Sixth RAI sustainability report presented.
Having now reached the 100% waste recycling milestone, received a range of international sustainability certificates, placed 1,632 solar panels on its roof and enhanced its overall CSR policy, Amsterdam RAI is working hard on achieving its ambitious ‘green’ goals. Under the motto Creating a great environment to meet, the RAI will continue to play a leading role in the field of sustainability within Europe’s conference and events industry in the years ahead. All this and more is contained in the sixth edition of Amsterdam RAI’s sustainability report, which has been published today.
Sustainability is of the essence to Amsterdam RAI. Its ambitious strategy to create an environmentally friendly environment for successful meetings dates back to 2007. Within the remit of three focus areas – improving wellbeing, reducing environmental impact and empowering communities – initiatives are being developed and realised throughout the RAI organisation.
Best-in-class waste policy
The icing on the cake for these efforts in the past year has been to reach the milestone of ‘zero waste’. Amsterdam RAI has been actively optimising its waste policy since 2007 as a result of which 100% of its waste is now recycled. At the same time, total waste reduction has been reduced by an impressive 30%.
International certificates
The year 2013 was also a special one in terms of the various certificates received by the RAI. In addition to the four-star BREEAM-NL Design Certificate for its new RAI Amtrium building, the RAI won three gold awards for sustainability: EarthCheck Gold, Green Key Gold and AIPC Gold. “We are proud of this recognition of the leading role we are playing in making the conference and events industry more environmentally friendly,” comments Amsterdam RAI general director Hans Bakker. The new RAI Amtrium building will open in May 2015.
Ambitious policy
Bakker also reflects on the past year, which has seen Amsterdam RAI concentrate on revaluating its CSR policy and setting new CSR goals for the coming five years. “We believe strongly in the power of sustainable connections with our clients, business relations and neighbours. Listening carefully to their views has helped us enrich our CSR policy. In order to create sustainable added value, it has become clear that our CSR policy needs to become even more relevant and visible to our stakeholders, and this is a challenge we are pleased to embrace.”
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
