CED CED Sustainability & Environmental Responsibility 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which certification is widely recognized as the global standard for sustainable event management?
- ISO 20121 (Correct answer)
- ISO 9001
- LEED Gold
- GreenStar
Correct answer: ISO 20121
ISO 20121 is the internationally recognized standard specifically designed for sustainable event management systems.
Question 2: A CED wants to reduce an event's carbon footprint from transportation. The MOST effective strategy is:
- Selecting a venue accessible by public transit and offering shuttle services (Correct answer)
- Printing carbon offset certificates for all attendees
- Hosting the event outdoors
- Limiting the event to local vendors only
Correct answer: Selecting a venue accessible by public transit and offering shuttle services
Choosing transit-accessible venues and organizing group transportation significantly reduces per-attendee carbon emissions compared to individual car travel.
Question 3: Which food and beverage practice best supports event sustainability goals?
- Sourcing locally grown, seasonal ingredients from regional suppliers (Correct answer)
- Ordering pre-packaged meals from national distributors
- Using single-use plastic utensils for easy cleanup
- Serving only vegetarian options regardless of guest preferences
Correct answer: Sourcing locally grown, seasonal ingredients from regional suppliers
Local, seasonal sourcing reduces transportation emissions and supports regional economies, making it a core sustainable food and beverage practice.
Question 4: What does the term 'zero-waste event' mean in practice?
- Diverting at least 90% of waste from landfill through reuse, recycling, and composting (Correct answer)
- Producing no food at the event
- Eliminating all printed materials
- Using only biodegradable décor
Correct answer: Diverting at least 90% of waste from landfill through reuse, recycling, and composting
A zero-waste event typically aims to divert 90% or more of waste away from landfill through systematic reuse, recycling, and composting programs.
Question 5: Which metric is commonly used to measure an event's environmental impact from energy use and travel?
- Carbon footprint (CO₂ equivalent emissions) (Correct answer)
- Net promoter score
- Return on investment
- Attendee satisfaction index
Correct answer: Carbon footprint (CO₂ equivalent emissions)
Carbon footprint, expressed in CO₂ equivalent emissions, is the standard metric for quantifying an event's overall environmental impact from energy and travel.
Question 6: Single-use plastics at events can best be replaced with:
- Compostable or reusable serviceware (Correct answer)
- Paper straws only
- Biodegradable plastic alternatives
- Eliminating all beverage service
Correct answer: Compostable or reusable serviceware
Compostable or reusable serviceware eliminates the need for single-use plastics while maintaining full beverage and food service capability.
CED CED Sustainability & Environmental Responsibility 1
Which certification is widely recognized as the global standard for sustainable event management?