LOS ANGELES — ASM Global, with more than 50 green-certified venues, appointed Lindsay Arell as its Chief Sustainability Officer. Arell created the ASM Global ACTS sustainability plan and is known for her work on the Events Industry Council’s Sustainability Committee and the ASTM Venue Sustainability Standards.
ASM Global recently took the step of replacing single-use plastics with reusable service ware in its North American venues. In honor of Earth Day, which took place April 22, Trade Show Executive talked with Arell to find out how important it is for venues across the industry to prioritize sustainable practices.
While she has seen a shift toward more mindful procurement and consumption, she said, “The reality is that events generate large quantities of single-use plastics, such as water bottles, food containers, straws and utensils. Therefore, our move toward the elimination of single-use front-of-house plastic at ASM Global is a critical component of our sustainability strategy. That said, it would be unrealistic to not acknowledge or recognize the challenge that we face to achieve this goal. This is why it is critical that we work together as an industry to reset the expectation of our attendees, vendors, internal staff and the systems themselves that have been in place for so long as ‘business as usual.’”
It’s going to take a lot of hard work and collaboration by show organizers, venues and organizations, she said. “I strongly believe that no single organization can achieve this on their own, and thereby strongly encourage other venues to follow in ASM Global’s footsteps in this commitment. By collectively committing to this change, we can make a significant positive impact at the individual venue level and the industry as a whole.”
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In her new role as Chief Sustainability Officer, her goal is no less than “to lead the live events industry toward a more sustainable future.
“We have set ambitious sustainability goals across our global venue portfolio, demonstrating ASM’s dedication to lead by example in the sustainability for our venue operations, clients, fans and the communities we serve. But this is just the beginning, and we are committed to integrating sustainability into every aspect of our client relationships and events to engage with and benefit from our sustainable practices firsthand.”
The live event industry is at a crucial point where it needs to commit to new ways of operating, and it has the ability to impact much broader change as well, Arell said. “By leveraging our widespread influence, holistic approach, and opportunities for innovation and stakeholder collaboration, the event industry is uniquely positioned to drive sustainability practices and contribute significantly to global sustainability efforts.”
Reach Lindsay Arell at larell@hcsustainability.com
