By Jude-Anne Phillip
The Pennsylvania Convention Center has earned the Gold Level certification to the Events Industry Council (EIC) Sustainable Event Standards for venues, positioning the facility as an industry leader in sustainability and social responsibility.
The EIC Sustainable Event Standards are a collection of standards developed to assess events industry 
suppliers on specific criteria for producing and delivering environmentally and socially responsible events. These criteria include organizational management; marketing, communication, and engagement; climate action; water management; materials and circularity; supply chain management; diversity, equity, and inclusion; accessibility; and social impact.
“The Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority is proud to be recognized by the EIC for our commitment to sustainability and social responsibility,” said David A. Nasatir, Esq., Chair of the Board, Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority. “The Gold Level certification confirms the degree of focus the Pennsylvania Convention Center has placed on being an environmentally friendly facility and a dedicated community partner.”
The certification consists of four levels – bronze, silver, gold, and platinum – each of which represents the percentage of completion the venue or event has achieved for implementation of the sustainable practices.
Sustainability and social responsibility have always been top priorities at the Pennsylvania Convention Center and over the years, the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority has made significant investments in tools and initiatives designed to reduce the negative impacts, while providing a clean facility and efficient operations. The Center’s valued partnerships with technology, environmental management, and sustainability companies such as Siemens, Republic Services, and Honeycomb Strategies have also allowed the facility to make substantial and innovative strides in waste diversion, utilities management, and other sustainable solutions.
Additionally, the 2016 launch of the Center’s “Green Team,” an employee network of staff from the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority and ASM Global, stakeholders, and service providers, who are responsible for developing, implementing, and enforcing the Center’s sustainability best practices and programs, has positioned the Center as a reliable and expert sustainability partner to customers. The “Green Team” has collaborated closely with shows such as the Philadelphia Flower Show and Natural Products Expo East to help them successfully execute their unique sustainability initiatives.
“The Pennsylvania Convention Center is serious about our responsibility to the environment and our communities, and we are proud to collaborate with our stakeholders and customers on initiatives that make a positive impact,” said John J. McNichol, President and CEO, Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority. “As a steward of the public good and a major economic driver for Greater Philadelphia, sustainability and social responsibility will always remain top priorities in our operations, and we welcome every opportunity to provide our customers with the expert support they need to achieve their sustainability goals.”
As an ASM Global managed facility, several of the sustainability and social responsibility initiatives at the Pennsylvania Convention Center fall under the ASM Global Acts program, a corporate social responsibility platform launched by the company in 2021.
The ASM Global Acts program was designed around three pillars – Protect the Environment, Invest in People, and Strengthen our Communities – with the aim of contributing to a healthier planet, serving the communities in which the company operates, and encouraging diversity and inclusion.
Under this program, the Pennsylvania Convention Center has enforced a robust sustainability and social impact plan and has successfully implemented initiatives such as increasing its daily purchase of renewable energy certificates to 50%, increasing its waste diversion rate goal to 50%, and eliminating single-use plastics in the venue.
“The ASM Global Acts program is a visionary and innovative approach to sustainability and social responsibility,” said Tony Hodgins, General Manager, ASM Global. “Through the program, ASM Global has maintained its position as a leader in sustainability operations management and community stewardship, and our continued collaboration with the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority will allow the Pennsylvania Convention Center to be a key initiator of change in the Greater Philadelphia region.”
Jude-Anne Phillip is Senior Communications Manager at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
