GENERAL
What is the SEMT?
The Sustainable Event Measurement Tool is an online tool that allows planners and suppliers to measure the environmental and social impact of their meetings and events.
What does it measure and report?
The SEMT provides three types of measurement:
- Measurement of specific data points such as water and energy usage, waste creation, and community impacts
- Conversion of event and organization impacts into carbon emissions
- Process measurement to highlight the commitment of an organization to sustainability and resulting performance of the business management system.
Why is this important?
With organizations rapidly developing their sustainability commitment and programs, there is a growing need for planners and suppliers to produce sustainability reports for their meetings and events. Initiatives such as the Carbon Disclosure Project, the United Nations Global Compact and the Global Reporting Initiative are accelerating this requirement and requiring that participating organizations be more transparent and accountable by providing their stakeholders and shareholders with better information.
What is the cost of the tool? How do I get access?
Thanks to the generous support of IHG, the tool is free to members of GMIC and MPI. You only need your membership number to log on at www.sustainableeventtool.com.
How is SEMT different from the many other carbon footprinting tools?
- SEMT is not just a carbon footprinting tool. It provides a more holistic approach to reporting the environmental and social impacts of meetings and events.
- It is designed for event planners and suppliers by highly experienced event professionals together with sustainability measurement experts. Development input was received from MPI members globally.
- It is designed as an industry standard platform to simplify and improve the measurement challenge. Distribution is via industry associations.
- SEMT will be provided free to MPI and GMIC members.
PLANNERS
How will this help me and my event department?
- A long-accepted management idiom says "You can't manage what you don't measure." The tool will allow event managers to understand and analyse the environmental and social impacts of their meetings. This will help to identify areas for cost savings, efficiency improvement and innovation.
- It will also help to simplify the measurement process itself. Without the tool, measuring the sustainable impacts of an event is a complicated challenge that requires time and effort. The tool provides an intuitive, easy-to-use platform to save time and energy.
Is this only for experienced sustainable event planners?
The platform provides a basic measurement option for beginners, which features fewer questions. It uses government datasets to estimate impacts based on industry averages. As users become more familiar and comfortable with more advanced methods of measuring their events, they can switch at any time to the 'advanced user' level. This level requires more data points and concise measurement information.
SUPPLIERS
My hotel/venue already measures impacts. Why should we use the SEMT?
Measuring your impact is an important step. But how are you helping your clients to do the same? The SEMT allows you to share your data with your clients. You only need to input this data once and then it is in the database. Simply update information annually, and after any improvements to your sustainability performance, to ensure SEMT users have the latest information.
In addition, suppliers with a strong sustainability commitment and product offering will be able to better attract and engage with planners who have a similar commitment to sustainability. The tool will help build a more sustainable event marketplace.
I work in a large hotel chain - how could I upload hundreds of my hotels?
The tool has been designed so that hotel chains, agencies, convention center groups and other large organizations can share data for mutual advantage. There are two options to provide planners access to this information:
- Bulk upload of the SEMT via data file
- Interconnection of SEMT with your IT measurement system: As an example, IHG hotels are creating a direct link with the SEMT to ensure that information represented in the tool is both accurate and timely.
TECHNICAL
Which sustainable event standards does the tool support?
The SEMT was design to help planners and suppliers implement BS8901, APEX/ASTM and GRI Sustainable event management standards. All three initiatives require measurement data which the tool can supply. SEMT collects data following the 9 event areas as specified in the new APEX/ASTM green meetings and events standards. In the future, separate modules may be developed to assist organizers to achieve external certification following these internationally recognized initiatives.
What protocols are used to calculate carbon emissions?
The SEMT uses the DEFRA datasets from the government of the United Kingdom and which are also used by the World Resource Institute GHG protocol.
Do you use a conversion factor to estimate the non-carbon effects of aviation emissions?
No - based on the latest IPCCC/UNFCCC recommendations the tool does not use a Radiative Forcing Index (RFI) or similar conversion factor.
Can I use the tool to benchmark my event or facility performance across the organization?
This current version does not support benchmarking. Future versions are being developed to help users compare their impacts against industry averages.
Who designed SEMT?
The tool was created by the "Triple Bottom Line Alliance", a unique collaboration of three leading organizations dedicated to sustainability in the meetings and hospitality industry: MCI, MeetGreen® and The Carbon Consultancy. The three organizations have extensive experience with event measurement and reporting, developing software measurement solutions for the meetings and hospitality industry.
I have noticed a bug, or would like to suggest an improvement?
All input is welcome - please contact us and let us know your thoughts. This is an industry tool designed by event experts and it can only improve with your input. The tool itself contains a feedback section for user input which we hope you will use.
HELP
I need help, and my organization would like to start or improve the performance or reputation of our CSR program?
The SEMT was design by a team of leading sustainability experts who provide governments, associations, NGOs and corporations with sustainability consulting services. Please contact us for more information and to discuss your needs.