German Page

This is a summarized version of the German language website. To get to the German version, please click here.

right and fair is the sustainability code of the German-speaking event industry. Its members are industry stakeholders who are committed to environmental, social and economic sustainability and demonstrate this commitment in a transparent way through the right and fair code.

0
Members
0
Citys
2000
started

What is right and fair?

right and fair is the perfect gateway for your company to commit to sustainability.

Voluntary commitment

This sustainability code is a voluntary commitment to corporate responsibility for sustainability both with regard to internal company organisation and the running of events.

At the same time, the sustainability code provides practical guidelines and inspiration for all those involved in the organisation and implementation of events. right and fair enables providers in the event industry to transparently document their sustainable activities in their sustainability profile.

Commitment to the code also shows their initiative and sense of responsibility for sustainability as something that is relevant to society as a whole.

Our guiding principles

The right and fair code is based on ten guiding principles, which express the goal of considering economic, environmental, and social aspects in our business activities.

There is no formal external control or certification by third parties. At the same time, this freedom obliges the signatory companies to assume responsibility which is why we have headlined our sustainability code with the word “responsibility”.

Through transparent documentation and the implementation of quality standards, our right and fair members demonstrate their credibility as sustainable entrepreneurs.

Sustainability profiles are a transparent means of documenting the commitment and current sustainability status of right and fair members.

 

Sustainability profiles

Our members’ sustainability profiles are the core element of the right and fair code. They document all of their measures, goals and progress.

In order to make comparison for interested stakeholders possible, the initiators of the sustainability code have specified how information is provided.

Member companies also need to publish their profiles on their own website to ensure transparent sustainability communication.

10 guiding principles - basis for our action

The 10 right and fair guiding principles are the result of a discussion among event professionals: In 2012, the GCB German Convention Bureau and EVVC European Association of Event Centers as initiators of the right and fair code invited their members to a series of online meetings and workshops to jointly create the world’s first sustainability code for the event industry.

1. Strategy ✓

Sustainability is understood as an integral part of the corporate strategy and integrated into all corporate processes. Ambitious goals, rules and processes with their associated opportunities and risks are disclosed and are subject to continuous control and adaptation to changing conditions.

  • Systematic integration of the topic into public relations: “Do good and talk about it!”
  • Transparent internal communication, e.g. through an intranet sustainability newsletter or regular meetings to inform about the status quo
  • Transparent external communication through the creation and publication of a sustainability profile

2. Opportunities ✓

Sustainability management is an opportunity for companies to positively influence the effects of their actions for the future and for the benefit of all. Entrepreneurial action and its consequences thus make an environmental and social contribution to society and at the same time strengthen the market position of innovative companies in international competition.

  • Publication of information on sustainability activities
  • Implementation of guidelines for service providers and suppliers
  • Recommendations to clients
  • Waste management rules
  • Infrastructure and mobility in event locations
  • Selection of regional service providers

3. Common good ✓

Sustainable entrepreneurs feel responsible for their region. By supporting the regional economy as well as social issues, they contribute to their community.

  • Promotion of regional service providers and producers
  • Network building
  • Support for local social projects
  • Involvement in local associations

4. Economic aspects ✓

For sustainable entrepreneurs, the three pillars of sustainability – economic, social and environmental – are of equal importance. Environmental and social risks are assessed just as much as corporate and financial risks. Positive development and profitability are indispensable for a company’s success and long-term stability, which in turn has a positive impact on other businesses along the value chain.

  • Financial evaluation of the sustainability commitment
  • Establishment of a risk management process

5. Resources ✓

Sustainable companies include the resource and energy consumption caused by all event attendees and employees in their balance sheets. Through appropriate measures, recommendations and services, companies continuously strive to avoid or reduce energy consumption and to replace it with renewable energy sources or resource-saving products. This applies to the planning and running of events as well as to measures related to companies’ office buildings and internal company processes.

  • Identification and implementation of energy-saving measures, e.g. switchable power strips, water-saving inserts for taps, motion detectors to activate lamps, guidelines on ventilation and heating, paperless office
  • Use of alternative energy
  • Easy access to waste separation
  • Public transport ticket for employees
  • Development of mobility concepts for clients
  • Integrated resource-saving offers for clients

6. Social aspects ✓

Sustainable employers feel responsible for their employees and see the commitment to their staff as an investment into a company’s future viability. Ongoing training and education of employees counteract demographic change. Equal opportunities, values and participation in corporate development are important components of a sustainable company.

  • Promotion of apprenticeships
  • Ongoing training for employees
  • Creating incentives for employees, e.g. providing public transport tickets, on-site gyms or schemes to finance bikes for the work commute
  • Supporting co-determination through a company suggestion scheme
  • Flat hierarchies by transferring responsibilities to employees
  • Family friendliness, e.g. through cooperation with a day care centre or rotas that are planned well in advance
  • Promotion of diversity

7. Respect ✓

Out of respect for people, sustainable entrepreneurs are committed to respecting human rights, fighting all forms of discrimination and corruption. They implement processes to promote equal opportunities, health and safety at work, the protection of minorities, the integration of migrants and people with disabilities. Systematic measures are initiated in the event of breaches of the rules against the prevention of personal gain.

  • Clear written rules on corruption prevention
  • Compliance with the German Supply Chain Act
  • Offering work experience
  • Cooperation with a company doctor, offer of vaccinations or preventive health measures
  • Cooperation with a gym or on-site gym facilities
  • Offering seminars on health and safety at work

8. Transparency ✓

Sustainable entrepreneurs inform about their sustainability measures in an understandable and sincere way and are open to questions.

  • Systematic integration of the topic into public relations: “Do good and talk about it!”
  • Transparent internal communication, e.g. through an intranet sustainability newsletter or regular meetings to inform about the status quo
  • Transparent external communication through the creation and publication of a sustainability profile

9. Commitment ✓

By submitting the declaration of support for the sustainability code, the company makes public its voluntary commitment, which does justice to all environmental, economic and social aspects of sustainability. The sustainability profile is continuously maintained and updated and as a part of the corporate policy and sustainability strategy thus documents activities in the area of sustainability.

  • Use of the sustainability profile as corporate documentation
  • Continuous work in the environmental team on further measures and ideas
  • Regular information on the topic and provision of opportunities for active participation to engage all employees

10. Incentives ✓

In order to motivate management, employees, clients and all industry partners to rethink and act consciously, sustainable entrepreneurs provide incentives that encourage continuous improvement. Employee suggestion schemes and targets for employees are just as much a part of this as recommending sustainable products and services for the organisation of events.

  • Implementation of supplier audits, which enable commissioning suppliers only if they meet defined criteria
  • Running in-house challenges for the most environmentally friendly department

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

In 2015, the United Nations adopted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)  as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The objective of the project “SDG Indicators for municipalities” is to identify suitable indicators to depict the implementation of SDGs at municipal level in Germany and provide corresponding data.

The right and fair initiators have looked at the 17 SDGs in detail. In a workshop together with right and fair supporters, we have selected three SDGs that we consider to be of particular relevance and importance for the event industry,
Connecting the right and fair sustainability code with selected SDGs shows that the code promotes the creation of global sustainable structures. Thus, every member of right and fair can make a valuable contribution to sustainable development on an economic, social and environmental level.
The following three SDGs are part of our right and fair guidelines, and are considered accordingly in the sustainability profile:

SDG 5 Gender equality

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

SDG 12 Responsible consumption and production

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

SDG 13 Climate Action

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

Initiators

EVVC European Association of Event Centres

The EVVC represents about 650 event centres, congress locations, arenas and special event locations in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, Italy and other bordering European countries are represented by this currently unique lobbying organisation.
In excess, about 70 supplier companies from the event industry currently support the association and its members as partners of the EVVC, thus making the EVVC the most versatile communications network within the sector.

GCB German Convention Bureau e.V.

The German Convention Bureau (GCB) is tasked with securing and further extending Germany’s position as an internationally leading and sustainable destination for conferences and meetings. Driving innovation in the meetings and conference sector, the GCB provides its members with premium market research data. The GCB develops target-group-specific marketing activities for international markets as well as for Germany and supports its members and partner in marketing their offering. The GCB’s 160 members represent more than 420 businesses and include leading hotels, convention centres, venues, municipal marketing organisations, event agencies and service providers within the German meetings and conventions industry. As “Strategic Partners”, Deutsche Lufthansa, Deutsche Bahn and the German National Tourist Board (GNTB) support the work of the GCB. The Imex Group is the GCB’s “Strategic Trade Show Partner”.

Contact

Do you have any questions, would you like to know more about right and fair or do you need support in matters of sustainability? Fill out the form – we’ll be in touch!