LOS ANGELES — ASM Global, with more than 50 green-certified sites, has named Lindsay Arell as its chief sustainability officer. Arell created the ASM Global takes action sustainability plan and is known for her work on the Events Industry Council Sustainability Committee and ASTM Venue Sustainability Standards.
ASM Global recently made the decision to replace single-use plastics with reusable service items at its North American locations. In honor of Earth Day, which took place on April 22,, Trade Fair Manager I spoke with Arell to find out how It is important that industry locations prioritize sustainable practices.
While she has seen a shift towards more responsible purchasing and consumption, she said: “The reality is that events generate large quantities of single-use plastics, such as water bottles, food containers, straws and utensils. As such, our journey towards eliminating single-use plastic in venues at ASM Global is a critical part of our sustainability strategy. That said, it would be unrealistic not to acknowledge the challenge we face in achieving this goal. That’s why it’s critical that we work together as an industry to reset the expectations of our attendees, our suppliers, our internal staff and the systems themselves that have been in place for so long as business as usual.”
This will take a lot of work and collaboration from show organizers, venues and organizations, she said. “I firmly believe that no organization can do this alone, so I strongly encourage other venues to follow in ASM Global’s footsteps in this commitment. By collectively committing to this change, we can have a significant positive impact at the individual venue level and the industry as a whole.”
ASM Global and Playeasy Partners
In her new role as Director of Sustainability, her goal is nothing less than to “lead the live events industry towards a more sustainable future.”
“We have set ambitious sustainability goals across our global venue portfolio, demonstrating ASM’s commitment to leading by example in sustainability for our venue operations, our customers, our fans and the communities we serve. But this is just the beginning, and we are committed to integrating sustainability into every aspect of our customer relationships and events to engage and directly benefit from our sustainable practices.”
The live events industry is at a critical juncture where it must embrace new ways of operating, and it also has the ability to affect much broader change, Arell said. “By leveraging our extensive influence, holistic approach, and opportunities for innovation and stakeholder collaboration, the events industry is uniquely positioned to advance sustainable practices and contribute meaningfully to global sustainability efforts.”
Contact Lindsay Arell at larell@hcsustainability.com