Tools Of The Trade

Following are some great sustainable meetings measurement tools, courtesy of Sue Tinnish, a Kendall College assistant professor and principal of SEAL Inc.

1. Visit Denver’s Eco Friendly Event C02 Calculator Tool, which calculates CO2 Equivalent emissions that result from an event in Denver (www.denver.org/denver-meetings-conventions/green-meetings/co2-calculator). The tool covers all sustainable aspects of the event: the energy used at the venue; travel of attendees, organizers and suppliers; the disposal of waste generated; and water consumed.
   
   
2. Delivered GrEAn by EA Logistics Freight Emissions Calculator (www.freightemissionscalculator.com). A comprehensive eco-responsible shipping program calculator for domestic and international transport for virtually all commodities, including trade show shipping.
   
   
3. Environmental Protection Agency’s Smart Way program: Carrier Performance Rankings (www.epa.gov/smartway/partnership/performance.htm). These Microsoft Excel files contain the latest SmartWay Partners fleet-ranking categories and emission rates. The site provides a basic overview as well as guidance to shippers on how to use the information that is included in the “Start Here” tab of the spreadsheet and in the Understanding SmartWay Data: A Primer for Shippers pdf document (www.epa.gov/smartway/documents/partnership/trucks/420f12018.pdf).
   
   
4. MPI’s SEMT (www.mpiweb.org/Portal/CSR/SEMTTool). Based on reviews and feedback from more than 1,000 users, MPI upgraded its Sustainable Event Measurement Tool. The online tool, which helps planners and suppliers measure and manage the impact of their events on the environment, is now easier to use and provides more value for suppliers. The system guides users through a series of questions based on three comprehensive sustainable-event standards: APEX/ASTM Environmentally Sustainable Meeting Standards, ISO 20121 and GRI Event Organizers Sector Supplement. For planners, SEMT 2.0 is a roadmap to organizing a sustainable meeting. Experienced users, as well as those beginning to green their operations, can adapt to the system. For suppliers, it’s an environmental data management tool that addresses multiple needs and people beyond the meetings industry. It also removes the need for suppliers to build their own environmental data management tool. The online tool is free for MPI planners; non-members and MPI suppliers have complimentary access to the tool until Oct. 31.