The Events Industry Council (EIC), in collaboration with the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC), today announced the next phase of its targeted refinement of the Sustainable Event Standards (SES)—marking a significant step forward in strengthening alignment, usability and real-world application across the global business events sustainability landscape.
Supported by the Javits Center as presenting strategic sponsor, this phase activates a structured, industry-wide review process designed to ensure the Standards remain clear, practical and responsive to evolving expectations.
The initiative reflects strong global engagement, with more than 200 volunteer professionals from across regions and sectors expected to contribute their expertise to help shape the next iteration of the Standards.
Originally developed through global collaboration, the EIC Sustainable Event Standards provide a comprehensive framework for event organisers and suppliers to implement and measure sustainable practices across the events ecosystem. This targeted refinement builds on that foundation to ensure continued relevance in a rapidly evolving sustainability landscape.
From Framework to Action: The Next Phase
The refinement process is now underway through cross-sector working groups, bringing together industry practitioners to review and enhance specific areas of the Standards.
Participants will:
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Review assigned criteria across organiser and supplier categories
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Provide structured input through guided surveys and collaborative documents
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Contribute primarily through asynchronous engagement, supported by a limited number of virtual sessions to enable global participation
The scope of the refinement includes:
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Improving clarity and usability of language
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Updating content to reflect evolving industry practices and frameworks
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Making targeted adjustments aligned with current best practices
“This next phase is about translating a strong foundation into even greater clarity and usability for the industry,” said Amy Calvert, President and CEO of the Events Industry Council. “Our goal is to ensure the Sustainable Event Standards continue to serve as a practical, globally relevant framework—one that helps organisations move from intention to action with confidence.”
Strengthening Industry Alignment
A central objective of this work is to support greater alignment across the sustainability ecosystem, helping organisations navigate an increasingly complex landscape of frameworks, standards and reporting requirements.
This effort is closely connected to broader industry initiatives, including:
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The Net Zero Carbon Events initiative, coordinated by JMIC
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The Sustainable Event Goals (SEGs)—supporting guidance developed by a cross-sector working group convened by Destination Canada and supported by organisations including PCMA, Convene 4 Climate, Kenes and the Events Industry Council, among others. The SEGs are designed to translate the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals into practical, actionable guidance across the full event lifecycle.
“Industry collaboration is essential if we are to accelerate progress toward more sustainable events,” said Alexander Alles, Executive Director of the Joint Meetings Industry Council. “This refinement represents an important opportunity to strengthen alignment between the Sustainable Event Standards, the Net Zero Carbon Events initiative and broader global initiatives. Greater collaboration will help simplify how organisations approach sustainability and provide clearer, more practical pathways for the industry to move forward.”
Members of EIC and JMIC, as well as other stakeholders, met during IMEX Frankfurt to explore how they can better align—reducing duplication, improving interoperability and making implementation more accessible across the industry.
Javits Center is supporting this effort as the presenting strategic sponsor of the targeted refinement of the Sustainable Event Standards, underscoring a shared commitment to advancing industry-wide sustainability and strengthening the frameworks that enable effective advocacy, informed decision-making and long-term resilience across the global business events ecosystem.
“Real change starts with people,” said Joyce Leveston, Javits Center President and Chief Executive Officer. “Sustainability is at the heart of our operations at Javits Center and, like everything we do, it is led by our people. As a leader in sustainability, we are providing an example of what can be accomplished at scale when we work together to create a more sustainable future for all.”
Leadership and Governance
To guide this work, EIC has convened committees representing key areas of the Standards, each led by industry Co-Chairs who will help ensure a structured, inclusive and globally representative process. Confirmed Committee Co-Chairs, include:
Organisational Management
- Alexander Alles, Sr. Director Advocacy and Sustainability, ICCA
- Lindsay Arell, CEO, Honeycomb Strategies
- Guy Bigwood, CEO, GDS-Movement
Climate Action
- Dawn Cabigon, CEO, Fairs and More Inc
- Yashi Dadhich, Director of Energy & Sustainability, Javits Center
- Mélanie Delaplanche, Sustainability Addict
- Nathan Gauld, General Manager, Victoria Conference Centre
- Sudhir Shaven, Rogers Worldwide India
- Eloisa Urrutia, Global Head of M&E Sustainability, American Express GBT
Supply Chain
- Gwendal Castellan, Mgr, Sustainable Destination Development, Destination Vancouver
- Sydney Rhea, Sustainability Project Delivery Manager, Informa
Materials/Circularity/Waste
- Alisson Batres, CEO, Organizacion, S.A.
- Michael Gulich, VP Sustainability, MGM Resorts International
- Karen Young, Senior Manager of Sustainability, Freeman
DEI/Accessibility/Wellness
- Beth Campion, Director of Sales, Corporate Strategic Accounts, Hilton
- Gonzalo Parro, Founder & CEO, Parro Experience
- Jennifer Storey, Founder, EPG Meetings and Incentives
To support this initiative, EIC is partnering with Astrapto, a sustainability focused consultancy that will help lead and facilitate the refinement process. Their expertise in sustainability strategy and industry engagement will ensure a structured, collaborative and globally inclusive approach as we work together to strengthen the Standards.
A Collective Effort to Simplify Complexity
The refinement of the Sustainable Event Standards comes at a pivotal moment. As sustainability expectations accelerate—driven by climate risk, ESG requirements and stakeholder demand—organisations are increasingly seeking clarity, consistency and actionable guidance.
At the same time, initiatives such as the SEGs signal a broader industry shift: moving from fragmented ambition to coordinated, practical execution at scale.
What Happens Next
The working group review process is now underway, with input being gathered from across the global business events community. Insights from this phase will inform the next iteration of the Standards, with updates designed to enhance usability, strengthen alignment and support measurable implementation.
