EUROPE - The German Convention Bureau (GCB) has been awarded Green Globe Certification for its commitment to sustainability.

Green Globe Certification is a worldwide sustainability system based on internationally accepted criteria for sustainable operation and management of travel and tourism businesses.

"Germany's providers are already well equipped to deliver sustainable events," says MD of GCB, Matthias Schultze. "Over the past year the percentage of providers in the event sector who have integrated a sustainability management system into their companies increased by 10 per cent to 37.7 per cent. This means every third provider has firmly established their dedication to sustainability in their organisational structure.

"The Meeting and Events Barometer 2012 indicated that 86 per cent of event planners are convinced that green meetings will continue to increase in the future," he adds.

GCB recently launched a new project for the development and communication of sustainable event management, and the training of 500 consultants on carbon-neutral events. In addition, the GCB offers practical support for arranging green meetings, which includes a presentation of green initiatives and guidelines such as the Carbon Footprint Calculator and 'Fit for Green Meetings' seminars for the events industry.

The Green Globe Certification's CEO, Guido Bauer, says: "The German conference sector is playing a key role in the shift towards eco-friendly businesses. We have developed a management system especially for venues, to which 39 members in Germany have signed up already. The highest standards for environmental projection have been applied in Germany for years and the idea of sustainability has become a tradition in this country."

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