Amsterdam RAI can look back on a successful and sustainable 2011. With various environmental (re)certifications achieved and by including the new core value ‘Amsterdam RAI aims for sustainable results’ in its corporate mission, the RAI has firmly embedded its CSR policy within the organisation. Moreover, as the newly published sustainability report indicates, over the coming period Amsterdam RAI will be looking into ways to make CSR even more measurable and transparent.
Amsterdam RAI has high ambitions with regard to sustainability and the inclusion of the official core value ‘Amsterdam RAI aims for sustainable results’ in its corporate mission reinforces the point. “Our aim is to be a successful business that contributes to a sustainable society and ensures a good balance in all the choices we make,” explains Hans Bakker, General Director of Amsterdam RAI. “We believe that sustainability adds value to an organisation, and including it in the company policy will generate more clients and greater engagement among employees.”
Certifications
In the final quarter of 2011 Amsterdam RAI received three important certificates, namely an ISO-14001 certification, a golden recertification from Green Key and a silver recertification from EarthCheck. The certifications confirm that Amsterdam RAI has managed to firmly establish its sustainability policy and goals within its organisation and operational processes.
Sustainability goals
Amsterdam RAI strives becoming a leader in the field of sustainability within the conference and event industry by 2013. She is being reinforced by similar organisations, which allows the RAI to exchange knowledge and experience with other exhibition and conference centres, and stimulates it to take CSR activities to a higher level. Over the coming period, Amsterdam RAI will study how CSR can be made more measurable and identifiable within the organisation. This will allow the RAI to better monitor its own progress, and demonstrate that Amsterdam RAI is realising its aim to be a frontrunner in this field.
Seven themes
Amsterdam RAI has divided its sustainability goals into seven themes: energy and climate, mobility, water, waste, employees, procurement and social engagement. The RAI is a European frontrunner in the waste theme and in 2011 succeeded in the difficult challenge of finding an end product for carpets. Carpet waste is now used as a combustion product in the cement industry. EarthCheck was particularly impressed with the waste separation process at Amsterdam RAI. With its silver EarthCheck recertification, Amsterdam RAI maintains its leading position in the European MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions & Exhibitions) market with regards to eco-friendly business.
GRI B
The sustainability report was developed in cooperation with the BECO Groep and established in accordance with the guidelines of the GRI B (Global Reporting Initiative). The complete sustainability report 2011 is available via www.rai.nl/csr<http://www.rai.nl/csr>
