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THEBIGGERPICTURE
BS,ANDHOWTODE ALWITHIT
This month weexplain the changes to BS8901, the standardfor Sustainable Event
Managementand how you can make your commentsheard...
BS 8901, the British Standard on sustainable change and helps clear up the point that the
event management has been undergoing standard is not about sustainable events per se
changes. Issued in November 2007, it is but is about a management system that is geared
designed to help all organisations in the events towards improving the sustainability of events.
industry improve the sustainability of their Consequently, events do not comply with BS
event related activities. 8901; it is the management system behind the
A number of event organisers, venues and events that complies.
suppliers have taken up the standard. Most The standard clarifies that it is applicable not
noticeably, the London Organising Committee for only to event organisers but to all organisations in
the Olympic Games (LOCOG) recently released its the events industry, from event clients to venues,
London2012 SustainableEventGuidelinesinwhich suppliers and contractors regardless of their role in
it expects companies and organisations that it delivering events.
works withto beworking towards implementation One of the most important changes is that the
of BS 8901. standard now requires organisations to define the
Tim Sunderland, managing director of scope of their sustainability management system.
Sustainable Event Certification, which provides Organisations will need to prepare a statement organisations to establish their own sustainable
training, advice and certification to BS 8901, has that describes what activities and functions will be development principles.
taken a look at the changes to the standard. managed within the sustainability management A major shift in the standard is to require the
“We have been working with a large number system. creation of more procedures. Organisations now
of organisations from across the industry over the The standard is not prescriptive as to where need to have procedures in place for:
lastyear,someofwhichhaveachievedcertification organisations draw the boundary of their scope. • identifying and evaluating the significance of
to BS 8901,” says Sunderland, pictured right. Indeed, for larger organisations it may make sense sustainable development issues;
“However, we found the standard quite to begin with a narrow scope to pilot BS 8901 and • identifying and accessing to legal, and other
difficult to work with and consequently a number then broaden the scope later rather than trying to requirements to which the organisation subscribes
of modifications have been made to make the include the entire organisation in the initial scope. and determining how these requirements apply;
standard clearer and easier to understand. We It is also possible to limit the scope to the delivery • identifying and engaging with stakeholders
recommend that the industry takes a look at the of a single event. on the identified and emerging sustainable
new version which is accessible online until the Clearly defining the scope is critical for the development issues;
end of May. purposes of certification and is the starting point • communicating internally and for receiving,
In addition, to help organisations understand for anyone wishing to implement BS 8901. documenting and responding to relevant
the standard, we are offering a free BS 8901 In addition to defining the scope, organisations communication from external stakeholders.
certification check which will help organisations willalsoneedtodefineanddocumenttheirmission Additionally, organisations will now need
determine how they currently compare against the or purpose and the values that they work to. The to have a well defined plan for achieving the
standard.” statement of mission/purpose can be specific to objectives and targets that have been set. The plan
So what are the main changes? The standard the scope that has been defined or can reflect the needs to describe the actions to be taken, roles,
is still based upon the Plan–Do–Check–Act frame broader mission of organisation. The statement responsibilities and timescales.
work which is traditional for most management of values should describe the behaviours that In the implementation part of the standard,
systems. The approach is still about identifying organisations expect of their employees when there are more prescriptive requirements for:
relevant key sustainability issues associated with carrying out their duties. • defining and documentingaccountabilities,roles
an organisation’s event-related activities, setting Organisations will also need to define their and responsibilities within the organisation;
improvement objectives, implementing action and sustainability development principles. The • implementing operational controls for those
measuring success. However, changes have been standard provides some guidance on this but in activities ‘critical to the successful implementation
necessary to make the standard workable and to essence, sustainability development principles ofthesustainabilitymanagementsystem’including
clear up a number of confusing issues. could be summarised as the wise and productive emergency situations;
The title has changed from a ‘specification use of financial resources, respect for people, • evaluating compliance with legal requirements.
for a sustainable event management system’ to responsible governance, respect for life, and the The good news is that the standard is clearer
a ‘specification for a sustainability management wise management and use of natural resources. and has a more logical structure. Many of the
system for events’. This is a subtle but important Nevertheless, the standard leaves it open for ambiguities within the original version have been
50 • TPiMAY 09
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