Image Audiovisuals has become the first audio visual production company in the world to be certified to a new international sustainability standard designed to promote responsible environmental and social practices in the event industry. Image Audiovisuals achieved Level One certification with the ASTM Standard pertaining to the Evaluation and Selection of Audio Visual (AV) and Production Environmentally Sustainable Meetings, Events, Trade Shows, and Conferences (E2745-11).

iCompli, a division of BPA Worldwide, a non-profit international auditing organization headquartered in Shelton, CT, developed the certification protocols for the new standards and performed the independent third-party certification of VISIT DENVER’s compliance with the destination standard. iCompli is the first third-party auditing organization to be endorsed by GMIC as a provider of ASTM certification.

David Kreutz, Director of Operations, commented, “We are delighted to be the first AV company to be certified to the new industry standard. Sustainability is a critical issue in the event industry and all of us who are suppliers need to do our part to improve our performance. What’s more, in a very competitive business environment, sustainability certification could prove to be the deciding factor in winning or losing a contract.”

Image Audiovisuals which has an onsite office at the Colorado Convention Center (CCC) was initially approached by the Convention Center and encouraged to pursue certification. In December CCC became the first venue to be certified to the ASTM Venue Standard.

John Adams, Regional Vice President for SMG and General Manager of the Convention Center explains, "We believe that the Convention Center and Denver itself will be perceived as a more attractive destination for exhibitions and events if all of its key suppliers are operating sustainably. Certification to the event industry standard is proof that our commitment to environmental and social responsibility is more than lip service.”

E2745-11 is one of nine formal, voluntary standards developed by the meetings, conventions, exhibitions and events industry to provide event planners and suppliers with specifications for producing events in a more sustainable manner. The standards were created in partnership with ASTM International, an ANSI-accredited standards development organization.

The E2745-11 Audio Visual and Production Standard delineates the procedural requirements for the audio visual and production services associated with meetings, events, trades shows or conferences. The standard specifies specific performance criteria for staff management, communications, waste management, energy, air quality, water, procurement, and community partners.

Tamara Kennedy, Executive Director of the GMIC (Green Meeting and Industry Council), the non-profit professional meetings association that spearheaded the development of the ASTM Sustainable Meeting Standards, said, "Image AV’s certification is evidence that suppliers are beginning to see the importance of acting in a more environmentally and socially conscious manner, but the business advantages of differentiation around sustainability.”  

About Image Audiovisuals
Image Audiovisuals is one of the western United States’ largest providers of event production, advanced rental and staging technologies, conference recording and digital webcasting, in-house hotel AV services, commercial systems integration and home automation. The company is based in Denver with offices in Denver, Aurora and Summit County, Colorado. www.imageav.com.

About the Green Meeting Industry Council
The Green Meeting Industry Council is a) non-profit, membership-based professional organization which provides educational resources to planners, suppliers, and venues seeking to meet the ever-rising standards consumers set for sustainable meetings. www.gmicglobal.org

 About iCompli
ICompli is a division of BPA Worldwide, a not-for-profit auditing organization established in 1931 to audit newspaper and magazine circulation for publishers, advertisers and their agencies. Today, BPA's audit services have expanded to include external assurance of government and industry standards and independent verification of companies' technology and service claims. www.bpaww.com

iCompli/BPA Worldwide

iCompli/BPA Worldwide

ICompli is a division of BPA Worldwide, a not-for-profit auditing organization established in 1931 to audit newspaper and magazine circulation for publishers, advertisers and their agencies. Today, BPA’s audit services have expanded to include external assurance of government and industry standards and independent verification of companies’ technology and service claims.

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