EUROPE - Amsterdam RAI has been selected as the winner of a new sustainable development competition organised by international exhibition organiser association UFI.
The Dutch venue and event organiser won the ‘Best Sustainable Development Strategies’ award for, among other things, its ability to engage its employees in hitting green targets.
Amsterdam RAI was selected from six shortlisted finalists: Belgium’s Artexis Group; South Africa’s Cape Town International Convention Centre, Messe Frankfurt in Germany, Switzerland’s Palexpo and compatriot UBM Live Amsterdam.
The jury also decided to award an honourable mention to UBM Live Amsterdam for its systems-management approach to sustainable development. Each finalist was invited to present its case study at the UFI Focus Meeting on Sustainable Development held in Hamburg in June.
“In order to promote the full scope of sustainability within the exhibition sector, this first Sustainable Development Award competition aims to reward a broad, realistic approach to the topic,” said UFI MD Paul Woodward, explaining the new initiative. “This theme was especially challenging as only those companies with a significant history and proven results in this domain could qualify for entry.”
“In selecting Amsterdam RAI we are recognising the broad, all-encompassing impact of their sustainable development strategy. Their ability to engage their entire staff has resulted in high target achievement.”
Woodward added: “As an exhibition organiser, UBM Live Amsterdam committed early on to applying the BS8901 standard. Their use of this framework, (now evolved into the ISO20121 standard) ensured a comprehensive approach to sustainability applications which promises to significantly influence the scope of their operations in the future.”
Next year UFI will award winners in two areas of sustainable development. The first, designed to recognise the benefits of reporting transparency, will be on ‘Best Reporting on Sustainability’, and the second, which should attract a wider range of entries, will recognise the ‘Best Innovative Environmental Initiative’.
Last year Amsterdam RAI received goods by boat for the first time, as part of its green drive.
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