The Convention Industry Council’s Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX) is partnering with two key organizations in the important endeavor of defining what is “green” in the meetings and events industry: 

		Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
		ASTM International

The EPA

The process in developing green standards was initiated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in discussions with the Green Meeting Industry Council (GMIC). They agreed that there was a tremendous need in the meeting and event industry for a uniform measurement of environmental performance. 

The EPA's interest stems from the desire for standards that could then be adopted as the basis for a federal purchasing program focused on environmentally preferable government-run meetings and conferences. As the umbrella organization for meetings, events and trade shows, the EPA agreed that the Convention Industry Council (CIC) is the natural place to bring together this unified industry effort.

EPA Main Contact:

Harry Lewis

Attorney Advisor

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics Pollution Prevention Division Washington, DC

(202) 564-8642

Email

ASTM International

APEX will submit draft green meeting practices to the ASTM E60 Sustainability Committee.  Following the ASTM voluntary consensus process, the draft standards will be further scrutinized and commented on by a wide variety of stakeholders interested in this issue.  Pursuing the extra step with ASTM International will aid in the value, recognition and applicability of the standards/guidelines.  Furthermore, various bodies, like the US Government, intend to use the ASTM standards. 

We encourage any interested party to become part of the ASTM effort and process.  See the article below for more details.

APEX Green Meetings and Events and ASTM International

Purpose:  This article outlines the background and partnership between ASTM and the Convention Industry Council.  We are encouraging industry organizations to join ASTM as participating members in the E60 Sustainability Committee for $75.00 a year.  Complete details are below.

The Convention Industry Council’s Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX) and ASTM International have partnered in an important endeavor of defining what is “green” in the meetings and events industry. The process in developing green standards was initiated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in discussions with the Green Meeting Industry Council (GMIC). They agreed that there was a tremendous need in the meeting and event industry for a uniform measurement of environmental performance. As the umbrella organization, the Convention Industry Council (CIC) is the natural place to bring together this unified industry effort. (For more information see the Press Release from July 2008.)

APEX will follow its voluntary consensus process of developing accepted practices and then use City Discussion Groups and a Virtual Discussion Group to gain valuable input to refine the accepted practices for further submission to ASTM and to the APEX Commission. 

After seeking input from stakeholders within the CIC reach, ASTM members of the E60 Sustainability Committee will also have the opportunity to comment on the APEX accepted practices.   Any organization in our industry interested in having input on the ASTM standards should consider ASTM membership.  

ASTM membership affords organizations of the following benefits:

Various bodies, like the US Government, intend to use the ASTM standards.  Therefore, it is important that active members and organizations in the Convention Industry Council also choose to become active in ASTM.  Your participation helps guarantee that your voice is heard and recorded.  Only members can vote.  While multiple people from a single organization can join, voting is limited to one vote per organization.  Like other associations, the Sustainability Committee (E60) and Hospitality Subcommittee (E60.02) seek to have a fair and balanced ratio of members.  Therefore, to assure your place on the ASTM E60 Sustainability Committee and E60.02 Hospitality Subcommittee, it is important to identify a key contact that will represent your organization and have them join today.

Join as a Participating members which are individuals who choose to join ASTM International committees.  Membership is only $75.00/year.  Membership runs from October 1 for a full calendar year.  

As members you will participate in the following ASTM process:

		APEX will file individual ballots with ASTM reflecting the work of each of the nine Task forces (APEX calls them committees – for a complete list click here).
		ASTM members and interested parties will receive a ballot via email.
		ASTM members and interested parties will comment on the standards for a thirty day period.
		Balloting closes after 30 days.
		APEX will evaluate all negative comments.  APEX will determine if any one comment is insurmountable.  If yes, we will withdraw the ballot and re-ballot after the practices have been revised.
		All negative comments must receive a comment and be adjudicated.  The potential responses to a negative comment are as follows:

Withdrawn by person commenting

Incorporated for its technical amendment (no substantial change in intent or content)

Override negative comment with a vote from the Subcommittee

Incorporate the comment – requires starting the ASTM balloting process from the beginning

		Members will meet during April ASTM meeting and vote on standards which have been commented on and adjudicated (a – c).   While interested parties may comment, only members may vote.  Each organization receives only 1 vote per organization.
		Once a set of standards passes out of Subcommittee, the standard must go through balloting and voting of the Main Committee.  The Main Committee follows similar process to Subcommittee.
		Once passed by the Main Committee (E60 Sustainability), the standard is considered ASTM Certified.

The next meeting of the E60 Sustainability Committee is in Vancouver, Canada from April 19 -22.   We plan to have Committee meetings (ASTM terminology is Task Group) as well as a Subcommittee meeting.  APEX will also participate in the Main Committee meeting.  All ASTM E60 members may fully participate in all meetings during the April timeframe.

To join Committee E60 Sustainability as a Participating Member (even if you represent and organization, there is no need to join as an organization) for $75.00 click here:  ASTM International.

To be added to the ASTM E60 Sustainability distribution list (without joining) click here: Mr. Pat Picariello