GEO Tournament Certification for Tournament Directors
Inside the Ropes
VALUE OF GEO CERTIFICATION
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Embedding cost saving, resource efficiencies across event management
Aligning event management to sponsor’s corporate sustainability values
Ensuring supply chains have sustainability values
Supporting the presentation of a strong sustainability case to regulators and local communities
Access to constructive mentoring from an accredited GEO Sustainability Associate (GEOSA)
GEO Certification or progress towards external third party certification for Sustainable Event Management
Certification will showcase sustainable course management of a venue and show creativity and responsibility to the
planning and delivery of events.
Planning
A clear statement of intent, engagement with all stakeholders and interested parties and the identification of the
main impact areas is essential at the planning stage.
Course selection
Course management is critical to delivering a sustainable event and tournaments are to be held at courses that have
achieved GEO OnCourse certification.
Staging
The physical staging of the tournament has the potential to create waste, produce emissions and damage habitats.
However, there are also opportunities to positively engage with suppliers and contractors and deliver a tournament
that showcases sustainable products and services delivering a very positive message.
In summary, to deliver a certified event, the following is necessary:
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No unnecessary use of resources – water, energy, fuels
Minimisation of waste, maximising reuse, recycling and avoidance of waste to landfill
Positive engagement of suppliers
Site protection mitigating risk of environmental damage and pollution
Proactive management of natural areas around the course and restoration of any clearing or damage as a
result of the tournament
Engaging with local communities and leaving a positive lasting legacy from the event
The event staging
The majority of sustainability interest in event staging is outside the ropes. However, some requirements fall inside
the ropes and overlap with the requirements from the Tournament Directors. The following points are covered in
the Tournament Directors checklist in the initial planning meeting and there are a number of associated
requirements that are included in these points.
Activity
Target
Expectations
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Waste
Reduce waste as far as possible,
maximise recycling and send
zero waste to landfill.
Waste recycling facilities and segregation of plastic bottles
and general food waste, food wrappers on the tees and
other places around the course.
Offices and
toilets
Deliver a low carbon and low
water consumption across its
staging infrastructure.
Temporary offices and toilets to be modern have energy
efficient lighting with automatic controls to switch off when
not in use and water efficient toilets.
Buggies
Deliver a low carbon/ low
energy-consuming event and
ensure there is no pollution
caused from the event.
Buggies being as energy efficient as possible. Electric buggies
recharged from low carbon sources if possible and fuel
driven buggies kept to a minimum with precautions taken
for fuel leaks either as a result of accidents or refuelling.
Transport
Deliver a low carbon/ low
energy-consuming event.
Hotel
Deliver a low carbon event.
Low carbon transport options, working with sponsors to
deliver hybrid or electric vehicles to transport players and
officials. Transport logistics should be coordinated to
minimise the number of journeys made whilst providing
required service to the players.
Where a ‘green’ alternative exists, this choice of hotel to be
made - it is estimated that hotels that are part of a green
accreditation scheme typically have 10% lower carbon
footprint than equivalent hotels.
Catering
Deliver sustainable
procurement across its activities
including catering.
Power
Deliver a low carbon event.
Physio and
medical
units
Reduce waste as far as possible,
maximise recycling and send
zero waste to landfill.
Badges/
ticketing
Reduce waste as far as possible,
maximise recycling and send
zero waste to landfill.
Alternatives to paper ticketing utilised and minimal waste
produced from ticketing, badges and accreditation.
Emergency
services
Achieve zero environmental
incidences through staging the
event.
On site
services
Reduce waste as far as possible,
maximise recycling and sending
zero waste to landfill.
An environmental risk assessment undertaken identifying
any relevant mitigation and incident management as part of
the Event Safety Plan that includes aspects of health, safety
and environmental incidents
Waste contractor able to identify waste reuse options across
the event, as well as provide waste recycling facilities and
zero to landfill option for the residual waste.
Signposting/
signwriting
Reduce waste as far as possible,
maximise recycling and sending
zero waste to landfill.
Catering products to be locally produced, organic, fair-trade,
healthy, etc. This is detailed in the procurement code. We
would also expect caterers to reduce their waste as far as
possible, have identified any reuse potential for unused food
and manage their waste, including any waste cooking oil
appropriately.
Power to be optimised across the temporary overlay so as to
minimise the quantity of temporary generators. We would
also expect low carbon alternatives to diesel generators to
be utilised wherever possible.
Relevant waste disposal facilities including, if appropriate,
special medical disposal facilities
Signage designed with reuse in mind with appropriate
storage between event years.
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