At the EICC, we share the event industry’s dedication to environmental responsibility. We’re committed to making a positive impact to people and planet so we’ve taken action to implement environmentally friendly practices throughout our business and set ambitious sustainability goals. We’re proud to have our efforts recognised with a series of recent environmental awards.
A Sustainable Service
EICC won in the Sustainable Service category for the global SEAL (Sustainability, Environmental Achievement and Leadership) Awards for our Step Change programme. The Award is in recognition of innovative services that set a new standard for sustainability.
Step Change focuses on three equally significant, interconnected areas of impact: environmental, societal and economic. To collectively address these, we introduced carbon mitigation practices through our peatland restoration project, Event Impact Reports (which measure an event’s specific environmental, economic and social impacts) and our desk to door initiative, which promotes sustainable travel options.
This forward-thinking strategy means that our clients can be assured that their events will demonstrate best practice in sustainability, without compromising on the standards of excellence for which events at the EICC are renowned.
A Cooperative Approach
We were delighted to clinch a top sustainability award at the Business Travel Awards Europe in the ‘Achievement in Sustainability - Meetings & Events’ category at the awards ceremony, which took place at Grosvenor House in London in May 2024.
“Judges applauded … their willingness to pay it forward and share knowledge and feedback to help others”
The Business Travel Awards Europe judging team said: “The judges were impressed by the winner’s tangible results in reducing their own emissions as well as supporting that of their customers. They also applauded the collaboration with other industry partners and their willingness to pay it forward and share knowledge and feedback to help other venues and hotels with their sustainability efforts.”
Holistic Sustainability
The only venue to be nominated globally, the EICC was a finalist in the prominent IMEX-EIC Innovation in Sustainability Award and named alongside TED and Water Environment Federation. Our holistic approach to sustainability was cited, alongside the EICC team’s drive to create an environment that inspires change in the world. Although we didn’t pick up the trophy on the day, IMEX recognised our work during its awards ceremony in May.
EICC’s Chief Executive, Marshall Dallas, said: “We’re passionate about delivering impactful business events but being concerned with the inherent environmental effects we developed a series of initiatives, as part of our Step Change sustainability programme, which minimise our impact on the planet – we’re really proud to have this work recognised by the IMEX-EIC Innovation in Sustainability Award.”
Partners and Champions
We won awards in two separate categories at the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce Business Awards: Net Zero Champion and Inspiring Partnership.
Our work together is an effort to restore one of the world’s most important, if undervalued habitats.
Over the last few years, EICC has been taking measures to become more eco friendly, and we are delighted this has been recognised in the Net Zero Champion award. We have introduced event impact reporting, and we are working with our catering partner, Leith’s, to develop smarter food choices. EICC is also investing in education via our hotel school, using our strong local and national network to align ourselves with SDG 17, ‘Partnerships for the Goals’.
Our partnership with RSPB, forged in 2022, won us the Inspiring Partnership award. Our work together is an effort to restore one of the world’s most important, if undervalued habitats: the peatlands of Scotland. In doing so, we are contributing to carbon mitigation and restoring nature.
“Through our partnership with RSPB Scotland, we are supporting the restoration of Scotland’s peatlands so we can achieve three things,” explains Marshall Dallas, Chief Executive of the EICC.
“Firstly, we can restore the natural equilibrium and stop CO₂ emissions from degrading peatlands being released into the atmosphere. Secondly, in time, the mosses and boggy flora will re-establish themselves and begin once again sequestering carbon from the atmosphere. Finally, we can preserve this beautiful habitat for wildlife, so that future generations can enjoy and appreciate our wonderfully unique Scottish environment.”
The Gold Standard
After the latest assessment in September 2023, we retained our Green Meetings Gold Award from Green Tourism. The Scotland-based independent assessment organisation said that in maintaining the top award, the EICC has shown “a clear commitment to promoting sustainable practices”.
A spokesperson for Green Tourism said: “We gave the EICC particular commendation for its effort to engage in Edinburgh’s cultural heritage, social project, and events. Additionally, the venue shows itself to be aware and stay informed of green issues.”
“We consider it both a moral and business imperative to place sustainability at the heart of every event we host, at every step of the process”
At EICC, we consider it both a moral and business imperative to place sustainability at the heart of every event we host, at every step of the process. Putting a series of actions in place to reduce our carbon footprint has been a rewarding experience, and winning the above green awards has certainly helped us to celebrate our efforts towards promoting a more sustainable future.
An added bonus was picking up the Best Scottish Venue & Events Team award at the E Awards in April 2024, making it a memorable year of awards for us so far. The benchmark is already high, but we look forward to seeing what 2025 brings for the EICC.