ECO AUDIT REPORT SAACI ANNUAL CONGRESS AND EXHIBITION 2014

Transcription

1 ECO AUDIT REPORT SAACI ANNUAL CONGRESS AND EXHIBITION 2014 Developed by: Shades of Green Events and Exhibitions Kylie-Robyn van Staden (Director) +27 (0) Submitted to: SAACI Annual Congress and Exhibition LOC Merryl Fairfoot (Congress Chairperson) +27 (0)

2 INDEX: 1. Introduction a. Environmental Audit b. Scope 2. Methodology 3. Environmental Implementation Framework a. Environmental policy and statement b. SAACI Congress and Exhibition 2014 Overview c. Waste Reduction and effective management d. Energy Efficiency e. Water minimisation f. Transport g. Eco Procurement h. Venue & Accommodation i. Communication, Awareness & Training j. Social and Economic Development k. Biodiversity l. Monitoring and Reporting 4. Summary and Recommendations 5. Conclusion

3 1. INTRODUCTION Founded in 1987, the Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI) is the umbrella body of the conference and meetings industry of South Africa and is dedicated to maintaining and improving its levels of efficiency and professionalism. SAACI is recognised as the official body and mouth-piece of the conference industry by South African Tourism and government. Each SAACI branch (Eastern Cape, Western Cape, KwaZulu Natal and Northern Territories) is responsible to host an annual congress in their province. It was KZN s turn to host the SAACI 2014 Congress and Exhibition in the chosen destination of St Lucia, isimangaliso Wetland Park. SAACI appointed Shades of Green Events and Exhibitions one month prior to the 2014 SAACI Congress and Exhibition to do an eco-audit as part of a sponsorship agreement. Due to the short notice Shades of Green Events and Exhibitions were unable to perform a Carbon Footprint Analysis. Environmental Audit (Eco-Audit) The Environmental Audit is an objective review or summary of SAACI s environmental performance for the 2014 Congress and Exhibition. The review includes the measure and reporting of practices put in place during the organisation and implementation of the 2014 Congress and Exhibition. Scope of the Environmental Audit The scope of the Environmental Audit is based on the principles of the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard Methodology a widely used international carbon measurement and analysis methodology.

4 2. METHODOLOGY Shades of Green Events and Exhibitions interviewed the LOC prior to the 2014 Congress and Exhibition in order to establish an understanding of what environmental measures the committee had put in place during the planning stage of the Congress. Shades of Green Events and Exhibitions then performed an on-site inspection during the event, using the findings in this report. 3. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK Environmental policy and statement The SAACI 2014 LOC confirmed that they did not have an environmental policy or statement at the time of appointing Shades of Green Events and Exhibitions. The LOC had however included a few greening initiatives during the planning of the event even though they did not outline or follow a specific green policy. Shades of Green Events and Exhibitions therefore prepared an environmental statement for the 2014 SAACI LOC. The environmental statement provided the committee with a unified vision for event greening at the congress even at a late stage of the organisation process. The SAACI 2014 Congress and Exhibition LOC recognizes the importance of a sustainable environment as a guiding principle for good event management practice. We aim to influence the event industry leaders in a way that minimizes our impact on the environment. We accordingly are committed to improve our environmental performance during the organisation and implementation of the SAACI 2014 Congress and Exhibition using pollution prevention and environmental best practices in all we do. We will: Consider environmental concerns and impacts in all our planning and decision making processes regarding the 2014 Congress and Exhibition.

5 Encourage our members to attend the Congress and Exhibition in an environmentally responsible manner and will promote efficient use of St Lucia s resources throughout the event including water, electricity, and other resources, especially non-renewable ones. Promote environmental awareness among our members during the course of the 2014 Congress and Exhibition. Strive to prevent pollution by minimizing waste generation and resource consumption Reduce waste through reuse and recycling and so reducing impact on landfills Purchase and use environmentally friendly products, including products made from recycled materials, recyclable or re-furbished materials, where such alternatives are suitable, available, and economical Communicate our environmental commitment and efforts to our stakeholders, including suppliers and subcontractors, and encourage them to support it Strive to continually improve our environmental performance in any future organised SAACI functions. SAACI Congress and Exhibition 2014 Overview The SAACI Congress and Exhibition took place from the August 2014 in St Lucia, isimangaliso Wetland Park. The event utilised the following facilities: Congress Component Venue Infrastructure Registration St Lucia Town Hall Foyer Temporary Plenary St Lucia Town Hall Permanent Breakaway St Lucia Town Hall Grounds Temporary Welcome Cocktail Siyabonga Centre Permanent Gala Dinner Ezemvelo Training Centre Temporary Attendance was only open for registered delegates and exhibitors. A total of 400 delegates from the four branches attended the Congress and Exhibition.

6 Registration Type Day registrations 0 Full delegate registrations SAACI Members 119 Full delegate registrations non SAACI Members Local Speakers 11 International Speakers 3 Sponsors 23 Students 39 Trade 0 Patron Members 10 Board Members 9 LOC Member Registration 8 Media registrations 9 Delegate Numbers 169 TOTAL 400 The congress programme was spread over three full days in St Lucia. Date Event Details 16/08/2014 Arrival of delegates and final setup of temporary infrastructure (delegates could go on an estuary boat cruise which was included in their registration package) SAACI Finance and EXCO Meeting Board Lunch and Meeting followed by Board dinner 17/08/2014 Arrival of delegates (delegates could go on an estuary boat cruise which was included in their registration package) Secretariat Meeting Opening Lunch Official Welcome Breakaway Sessions Welcome Reception Function Evening at leisure (delegates encouraged to go to dinner to support local businesses)

7 18/08/2014 Full Day Conference SAACI AGM Gala Dinner and Awards 19/08/2014 Half Day Conference Conference Closure Next Destination Cocktail Function. The events were held in a combination of existing and temporary venues. Due to the limited conference facilities in St Lucia, temporary infrastructure had to be utilised to accommodate the short fall. St Lucia is situated on the KZN North Coast, approximately 250km from Durban CBD or a 2 and a half hour drive by car. The town is a central point for access to the greater isimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa s first World Heritage Site. St Lucia was chosen as a venue in order to encourage the spread of business outside of mainstream cities, and to showcase what can be achieved in smaller towns. KZN SAACI s aim was to grow membership outside of Durban and demonstrate a desire to take SAACI meetings to the rest of KZN. There was also a strong desire to enhance the delegate experience by aiming to achieve something out of the ordinary. The Congress aimed to create awareness for the destination as well as educate the local stakeholders and Community Tourism Organisation on the expectations of the Business Events Industry. Since the congress was held in one of the rare mix of coastal and wetland sites in the world (an area managed by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife who follow local and national laws as well as the guidelines as a World Heritage Convention Act) it was imperative for the committee to include greening initiatives into their planning of the congress. Unfortunately since the venues utilised were not that of a normal congress nature, environmental policies could not be obtained.

8 Waste reduction and effective management Waste is one of the key negative environmental impacts caused by events. A green event should harness the opportunity to create a more positive outcome for waste by firstly reducing the amount of waste created (achieved in the planning), followed by reusing, recycling and lastly disposing of waste in a responsible manner. There was limited effort made by the SAACI LOC to reduce the amount of waste generated at the congress. The following table represents waste reduction methods vs. actual methods followed: STEP ONE: WASTE REDUCTION SCOPE RESULT COMMENTS Limited / no registration packs Limited / no registration printing Water dispenser N/A SAACI attempted to have a print free registration by requesting delegates to print their own name badges. SAACI provided an eco-water dispenser (instead of bottled water). Delegates were not given the option to take the print material and there was no recycling point provided for the print material. SAACI printed name badges regardless of their request for delegates to print their own (therefore everyone s name badges would have been printed twice) and there was no advice provided on how to print in an environmentally friendly manner. Catering Crockery and Cutlery FSC serviettes were provided. There was no collection N/A

9 (do not use disposable options) Washable crockery and cutlery was provided throughout, only on the second conference day a prepacked lunch was provided in recycled paper bags. Tin mugs were utilised for tea/coffee facilities instead of paper cups / disposable options. (recycling) point for the packed lunch bags. Food (reduction of waste) N/A There was no provision for dealing with food waste. Furthermore, providing a packed lunch meant delegates did not have a choice of what they wanted to eat which resulted in huge food waste. STEP TWO: RE-USE SCOPE RESULT COMMENTS Name badge (collection and re-use) Water dispenser (provided bottles) Exhibition Infrastructure (reusable) Old (existing) name badge pockets and lanyards were reused. SAACI provided re-usable water bottles as a sponsored gift to delegates. SAACI used an exhibition company to supply both the registration and exhibition Although these were not purposefully manufactured for the congress (old stock was utilised), they could have been collected again and re-used at another event. The bottles were not manufactured locally. The infrastructure remained the property of the service provider although the

10 Banners infrastructure in a more reusable way. Old pallets were used to create the required infrastructure. Old (existing) banners and signage were re-used. STEP THREE: RECYCLE SCOPE RESULT COMMENTS intention had been to donate to the Rhino project and a local school. Exhibitors were allowed to remove the branded cushions from their stands to re-use. The LOC made use of old (existing) banners for the congress. Waste Separation N/A There was no form of waste separation and everything from the congress went to landfill in skips provided. Provide bins (separation) SAACI supplied paper bins (SAPPI). The bins were simply on display and served no purpose. Delegates discarded all refuse in the paper bins due to: 1) Lack of communication and 2) Lack of general purpose bins. Energy Efficiency Power supply to the various venues was challenging as St Lucia is not equipped with a city s infrastructure and power was therefore not a reliable source. Power off the grid (which is the greenest solution) was used as much as (and where) possible, but generators were utilised for both parts of the conference and for the gala dinner.

11 There was limited effort made by the SAACI LOC towards energy efficiency. The following table represents energy efficiency methods vs. actual methods followed: SCOPE Limited use of lighting Energy efficient lighting Air conditioners ENERGY EFFICIENCY RESULT SAACI made use of natural lighting within the town hall (only turning on the venue lights when it got too dark) LED Lighting was utilised for the Gala Dinner, Exhibition Area and Registration. Evaporative cooling units were supplied in the dome marquees. The town hall had natural ventilation. Water Minimisation Water conservation principles need to be incorporated into event-greening practices to not only conserve the precious resource but to make delegates aware of the value of water, and how to use the resource wisely. Drinking water was supplied by DewCatcher, a Durban based company that manufactures water by converting the humidity in the air to water - just like dew is formed in nature. The water was supplied in glass bottles which were collected to be used again (with the incentive of R1 per bottle returned) and in the form of a water dispenser (DewCatcher SOHO) which produces between 20 30L of water per day. This was a great way for SAACI to promote a local sustainable company while ensuring water conservation. Although by default water conservation practices were in place in the town of St Lucia due to the location of the town (in a World Heritage Site) there was no extra effort by the committee to encourage water conservation.

12 Transport Transport to and from events produce high levels of carbon emissions and consume large amounts of energy. It is for this reason when hosting a green event, that methods in which to reduce transport is taken into account. Although there were economic and social benefits to hosting the SAACI 2014 Congress and Exhibition in St Lucia it also created a far greater footprint on the environment due to the distance and remoteness of the destination. Delegates were not encouraged to offset their carbon footprint through programmes such as Food and Trees for Africa. TRANSPORT: DELEGATES SCOPE RESULT COMMENTS Flights N/A Unfortunately flight information was not released by the LOC for the audit so final numbers could not be ascertained. Airport Transfers SAACI outsourced the airport transfers to a service provider that supplied interval shuttles for delegates. The SAACI LOC did not communicate to delegates that were flying to offset their carbon footprint through programmes offered by airlines when booking their tickets. It was reported by delegates that some of the shuttle transfers were empty although the service provider stated they would only move/transfer once every seat

13 Only VIP s had private transport organised by the LOC. +/- 15 arrival transfers from the airport +/- 15 departures transfers from to the airport +/- 5 VIP arrival transfers from the airport +/- 5 departure transfers to the airport A variety of vehicles were used from sedans to Quantum s, not specifically eco rated vehicles. was occupied. SAACI also invited all delegates to make use of the shuttles but it was not encouraged from an environmental perspective. Private Vehicles N/A The remainder of delegates that did not fly in and make use of the shuttle service would have arrived in private vehicles. There was no effort by the SAACI LOC to encourage carpooling or shared transport. Also car rental companies with a sustainability policy should have been promoted. TRANSPORT: SUPPLIERS AND STAKEHOLDERS SCOPE RESULT COMMENTS Trucks N/A Three 4 Ton trucks and 1 8 Ton truck were driven from

14 Durban to St Lucia for the transport of catering, infrastructure and décor requirements. Although St Lucia has limited resources there was no attempt by the suppliers to use local resources such as locally produced fresh fruit and vegetables. This would have reduced the amount of items to be transported. TRANSPORT: DURATION OF CONGRESS SCOPE RESULT COMMENTS Shuttles A shuttle service route was implemented in the town of St Lucia for the duration of the congress. Vehicles used to supply this service were 4 x Quantum s and 2 x Sprinters, Not specifically eco rated Delegates were not encouraged to make use of the shuttle service from an environmental perspective. vehicles. Private Vehicles N/A Delegates were not encouraged to carpool during the congress. Walking and Cycling N/A Although most of the venues were within walking distance, delegates were not encouraged to walk or cycle

15 between the various venues within St Lucia. Eco Procurement Eco Procurement involves the integration of environmental considerations into all stages of the purchasing process from identification to purchasing of greener alternatives, to avoiding unnecessary purchases. Quality also remains key, meaning that green products have to supply the same or better quality and functionality for the event. Eco Procurement should also support local economic development through the procurement of local goods and services, which reduces transport costs and air pollution. The SAACI LOC made a concerted effort to include eco procurement into the congress. This was probably the most successful area of environmental consideration. PURCHASING SCOPE RESULT COMMENTS Suppliers Procurement of local products and services Suppliers were in many cases limited to Durban based suppliers due to logistics, costs and the sponsorship MOU with TKZN and therefore could not be rated according to sustainability policies SAACI used KZN based suppliers and a few St Lucia based suppliers (for example the cleaners and waiters). All suppliers used should have a sustainability policy in place or the SAACI LOC should have communicated environmental specifications to the suppliers that didn t. Although KZN suppliers were used, the SAACI LOC could have used more St Lucia or Northern KZN based suppliers. This would not only promote SAACI to individuals or

16 Environmentally Friendly Products SAACI used recycled paper bags for the packed lunches. Gifts and Giveaways - The conference bags were locally manufactured using littler. - The solar light jar was an excellent gift to companies in a more isolated area it would also promote local economic development and reduce the overall footprint of the event. Examples include catering and décor both of these could have been outsourced (even in part) to a local company. More effort could have been made to use environmentally friendly products such as: - FSC Paper (printing of all congress related documents, print collateral and toilet paper) - Soap and cleaning materials - Fairtrade (coffee) - Branding Materials (LOC shirts and banners) - Local produce (organic where possible) - The water bottle was imported from ASIA (locally produced products are always the preferred option).

17 create awareness around energy efficiency (however it was a missed opportunity by not creating a message around the jar) - The gala dinner gift of lamb curry spice is a way in which to give something locally made but should have been a vegetable curry mix to promote the importance of a meat free diet Venue and Accommodation When hosting a green event it is important to check the green credentials of the venue before making a selection. The venue plays a critical role in helping reduce environmental impacts of an event. Although the 2014 SAACI Congress and Exhibition was not held in a formal venue with environmental policies in place, the destination itself (isimangaliso Wetland Park) speaks into conservation and environmental protection. The permanent infrastructure used for the congress naturally ticked a few of the eco boxes.

18 VENUE GREENING: PERMANENT STRUCTURES SCOPE RESULT COMMENTS Environmental Policy The Siyabonga Centre and Ezemvelo Training Facility do have an Environmental Policy. The St Lucia Town Hall did not have an environmental policy. Recycling Programme N/A The St Lucia Town Hall only provided a skip to which the refuse was not sorted on site and was contaminated so would have gone to landfill. The SAACI LOC should have made use of a waste management company to facilitate a waste management system for the congress. Natural Light and Ventilation Water Efficiency Proximity The St Lucia Town Hall and Siyabonga Centre promoted both natural light and ventilation so that the use of lights and air conditioners were not required. The venues provided flush toilets and taps. All the venues were within close proximity to each other and various accommodation facilities. N/A The toilets and taps were not fitted with water efficient mechanisms. Walking was not promoted enough. The destination created a much larger carbon footprint than a local venue within close proximity to an airport.

19 Since there were not enough venues big enough to accommodate all the congress requirements, temporary infrastructure was provided. This was supplied in the form of two small and one large dome marquee. The dome marquee is a more environmentally friendly solution than most other framed marquees. Evaporative cooling units which use water and fans to cool the air. The units are able to reduce the air temperature by up to 12 degrees with zero transmissions or gas. The units operate on 220v power supply and water. The domes have no environmental impact on the ground beneath the marquees due to the size of the interior with no centre poles or guide ropes required. There are also no stakes or damage to the surface. The dome acts as a greenhouse to any vegetation beneath. The dome is erected by hand tools only, therefore not requiring any diesel or petrol driven tools or equipment. Electrical requirements are very low with LED lighting No chemicals, abrasives or fuels are used. The dome is 100% locally manufactured (in South Africa) and is a rentable solution therefore reused time and time again. Although the domed marquees were a more environmentally friendly option to other temporary infrastructure options there were the disadvantages of it being transported in large trucks from Durban (more people had to travel from Durban to construct the marquee too). It would have been more beneficial on the environment to find a local venue than transport marquees of any nature. Accommodation options were only advertised and not booked by the SAACI LOC (only select bookings were made by the LOC). The SAACI LOC did not check the environmental policies of any advertised accommodation establishments or promote eco accommodation choices to delegates. The total number of bed nights could not be determined because this information was not supplied by the LOC at the time of writing.

20 Communication, Awareness & Training It is imperative for organisers of green events to create awareness around greening initiatives to not only encourage companies and organisations to follow the same trend but to communicate to delegates, suppliers and stakeholders how to be more eco conscious before, during and after the congress (pertinent to the successful implementation of greening initiatives). Shades of Green Events and Exhibitions noted that only a few suppliers and LOC members were aware that SAACI were trying to host a more environmentally friendly congress. Furthermore there was a lack of understanding on what real environmentally friendly options are and a missed opportunity for training and awareness to suppliers, delegates and stakeholders. COMMUNICATION SCOPE RESULT COMMENTS Website and N/A SAACI did not communicate any specific message of greening to delegates. Media N/A SAACI did not make any press releases around the greening of the congress to the media. Suppliers and Vendors SAACI communicated the desire to make eco decisions for the congress to the suppliers and vendors alike. Unfortunately there was no guidance or training for suppliers or vendors. Print and Branding / Signage N/A SAACI did not include any specific logo or message in any congress branding or print to communicate eco awareness. They did however reuse old banners which couldn t include any new messages.

21 Speakers or Presentation As part of the congress programme, the host destination (isimangaliso) and the CSI Project (Rhino Conservation) were provided with a platform to speak which included aspects of environmental awareness. There were also two sessions which touched on the environment and sustainability. The slogan for the event to the beat of a different drum was utilised to create awareness of an out-of-the norm experience which including greening initiatives. SAACI could have included a more specific session around event greening by inviting a guest speaker from the Event Greening Forum (or similar). Social and Economic Development Event greening should almost always consider not only the impact on the environment but also the people who could potentially benefit from the event. By using local suppliers and procuring locally it promotes local businesses and reduces the carbon footprint of events. It is also important to consider leaving a legacy when planning a green event to ensure continuity. SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SCOPE RESULT COMMENTS Job creation SAACI employed the services of the local community for a Although SAACI had the correct intentions, to purchase

22 Local products and local services few elements of the congress (manufacturing of the congress bags, purchasing of décor item, employing local cleaners and waiters). N/A local décor items they did not take the environment into consideration. By buying wood carvings they encouraged the deforestation of hard wood trees. SAACI did not embrace the concept of purchasing produce locally. The catering company should have procured local produce. Furthermore Most suppliers were Durban based. Training N/A No training was provided. Donations Legacy The paintings that were created during the opening ceremony were donated to the Siyabonga Centre Artworks. Although no formal food donation was in place, the leftover food was given to local residents. As part of the 2014 SAACI Congress and Exhibition legacy, SAACI donated money to the CSI Rhino Art project and appointed 3 local rural schools to compete in an art competition. In addition to this, SAACI facilitated the upgrades of the town hall Considering the infrastructure remained the property of the service providers there was no donations of sorts. Plants were distributed amongst the LOC. Further legacy projects could have been implemented by SAACI, for instance SAACI could have selected a Carbon Off Set Programme.

23 funded by the Mtubutuba Municipality. Biodiversity In keeping in line with reducing the impact on the environment, certain decisions can be made to ensure the protection of fauna and flora. BIODIVERSITY SCOPE RESULT COMMENTS Plants and Flowers Food Local Biodiversity Awareness SAACI used a local nursery to supply (indigenous) potted plants for the congress. SAACI did not use fish in any of the menus. The SAACI Congress was hosted in a World Heritage Site. This in itself created a wonderful message around the Unfortunately the décor supplier for the gala dinner provided imported cut flowers. Furthermore each exhibition stand was provided with a cut flower arrangement (these were not indigenous flowers either). There could have been more consideration to meat free options or white meat only. Alternatively game meat could have been included in the menu as a more sustainable option (which would have been supplied locally too). N/A

24 importance of biodiversity (this message was communicated to all delegates via the Congress Chair written and spoken communication). Monitoring and Reporting Shades of Green Events and Exhibitions performed an Environmental Audit for the SAACI Congress and Exhibition Kylie van Staden attended the actual congress to do the on-site monitoring. Shades of Green Events and Exhibitions were unable to perform a Carbon Footprint Analysis of the event due to the late appointment. 4. SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS Summary The following Environmental Initiatives were implemented at the SAACI Congress and Exhibition in SAACI attempted to have a print free registration by requesting delegates to print their own name badges. SAACI provided an eco-water dispenser for delegates to use instead of providing bottled water. FSC serviettes were provided. Washable crockery and cutlery were provided. Old (existing) name badge pockets and lanyards were re-used. SAACI provided re-usable water bottles as a sponsored gift to delegates.

25 SAACI used an exhibition company to supply both the registration and exhibition infrastructure in a more reusable way. Old pallets were used to create the required infrastructure. SAACI supplied paper bins (SAPPI). SAACI made use of natural lighting within the town hall (only turning on the venue lights when it got too dark) LED Lighting was utilised for the Gala Dinner, Exhibition Area and Registration. Evaporative cooling units were supplied in the dome marquees. The town hall had natural ventilation. A shuttle service was provided for delegates from Durban to St Lucia and return. The transport service provider offsets their scope one carbon emissions. A shuttle service route was implemented in the town of St Lucia for the duration of the congress. SAACI used KZN based suppliers and a few St Lucia based suppliers (for example the cleaners). SAACI used recycled paper bags for the packed lunches. The conference bags were locally manufactured using littler. The solar light jar was an excellent gift to create awareness around energy efficiency. The gala dinner gift of lamb curry spice is a way in which to give something locally made A few of the venues utilised followed their organisations environmental policies. The St Lucia Town Hall and Siyabonga Centre promoted both natural light and ventilation so that the use of lights and air conditioners were not required. The venues provided flush toilets and taps. All the venues were within close proximity to each other and various accommodation facilities. A more environmentally friendly temporary marquee was used to accommodate the shortfall of permanent structures in St Lucia. SAACI communicated the desire to make eco decisions for the congress to the suppliers and vendors alike. There were presentations / sessions which touched on the environment and sustainability.

26 SAACI employed the services of the local community for a few elements of the congress (manufacturing of the congress bags, purchasing of décor items and employing local cleaners). A legacy project was incorporated into the congress (conservation of biodiversity) The town hall was renovated in preparations for hosting the congress which was made possible by Mtubatuba Municipality because of the SAACI Congress. SAACI used a local nursery to supply (indigenous) potted plants for the congress. SAACI did not use fish in any of the menus. The SAACI Congress was hosted in a World Heritage Site An environmental audit report was completed Recommendations A green or eco company (with event related experience) should be employed by the SAACI LOC immediately (at commencement of planning the next congress). Each SAACI branch should have a representative from the Event Greening Forum sit on the committee (this person should have experience or be accredited). SAACI should have an environmental vision, policy and strategy with specific goals for the association and events. The policy should contain the following sub policies (which will guide the way in which all operations of SAACI are managed in an environmentally responsible way); o Waste Reduction and effective management o Energy Efficiency o Water minimisation o Transport o Eco Procurement o Venue, Accommodation & Catering o Communication, Awareness & Training o Social and Economic Development o Biodiversity o Monitoring and Reporting

27 All stakeholders of the association should be challenged about their sustainability (not only during an event). The association should encourage their members to go on training, join forums etc. A Carbon Footprint Analysis should be performed to measure the results of green initiatives and off set accordingly (first reduce then off set). 5. CONCLUSION Shades of Green Events and Exhibitions align with the conclusion from the 2013 Eco Audit by Steadfast Greening, in that SAACI is encouraged to be more pro-active and show leadership in the field of event greening. Although the intention was there to host a more environmentally friendly event it is clear that SAACI did not effectively achieve this for the SAACI Congress and Exhibition There was a vast improvement in the green initiatives set out and achieved than in previous years.