On February 1, 2023, the "Green Business Events" project, which aims to reduce the environmental and social footprint of any type of event in the Business Events sector, such as congresses, conferences, exhibitions or fairs, was officially presented.
This project, the counterpart of the "Green Events" project of the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development, allows the development of eco-responsible and inclusive event solutions. Business Events organizers who respect precise criteria of eco-responsibility and inclusiveness will be able to certify their events with the official logo "Green Business Events" and thus further enhance their responsible approach.
The criteria of eco-responsibility and inclusiveness to be respected were developed in collaboration with the professionals of the sector during workshops dedicated to sustainable events and were then tested during the following pilot events to ensure that they are in line with the realities, the needs and the ambitions of the sector: "Tourism Awards 2021", "Arch Summit 2022", "MOMENTUM 2022: Know, Form, Act" and "Long Live The Summer 2022 The criteria are based on seven themes: communication, exhibition stands & furniture, mobility, sustainable catering, waste, water & energy and accessibility & inclusiveness.
To obtain the official "Green Business Events" logo, the organizer must contact the Oekozenter Pafendall, project coordinator. During the first meeting, the advisors of the Oekozenter Pafendall will offer individualised guidance to the organizers to support them in their process of obtaining the logo. The support and individualized advice for event organizers in the context of the logo awarding are free of charge and paid for by the Directorate General of Tourism. The organiser, whose candidate event has validated the mandatory criteria and 50% of the optional standards applicable to the event will sign a commitment charter and be awarded the logo in digital form for the event in question. The organiser can use the logo on any communication support before and during the event.
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Lex Delles, Minister of Tourism, pointed out in this context that "sustainability is playing an increasingly important role for business events. Organizers and visitors alike are looking for environmentally responsible events and are placing greater emphasis on the principle of social responsibility. We are responding to this demand with the "Green Business Events" project. The Directorate General of Tourism will continue to commit to sustainability beyond the Green Business Events project. Thus, sustainability will be an integral part of our new "Business Events-Strategy", which will be officially presented in March 2023."
Isabelle Schummers, the environmental consultant at Oekozenter Pafendall, said, "With the official launch of 'Green Business Events', any organizer can now be supported in their journey towards more sustainable and inclusive events. We offer individualised and tailor-made support regardless of the size and type of event".
More info: https://greenbusinessevents.lu/