McCormick Place, the largest convention center in North America, became certified with an international sustainability standard, a certification introduced in 2012 to promote responsible environmental and social practices in the event industry.
The convention center at the heart of Chicago achieved Level One Certification with the ASTM Standard pertaining to the Evaluation and Selection of Venues for Environmentally Sustainable Meetings, Events, Trade Shows and Conferences.
“We can all be very proud of this international honor for McCormick Place, which highlights how Illinois is on the cutting-edge when it comes to sustainability and the green economy,” said Illinois Governor Pat Quinn. “Here in Illinois, we understand that long-term economic development must be sustainable and respect our environment. This well-deserved distinction for McCormick Place will help attract even more conventions and trade shows, driving our economy forward and creating jobs.”
“I congratulate McCormick Place on achieving the international sustainability standard certification,” said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “This highlights Chicago’s continuing efforts to be the greenest city in the world. I remain committed to fostering opportunities to bolster Chicago as a leader in a modern economic environment. It is critical for all businesses and organizations to operate at maximum efficiency as trade shows and conventions attract thousands of visitors to the city each year.”
This sustainability standard is one of nine formal, voluntary standards developed by the meetings, conventions, exhibitions and events industry to provide event planners and suppliers with specifications for producing events in a more sustainable manner. The standards were created in partnership with ASTM International, an ANSI-accredited standards development organization.
“This is a great honor for McCormick Place and we are proud to receive the ASTM Standard-Level One certification during the Green Meeting Industry Council 2013 Global Conference” said David Causton, general manager, McCormick Place. “The certification exemplifies our ongoing commitment to encourage our customer base to host sustainable events. This recognition further enhances our competitive edge and will increase our ability to attract new events to Chicago. I am pleased that we are a part of the city’s vision for a sustainable Chicago.”
The venue standards delineate the procedural requirements for venue selection—the practice of researching, evaluating and choosing the facility for an environmentally sustainable event. The standard specifies performance criteria for staff management, communications, waste management, energy, air quality, water, procurement and community partners.
