Events can have a significant impact on the environment including food and packaging waste, energy consumption and emissions from transportation. With thousands of events taking place each year in North America, it is time to make some changes.

The EcoLogo Program is revising its certification criteria document (CCD) for Events (previously Outdoor Community Events) and is calling for citizen and stakeholder comment.

“This public review and lifecycle analysis will encourage more events to purchase renewable electricity, to offset carbon emissions and to minimize waste,” says Scott McDougall, President of the EcoLogo Program. “Through proper disposal methods and the use of greener products and services, the environmental footprint left by events will be significantly reduced.”

The good news: greener sporting events, concerts, festivals, trade shows and conferences that reduce energy and materials consumption will soon be able to receive the recognition they deserve.

The draft version of the new proposed CCD is up for a four week stakeholder and public consultation period beginning Nov. 7, 2008, and ending Dec. 5, 2008.

To facilitate the standards review process, the EcoLogo team has established an online discussion forum for stakeholder comments to advance the discussion of issues. To participate, send a request to forums@ecologo.org and specify your first and last name, indicate your affiliation and your interest in participating in the events usergroup (CCD-095).

For more information about the proposed criteria development process, visit www.ecologo.org, click on “Criteria under Public Review,” and select CCD 095 for events.

Posted by KateRusnak in Environmental standards