Green Venue Certification Guide: How to Choose Environmentally Friendly Event Spaces

What is Green Venue Certification?

Green venue certification is a standardized system for evaluating the environmental performance of buildings and event spaces. LEED certification provides a framework for measuring buildings' environmental attributes, helping event planners select healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green buildings. BREEAM serves as the world's leading science-based validation and certification system for a more sustainable built environment.

Key Certification Standards

ISO 20121 Event Sustainability Management Systems

ISO 20121 is an international standard for sustainable event management, guiding organizations to seamlessly integrate sustainability into every facet of their event planning. This standard emphasizes reducing negative environmental impacts and requires establishing, maintaining, and continually improving event sustainability management systems.

Green Key Certification

Green Key is a certification program designed for hotels, conference centers, restaurants, and other venues. Green Key Meetings is a verification program specifically designed for hospitality venues and meeting spaces committed to responsible operations.

Key Criteria for Selecting Eco-Friendly Venues

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Choose venues with environmental certifications such as LEED, ISO 14001, or IACC Green Star. Prioritize energy-efficient venues powered by renewable energy where possible . Sustainable venues can utilize key practices such as recycling, water conservation, and collaboration with sustainable suppliers to minimize carbon emissions.

Waste Management Strategy

Implement a robust waste management strategy focusing on the three Rs: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Consider composting organic waste and donating leftover food to local charities.

Transportation Accessibility

Encourage attendees to use public transportation, carpool, or cycle to the event. Offer incentives or discounts for those using low-carbon transportation methods.

Venue Sustainability Assessment Checklist

Infrastructure Assessment

• Verify environmental certifications

• Evaluate energy efficiency and renewable energy usage

• Confirm waste sorting and recycling facilities

• Check water conservation measures

Operational Practices

• Assess suppliers' sustainability policies

• Check local sourcing of food and materials

• Confirm eco-friendly cleaning products

• Evaluate digitalization to reduce paper usage

Benefits of Certified Green Venues

Choosing certified green venues not only demonstrates commitment to eco-friendly practices but also:

• Reduces the overall environmental impact of events

• Enhances brand image and corporate social responsibility

• Meets increasingly stringent environmental regulations

• Attracts environmentally conscious participants and partners