SEMS Tool

The SEMS Tool is the world leader in sustainable event management systems. SEMS teaches you how to plan, organize, measure and report on the sustainability performance of your event or meeting. It is easy to use and accessible anywhere. SEMS provides you and your team with a comprehensive knowledge of world’s best sustainable event practice, and a framework to implement it on your events. It assists you to identify issues and potential efficiencies and offers a process to achieve tangible outcomes that are measurable.

What does SEMS do?

The SEMS Tool is a sustainability management system which enables users to establish best practice in the sustainability management of their events. Once you have set up your event, you and your team are guided through the application of the methodology by answering a series of questions and completing various calculators. At each stage you are offered guidance on how to improve your level of compliance. Upon completion you are given a score; which can then be used as a benchmark for future improvement.

The SEMS methodology is in line with events sustainability standards ISO 20121, BS8901, CSA Z2010, and BNQ9700-253 and can be used in any country around the world. The SEMS Tool is an online tool that is accessible anywhere in the world with standard internet access. It has been optimized for use on the iPad. The SEMS calculators include international emission factors which means the GHG emission factors are tailored to the country in which the event is held.
The SEMS Tool includes:

• Self-Assessment Reporting: at any stage you can generate a report capturing your current progress on the event.
• Resource and Emissions Calculators: enables you to measure and report on resource use and GHG emissions produced across office energy and waste, and event energy, waste, water, and travel.
• Online Consultancy & Support: access to online consultant to help you in the application of SEMS to your event.

View the video demonstration below:



SEMS Tool 2.0 has just been released with major enhancements.

• SEMS 2.0 SEMS is in line with event sustainability standards including the British 'BS8901', the Canadian 'CSAZ2010', 'BNQ9700-253' and the soon to be released international 'ISO20121 Sustainable Event Management Systems'. SEMS also will help in gathering reporting requirements for the Global Reporting Initiative’s Event Organizers Sector Supplement.
• The calculators now include international emission factors which provide relevant results on a country by country basis.
• Compliance or tiered user levels have been added to enable practitioners to engage with the Tool at an appropriate level for their organization.

How can SEMS help

The SEMS Tool enables you to:

• educate yourself, your team and your supply chain on best practice for sustainable event management
• benchmark, track and report on the sustainability of your events
• comply with international standards for sustainable event management
• help identify opportunities for cost savings in managing your event

Who should use SEMS?

Anyone who is involved with the events industry and cares about sustainability (or provides services to someone that does):

• event planners
• event owners
• suppliers
• environmental consultants wanting to work with the event industry

Work at your own pace

Implementing sustainable business practices is an ongoing process. Sustainable Event Solutions recognizes that organizations need to be able to work at a level appropriate to their experience and The SEMS Tool recognizes this and offers practitioners the opportunity to implement SEMS across their event at three levels.

• SEMS Basics: for entry level event sustainability practitioners.
• SEMS Essentials: for those who have a certain level of event sustainability knowledge within their team and are implementing sustainability initiatives.
• SEMS Compliance: for skilled event sustainability practitioners who are aiming to comply with international standards and reporting protocols.