GRI EOSS Release

Today’s new Event Organizers Sector Supplement (EOSS) will enable event organizers to report their sustainability performance in a comparable way. The sustainability reporting guidance, tailored for the events sector, aims to make reporting more relevant for event organizers by defining how to provide qualitative and quantitative information on sustainability issues. In addition to more widely applicable issues such as greenhouse gas emissions and waste, the guidance helps event organizers report on more specific issues including attendee travel, legacy of the event, and initiatives taken at the event to promote sustainability and transparency.

Maaike Fleur, Senior Manager Reporting Framework at the Global Reporting Initiative, said: "Over the last ten years there has been a growing interest in the ‘greening’ of events, with more and more organizations considering the sustainability performance of their activities. Public sustainability reporting is still quite a new concept for event organizers, but we anticipate that this new guidance will help them be more transparent about the impacts of their activities. 

"Reporting is also about sharing best practices and can enhance learning for event organizers not yet so familiar with sustainability strategy and reporting. Attendees are interested to know the sustainability strategies behind events. Events are a significant business investment so it is vital that we start measuring and reporting sustainability impacts if we are to move to a sustainable global economy,” added Fleur.  

The Event Organizers Sector Supplement provides reporting guidance that is suitable for all types and sizes of events. The guidance covers the complete project life cycle of an event, from bid to planning, execution and, finally, post-event – including the issue of event legacy. The Supplement can be used to report before or after an event has taken place.  

According to Sebastien Tondeur, CEO of MCI and Chairman of Meeting Professionals International (MPI), "transparent reporting is fundamental to organization success and growth. GRI provides the most widely used guidelines for sustainability reporting. With the GRI Framework, including the sector-specific guidance, it will be easier for the events industry to provide transparent information on the sustainability strategies and performance of their organizations and events. The Sector Supplement is already helping both MCI and MPI to improve their sustainability initiatives.”

  "Sustainability is an integral consideration in planning and delivering the London 2012 Games,” said Phil Cumming, Corporate Sustainability Manager at London 2012. "Our vision is to use the power of the Games to inspire lasting change. We want to set new standards and create a powerful knowledge legacy for more sustainable event management.  GRI’s Event Organizers Sector Supplement will play a key role in achieving these aims.” 

Paul Salinger, VP Marketing Oracle, President of the Green Meeting Industry Council comments "The release of the event organizers sector supplement through the Global Reporting Initiative, which is the global standard for corporate sustainability reporting, gives an enormous boost to the credibility, materiality and relevance of sustainability reporting for meetings and events.  Sir Isaac Newton's famous words hold true for the future of the GMIC and its mandate of inspiring sustainability: ‘If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.’ 

The GRI event organizer's sector supplement provides those shoulders for us, and for all with the vision of sustainability in meetings and events.”   Meegan Jones, Working Group member, President of Sustainable Event Alliance and previously Greening Consultant for the global concert Live Earth, said: "It has been a privilege to be a part of the Working Group for the Event Organizers Sector Supplement. The events industry has been in need of such guidance for a long time now and this can only mean a step in the right direction – towards a more transparent and sustainable industry.”  

The Supplement was developed according to a multi-stakeholder process. Volunteers from events companies, governments, labor and civil society organizations were brought together in a Working Group to develop the guidance. The public then responded to two Public Comment Periods, before the Working Group took the consultation feedback into account and finalized the Supplement.

-Ends-  

 For more information, contact:  

Lucy Goodchild Press & Communications Manager

Global Reporting Initiative Tel: +31 (0)20 531 0067

Out of office hours: +31 (0)6 303 99 531

Email: mailto:goodchild@globalreporting.org  

Notes to Editors  

1.       The Event Organizers Sector Supplement will be launched at London 2012 on Tuesday 24 January 2012. A launch webinar will take place at 4pm CET on 25 January 2012 – for details and to register visit: http://bit.ly/EOSSLaunch

2.       For a copy of the new Sector Supplement, email Bonora@globalreporting.org  

3.       About the Global Reporting Initiative The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) produces a comprehensive Sustainability Reporting Framework that is widely used around the world, to enable greater organizational transparency. The Framework, including the Reporting Guidelines, sets out the Principles and Indicators organizations can use to report their economic, environmental, and social performance. GRI is committed to continuously improving and increasing the use of the Guidelines, which are freely available to the public.

Website: www.globalreporting.org