his satisfaction with the results of the audit, “The sustainability team, and indeed all our personnel, have worked extremely hard to retain GES’ ISO certification in the UK and we are looking to extend our sustainability profile over the next three years as we support GES operations in Europe and the Middle East in their own pursuit of ISO 20121.”
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