Melville GES has been awarded certification to the international sustainability standard ISO20121
Melville GES has achieved certification to ISO20121, the international sustainability standard for the events industry, through the route of independent certification.
Managed by the company's Sustainability Team, the process of achieving certification to the sustainability standard has covered much more than just the environmental aspects of the business, also reaching across into economic and social factors.
Melville GES' COO Andy Gibb said, “We attended the Global Event Summit last week and there is no doubt that sustainability is becoming a more and more important factor for all the leading organisers. As well as being the right thing to do, achieving this certification clearly demonstrates that we are committed to sustainable business practices.”
The British Standards Institute defines sustainability as 'an enduring, balanced approach to economic activity, environmental responsibility and social progress’ and a journey rather than a destination in itself. Melville GES began its journey in October 2010 with a gap analysis to identify a list of objectives.
At this point, work commenced with various stakeholders that reached from customers to Melville GES personnel, suppliers to show visitors, and agencies to regulatory bodies. Issue and stakeholder workshops were held, supplier guidelines and contract reviews undertaken, and a proprietary tool and measurement system were put in place to gather and report both quantitative and qualitative information.
The company achieved the British Standard for event sustainability, BS8901, through independent accreditation in October 2011, hitting its own deadline and paving the way for certification to ISO20121, which will supersede BS8901 in December 2012.
Melville GES' CEO Nick Marshall concluded, “The awarding of this accreditation is the result of a company-wide commitment. It has been achieved by everyone participating and delivering their part of the process. I am very proud of everyone within Melville GES for making this a reality. We are one of the largest companies in the industry with a complex business using materials, transport, people and various other resources to help our customers deliver their shows. This award clearly shows that we can lead the way in creating a sustainable events industry.”