SCAA Announces Development of Sustainable Events Policy to Reduce Environmental Impact
Specialty Coffee Association of America commits to working towards conformity with APEX/ASTM sustainable event standards
LONG BEACH, Calif. U.S.A. (December 26, 2012) — The Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA), in partnership with its Sustainability Council, is pleased to announce that the association is working towards the development of a sustainable event policy in accordance to the principles outlined in the two leading event industry standards – APEX/ASTM and ISO 20121.
Spearheaded by the US EPA and their relationship with the Green Meeting Industry Council, APEX/ASTM standards were developed in collaboration between APEX (the Convention Industry Council’s Accepted Practices Exchange) and ASTM (the American Society for Testing and Materials). Planners and suppliers can aim for one of four levels of compliance, with level one indicating that basic green guidelines have been followed and level four requiring a significantly more advanced level of green operations.
The SCAA has selected Santa Monica based Three Squares Inc., specialists in implementing sustainability plans for complex, high profile projects working within the ISO 20121 and APEX/ASTM sustainable event standards, as their consultant to develop and implement the policy. Initially, the focus would be on the SCAA’s largest event, its annual Exposition, but ultimately the policy would apply to all SCAA produced events. “The SCAA was already putting considerable effort towards executing responsible events, but we knew we could do more” states SCAA Sustainability Council representative Samantha Veide. “Through the
expertise of Three Squares Inc. and using the APEX/ASTM standards as our compass, we are working to not only significantly reduce the environmental impact of our events but also to lead by example and encourage others in the specialty coffee industry to consider how they can reduce their footprint as well.”
The multi-year plan would involve a staged approach, with incremental policy protocols being rolled out annually to ensure a smooth and successful transition over the next several years.
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About SCAA
The Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) is the world’s coffee authority and largest coffee trade association with nearly 5,000 members including member companies and their employees. SCAA members are located in more than 40 countries and represent every segment of the specialty coffee industry, including producers, roasters, importers/exporters, retailers, manufacturers, baristas and coffee enthusiasts. SCAA is dedicated to creating a vibrant specialty coffee community, recognizing, developing and promoting specialty coffee by setting and maintaining quality standards for the industry; conducting research on coffee, equipment and perfection of craft; and providing education, training, resources and business services for its members. Visit www.scaa.org.
