Finland Convention Bureau has initiated a pilot project to draw up guidelines for environmentally responsible meeting services. Hämeenlinna, an FCB member located approximately 100 kilometres north of Helsinki, will serve as the model city for the project.

FCB has commissioned Finnish consulting company Travelcon Oy, which supplies sustainable development solutions to the travel industry, to implement the project.

FCB believes that environmental responsibility will become an increasingly important competitive factor for the meetings industry. Consequently, FCB has adopted the development of environmentally responsible meeting services as part of its long-term strategy.

A tool for industry professionals

Throughout spring 2009 environmental assessments will be carried out among companies participating in the pilot project. These assessments will then be used to draw up a manual for organising environmentally responsible meetings. Environmental training will also be provided for each individual company. The guidelines that are created as a result of this project will be made available for use by FCB member cities and companies for organising future meetings.

In the project the carbon footprint will be calculated for the overall event, as well as for the companies and individuals participating in the meeting. In addition, other environmental impacts related to the meeting will be clarified through individual company reviews. Meeting venues, accommodation outlets, event organisers and transportation services are all represented in the project.

The overall aim is to recognise the key environmental issues related to meetings and to provide all actors involved in the event with the tools to manage these and thus reduce environmental impacts. At the same time the project aims to introduce environmental issues in a concrete way to the decision-making process within companies.