Dallas — Freeman has earned a Level 2 APEX/ASTM Environmentally Sustainable Meetings Standards Certification from the Events Industry Council (EIC). The certification pertains specifically to the work of suppliers (venues and general service contractors) in the evaluation and selection of exhibits for sustainable events, and recognizes organizations that meet and exceed industry standards in this area.
“The reason the EIC’s sustainability standards for events is important is that it gives the industry a uniform starting point,” Freeman Senior Vice President of Sustainability Melinda Kendall told Trade Show Executive. “EIC volunteers have done a terrific job determining the key factors an event can do to be more sustainable, which provides a checklist of actions every event organizer can take. The point of our certifying to the standards is to be clear that we are looking forward to working with any event ready to start this journey.”
Developed in 2012 under the auspices of EIC, the APEX/ASTM program is a set of nine voluntary standards developed by leading practitioners in the meetings, conventions, exhibitions and events industry in partnership with ASTM International, an ANSI-accredited standards development organization.
“The Events Industry Council congratulates Freeman on this major achievement,” said EIC’s CEO Amy Calvert. “The cumulative impact of embedding sustainable practices in their 21 exhibition offices across North America is exactly the type of bold, meaningful action needed today in our industry. We also celebrate Freeman’s well-established commitment to sustainable practices through materials innovation, waste management and community partnerships.”
Freeman reports that it is the only general services contractor in North America to have sustainability certifications from both APEX/ASTM and the ISO 2012 Sustainable Event Management System. “Freeman is deeply committed to sustainability for the organization, our clients’ events and the industry,” Kendall said. “Sustainability is all about finding creative ways to reduce waste, and the Events Industry Council’s certification gives our customers confirmation that we have proven our ability to provide our customers sustainable event execution beyond what they may have considered or even thought possible.”
Following a two-year public review and consultation, EIC is expected later this year to release a redesigned version of the APEX/ASTM Standards, renamed the Events Industry Council Sustainable Event Standards. Click here for more information.
Reach Freeman’s Melinda Kendall at (571) 814-2832 or melinda.kendall@freemanco.com; reach EIC’s Amy Calvert at (202) 367-1190 or acalvert@eventscouncil.org.
