WASHINGTON, D.C. / BRUSSELS — (26 March 2026) — The Events Industry Council (EIC), in collaboration with the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC), has launched a targeted refinement of the EIC Sustainable Event Standards (SES), an initiative designed to strengthen the clarity, relevance and usability of the industry’s leading sustainability framework for business events. As the presenting strategic sponsor, Javits Center will be offering their leadership and sharing industry leading practices that are core to their mission of creating a more sustainable future for their customers, employees, community and the industry at large.
Originally developed through global industry collaboration, the EIC Sustainable Event Standards provide practical guidance for event organisers and suppliers to implement and measure sustainable practices across the events ecosystem. The targeted refinement will ensure the Standards remain aligned with evolving industry practices, emerging frameworks and real-world implementation.
The refinement will focus on improving clarity and usability across the Standards for event organisers and supplier sectors, including updates that reflect current industry expectations and best practices.
Specifically, the scope of the update includes:
- Refinement of language to improve clarity and guidance
- Updates reflecting evolving trends, frameworks and industry expectations
- Minor additions or deletions aligned with current best practices
The initiative represents a focused update designed to keep the Sustainable Event Standards current and actionable for organisations around the world working to advance sustainability in the business events industry.
“EIC’s Sustainable Event Standards have played an integral role in empowering organisations across our industry to implement transformative sustainability practices,” said Amy Calvert, EIC President and CEO. “This targeted refinement ensures the Standards remain practical, relevant and aligned with the evolving expectations placed on organisations as they strive to deliver more sustainable events.”
EIC member organisations that have received certification include: Accor, FELABAN, FICP, IACC, IAEE, IMEX, Maritz, Marina Bay Sands, PCMA, Visit Baltimore, Visit Denver, and Visit Las Vegas.
Other recent certifications include: CVS Studios, Gilead Sciences, Singapore EXPO, The Freeman Company, and Water Environment Federation (WEFTEC).
The review process will be supported by cross-sector working groups comprised of industry professionals representing a range of sectors and experience levels. Participants will review assigned criteria and provide structured feedback through guided surveys and collaborative working documents. To ensure global participation, most contributions will be completed asynchronously with a limited number of virtual meetings.
The refinement is being conducted as part of the broader collaboration between EIC and JMIC to strengthen global industry efforts in sustainability, advocacy and research. By aligning initiatives such as the EIC Sustainable Event Standards and JMIC’s Net Zero Carbon Events initiative, the organisations hope to support a more coordinated and effective approach to environmental and social responsibility across the global events ecosystem.
“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 also represents an opportunity to bring stronger alignment between the EIC Sustainable Event Standards and the Net Zero Carbon Events initiative. Greater coherence between these frameworks will help simplify how organisations understand sustainability and provide clearer, more practical pathways for the industry to move toward net zero.”
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.
“Sustainability is at the heart of our operations at Javits Center because we understand how important it is for the events industry to lean into responsible solutions to real environmental challenges,” said Joyce Leveston, President and Chief Executive Officer of Javits Center. “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.”
EIC is inviting event professionals from across the industry—including organisers, venues, suppliers, destinations and sustainability practitioners to participate in the review process. Broad participation will help ensure the Standards remain rigorous, practical and aligned with real-world implementation.
The interest survey will remain open until 12 April 2026.
More information on participating in the review process can be found at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/EIC_SES_Volunteer
About the Events Industry Council (EIC)
The Events Industry Council’s worldwide federation includes 30+ Association Members and 30+ Corporate Members with global operations and event teams in countries around the world. EIC’s collective network touches an estimated half a million event professionals and more than 70,000 organisations across the global business events ecosystem.
EIC is the global champion for event professionals and event industry excellence. It promotes high standards and professionalism in the events industry with the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) programme and signature programme activities. The CMP credential is recognised globally as the badge of excellence in the events industry. The qualifications for certification are based on professional experience, education and a rigorous exam. Learn more at www.eventscouncil.org.
About the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC)
The Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC) represents the collective voice of the global business events industry through its international member associations. Bringing together organisations across the meetings, congress, exhibitions and events ecosystem, JMIC works to strengthen the industry’s global recognition and impact through advocacy, research and collaborative initiatives.
JMIC is also the coordinating body behind the Net Zero Carbon Events initiative, the industry’s largest collaborative effort to achieve net zero emissions across the global events sector by 2050. The initiative brings together organisations from across the events value chain to align on common goals, shared frameworks and practical solutions that support the industry’s transition to a more sustainable future.
About The Javits Center
The New York Convention Center Operating Corporation (NYCCOC) also known as the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center has played a critical role in New York’s recovery and resurgence since it opened in 1986. Located in the heart of Manhattan’s West Side, this iconic six-block-long facility is an economic driver for New York State and New York City by hosting blockbuster events of all shapes and sizes. New York is constantly evolving and so is Javits Center. It’s more than just a convention center; it has evolved into a wildlife habitat, a community partner, and a nationwide nexus where the latest ideas in business and pop culture converge under one large green roof. With a significant investment in infrastructure, Javits Center has quickly become a leader in sustainability, security and technology, setting a new standard for convention centers across the country. Learn more about Javits Center at www.javitscenter.com.