Business Events Industry Aotearoa Limited has received Toitū net carbonzero accreditation for MEETINGS 2023, New Zealand’s largest trade fair for the business events sector.
Lisa Hopkins, CEO of BEIA, adds that everyone at MEETINGS should be proud of this accomplishment.”Not only through their sustainable practices, but also in supporting the local community, our 220 exhibitors, 500 buyers, our venue, Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre, our partners and suppliers, and host city Wellington all played vital roles.”
For this premier event, BEIA, the official association for the sector, is dedicated to the long-term measurement, management, and reduction of greenhouse emissions.It is our responsibility to set the standard for sustainable practices and make them the foundation of everything we do.
Hopkins states, “We now have the foundation to work toward ongoing carbon emission reduction for MEETINGS and future improvements year over year with the certification of the Itū event.” In cooperation with Toitū, BEIA created a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions during the three days of June 2023 MEETINGS 2023 in Wellington. It included using Air New Zealand’s FlyNeutral program to offset the air travel emissions of all hosted buyers and event staff, encouraging exhibitors and day buyers to do the same, encouraging attendees to bring reusable bags and water bottles, reducing the amount of printed material and digital assets used by exhibitors and media partners, encouraging attendees to walk to the venue, and replacing gifts from hosted buyers with donations to local charities, such as Kaibosh Food Rescue, Gillies McIndoe Research, and Wellington Zoo.
The approach was bolstered by exhibitors who employed eco-friendly packaging, minimized waste from single-use items, designed reusable generic and digital signage choices, distributed eco-friendly and biodegradable presents, and made arrangements for donated or replanted plants used on booths.
According to Tobias Tripp, Marketing Communications Manager at Toitū Envirocare, obtaining this event certification is a sign of accountability and duty. “It enables BEIA to take decisive, confident action to minimize carbon emissions in addition to understanding the environmental impact of MEETINGS through rigorous measurement techniques and objective third-party certification. “Toitū sets MEETINGS apart as a model of sustainability and guarantees that environmental claims are made with assurance and integrity,” the speaker states.
The Joint Accreditation System for Australia and New Zealand, or JAS-ANZ, has internationally recognized and accredited the Toitū carbon program under the ISO 14064 standard (organization) and ISO 14067 standard (product).
Conference planners have the option to collaborate with Toitū Envirocare through their event certification program, which permits commercial gatherings to lower their carbon footprint and show their dedication to the future.
Applications for Hosted Buyers for the 28th MEETINGS in Rotorua on June 19 and 20, 2024, open in January.
Source- Travel daily