IACC Develops Sustainability Designation

The International Association of Conference Centers recentlyintroduced its Code of Sustainability, which rates member fulfillment of sustainable practices in categories including recycling, water conservation and waste and energy management.

IACC asked member properties to "determine their status with regard to 59 practices" in the area of sustainability.

IACC updates on its Web site list signatories that fall into one of three tiers: platinum, meaning 100 percent of the code's practices are in place; gold, wherein 85 percent of the practices are in place; and silver, with at minimum 75 percent of practices in place. Since launching the program in May, only one property—the Johnson Foundation's Wingspread Conference Center—has gained the highest status, while 23 conferhave achieved gold status and 17 have achieved silver status.

IACC sustainability committee chair Lois Berg, also director of administrative services at The Johnson Foundation, said the code enables properties to "commit to sustain and support IACC's environmental policy."