The GCB’s internal sustainability programme is set to complement its comprehensive range of "green meeting" activities for the meetings and event industry.
Christine Koch has been appointed Sustainability Advisor for the German Convention Bureau (GCB). A long-standing employee of GCB, Koch has been actively involved with its sustainability initiatives for many years, including the seminar programme for sustainability advisors offered by GCB in partnership with the German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU). As well as proposing that these seminars be established, Christine also developed the content.
She helped develop and implement the Sustainability Code for the meetings sector across German-speaking countries, worked on the GCB’s Green Globe certification (obtained in 2012) and ensured that Germany’s stand at IMEX 2013 – which was awarded the "Green Exhibitor Award 2013" by IMEX and the Green Meeting Industry Council (GMIC) – was operated sustainably. In her new role, effective from 1 July, Koch’s primary responsibility will be to strengthen further the marketing organisation’s commitment to all aspects of sustainability – economic, ecological and social.
Wide-ranging action on sustainability
The recent study "Meeting & Event Barometer 2013" has highlighted the importance of sustainability in the meetings sector, with almost half of all meeting and event organisers saying that they prefer providers with certified sustainability-management systems.
German providers are ahead of the game with sustainability-management systems already in place in nearly 40% of event venues in Germany. Almost a third (27%) of organisers also felt that German providers’ commitment to sustainability has a positive impact on the quality of events.
With these figures in mind, the GCB is pushing ahead with its pioneering work in the field of sustainability. As well as driving a wide range of initiatives within the German meeting and events sector, the industry’s marketing organisation is also examining its own internal processes: from the use of intelligent, sustainable travel solutions, to separating waste and the procurement of stationery.
The establishment of the "fairpflichtet" Sustainability Code for the meetings industry in 2012 is one example of the GCB’s numerous activities for the sustainability agenda. The code has already won support from more than 345 businesses, while sustainability advisors from across the meetings industry have received training through seminars arranged by the GCB, in partnership with the DBU.
Christine Koch
