Secondary Introduction

Download: 11-14 Guide to GetGreenGo™
(File type: Adobe Acrobat document, File size: 1672kb)

Download: 14-19 Guide to GetGreenGo™
(File type: Adobe Acrobat document, File size: 1631kb)

The challenge for us all

We need to change how we use our planet's resources. If we're not careful, many could run out. Fossil fuel resources, like oil, gas and coal, power our homes, cars and towns. But our dependence on fossil fuels is leading to potentially disastrous global climate change.

We need to use resources in more sustainable ways. This will help to save them for the future. Could you do this for a school event?

How BSI standards can help

BSI British Standards (BSI) is the UK's 'National Standards Body'. Standards are guidelines for businesses to follow that help them to make safe decisions, build on best practice, and maintain quality.

Standards help organizations to be more sustainable. For example, standards can help them to reduce, recycle, reuse, and rethink more.

The British Standard, BS 8901 is for people who organize events. This might be a music concert, festival, sports event, or even a large meeting. The standard will help events to use fewer resources.

There are thousands of events each year in the UK. Together, they use a lot of natural resources. Leading events' organizers helped us to create this standard. They include Lord's Cricket Ground and Live Nation - the world's biggest concert promoter and organizer. They helped us create a standard that the whole events industry can use. This will make a real difference to the environment.

In 2012 the London Olympics will be the largest event the UK has ever seen. During the games 50,000 athletes and officials, 140,000 staff and volunteers and 500,000 spectators will visit the massive Olympic Park every day. Making the 2012 Olympics sustainable will be an enormous challenge and London 2012 strongly supports the creation of the standard.

Find out more about the British Standard, BS 8901: 2007 Specification for a sustainable event management system with guidance for use.

Why you are important

An event at your school might seem tiny compared to the Olympics. But there are over 30,000 schools in the UK! Each school holds many events each year: parents' evenings, concerts, sports days and fairs.

We can all make a difference. If every school makes its events a little more sustainable, these small changes will add up. Together, they become a big change for the better.

Your challenge: make one of your school events a sustainable success!

To get started, open or download the Student Guide for your age group
11-14 Student Guide
(File type: Adobe Acrobat document, File size: 1672kb)
14-19 Student Guide
(File type: Adobe Acrobat document, File size: 1632kb)