Vision 2013 Las Vegas: Event Sustainability Report

Transcription

1 Vision 2013 Las Vegas: Event Sustainability Report

2 p. 2 CONTENTS Executive Summary About Symantec Vision Management Approach Performance Review Progress, Opportunity and Innovation Community Outreach Increasing Sustainability Performance Performance Indicators About This Report

3 p. 3 Executive Summery This, our second Event Sustainability Report is entitled Taking Action as it explains the next step in our journey to plan better, smarter events. Last year for Vision Barcelona we implemented a comprehensive sustainability strategy, audited our processes and measured our footprint. For Vision Las Vegas we took those learnings and worked to engage our internal teams and suppliers to rethink and improve procedures, and improve our purchasing decisions. At Vision Las Vegas we once again conducted a third party audit of our processes and performed a more exhaustive environmental impact assessment. I am proud to say that the performance of our sustainable event management processes as measured by the MeetGreen Calculator increased from a score of 52 in Barcelona to 70 in Las Vegas. Key successes included: percent of key suppliers were assessed for sustainability percent of signage was diverted from landfill. 45 percent of this signage was made from more sustainable substrate materials percent of food was sourced within 400 miles percent of waste was diverted from landfill due to improved design, material usage and waste management procedures 5. Integration and support of two community projects While we are pleased with the progress made, we still are at the initial steps of our journey towards greater sustainability and leadership across a range of corporate events. Areas identified for improvement in future years include: 1. Tighter integration of sustainability into the meeting design process 2. Enhance integration of sustainability criteria into supplier engagement, contracting and performance management 3. Work closer with chefs and caterers to serve more healthy and vegetarian food options, source local produce, and use more sustainable service ware 4. Rethink and evolve the design of the Expo and event branding to maximize reuse of signage; reduce use of foam core, vinyl and fabric; and switch to more sustainable print substrates (i.e. Falcon and Eco board) 5. Improve integration of Symantec s ethical and responsible sourcing practices when procuring event merchandising As we look to the future and rethink our plans for Vision conferences, we will be working closely with our suppliers to use sustainability as a catalyst to innovate, and to improve the value of our corporate events for the attendees, the community, the planet, our brand and ultimately our bottom line results. David R Hunt Vice President Global Corporate Events,

4 p. 4 About Symantec Vision Symantec is a global provider of security, storage, and systems management solutions that helps organizations and consumers secure and manage their informationdriven world. Our software and services protect against advanced threats enabling confidence wherever information is used or stored. Symantec Vision Vision in Las Vegas is Symantec s flagship annual technology user conference that brings together customers, partners, sponsors, and industry experts to engage in powerful discussions about the challenges of today s information driven world. The conference provides high quality technical training and networking for our customers and partners, including a keynote program, breakout sessions, hands-on labs, exhibition, one-on-one meetings with product experts and Symantec executives, roundtables and several networking events. In the past year Vision conferences were held in the United States, Europe and South America. Planning Event management for Vision Las Vegas was led by Symantec s Global Corporate Events team. The core Vision team was comprised of a large group of cross-functional Symantec employees from various departments across different countries, and several key event suppliers. The conference sustainability initiative was led by the corporate events sustainability team with input from the Corporate Responsibility department, and external consultants MCI Sustainability Services, who also provided assessment and reporting. Vision Barcelona 2012: At a glance April 15th to 18th ,851m2 (655,000ft2) of conference space 2,320 participants, of whom 8 percent were women 37 sponsors 120 breakout sessions, labs and workshops 115 ancillary meetings 18,343 social media interactions 16,843 On Demand virtual attendance Symantec s mission is to make the world a safer place by protecting and managing information so everyone is free to focus on achieving their goals. We also know that integrating corporate responsibility into everything we do will help us achieve our business strategy and deliver value for our employees, customers, and shareholders, driving us to operate with integrity, respect for the environment and a commitment to positive social impact across the globe.

5 p. 5 MANAGEMENT APPROACH

6 p. 6 MANAGEMENT APPROACH Symantec Approach to Corporate Responsibility At Symantec, we conduct our business with a commitment to ethical operation, sound environmental management, and positive societal impact. Our corporate responsibility platform is organized into three pillars: Our People: talent management, diversity and inclusion, employee satisfaction Your Information: information protection, cybercrime, online safety, privacy The World: climate change, responsible sourcing and human rights, community investment To learn more about Symantec s Corporate Responsibility, visit our Corporate Responsibility Website. Vision Las Vegas Sustainability Approach In January 2013 the Symantec Global Events team developed a conference sustainability approach which builds on the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) International Event Sustainability Standard, and the experience gained on implementing sustainability initiatives at the previous Vision conferences in Europe and the US. The sustainability approach has five stages which were applied throughout the conference lifecycle. The overall aim was to continually improve the sustainability performance of the event through greater engagement, knowledge and decision making. Sustainable Event Strategy 1. Plan: In January 2013 an implementation strategy was developed that identified issues and challenges, and then specified goals and an action plan to improve social, environmental and economic sustainability. The plan was significantly influenced by the learnings gained from implementing a sustainability plan at the Vision Barcelona conference 2. Engage: In February, key internal and external stakeholders were engaged through a serious of online and face to face meetings. Symantec s sustainable event objectives and the sustainability plan were shared and feedback incorporated from the internal corporate responsibility team, the Symantec event team and the seven key event suppliers (venue, agencies, production, general contractors, etc.) 3. Do: Sustainability Performance Assessment Checklists were sent to internal and external suppliers, and meetings organized to find and procure more sustainable options, and/or change operating procedures 4. Check: Progress towards complying with the above requirements was checked regularly from February to April. Coaching and support was provided by an external consultancy when issues were encountered 5. Improve: Learnings from the Conference were reviewed and incorporated into the development of the Symantec Event Sustainability Manual and into the planning of future Symantec events Sustainability Issues and Challenges As a first step in the event sustainability strategy, Symantec s corporate responsibility material issues were mapped against the main event sustainability issues. Opportunities were then identified to address these risks and opportunities. This process helped the events team better understand and communicate the business case for integrating sustainability into the event business model, and to align Vision s social responsibility projects with Symantec s philanthropic focus areas.

7 p. 7 MANAGEMENT APPROACH The Business Case for Sustainable Events Material issues, challenges and opportunities Symantec Corporate Responsibility Relevant Issues Climate Change Stakeholder Engagement Securing Information Customer Satisfaction Event Sustainability Challenges CO2 emissions from participant transportation and event operations Waste: from food and beverage, production and Expo Sustainability of food and beverage options Sustainability knowledge of event team and suppliers Engagement and performance of event team and suppliers Delegate satisfaction and event experience Business Opportunities Minimize environmental footprint and associated cost Leave a legacy of positive social impact Engage suppliers to create a more sustainable supply chain Raise awareness of global sustainability issues and Symantec response Use sustainability as a catalyst to drive event innovation Integrating sustainability into our corporate events is a great example of how Symantec embraces corporate responsibility in its day-to-day operations. It s a way to encourage our suppliers and staff to rethink current processes, and challenge them to innovate, resulting in better products and solutions for our customers. Our sustainable events are a key part of our global corporate responsibility strategy and help to inspire our employees, customers and local communities globally. Kelly Shea - Global Sustainability Program Manager, Symantec Corporate Responsibility Team

8 p. 8 MANAGEMENT APPROACH Objectives and Performance Strategic Area Strategic Objective Result ENGAGE DO CHECK Engage key suppliers to support sustainability program Reduce waste created by event and increase the waste diversion rate Increase healthiness, variety and sustainability of food and beverages Demonstrate Symantec's commitment to local communities by organizing social responsibility projects Raise awareness of global sustainability concerns, and Symantec's commitment to sustainability throughout the conference Measure and analyze the environmental impacts of Vision Produce Sustainability Report following GRI G3 Guidelines and the Event Organizers Sector Supplement Achieved: Involved all seven key suppliers and internal teams in sustainability initiative Achieved: Waste diversion rate increased to over 48% through supplier engagement, purchasing decisions, and rethinking expo design and build Partial: Improved food offering and service. 60% of food sourced within 400 miles. 0% organic produce and 10% of food suitable for vegetarians indicates future improvements are required Achieved: Donated $10,000 to First Nevada project and donated all leftover materials to Teacher EXCHANGE Achieved: Information shared on conference website, event app, s, twitter, newsletters and onsite Achieved: All suppliers and internal teams provided data. Event scored 70% on MeetGreen Calculator Achieved: This report details event strategy, performance and learnings Implementing the sustainability plan at Vision Las Vegas has been a great learning experience for me is the starting year for our journey of making our US user conference a sustainable event that we can be proud of. The sustainability plan and its initiatives are not that hard to implement when you have all your main vendors and colleagues on board. The key for success is early planning, good communication and education. Teodora Neeva - Senior Marketing Events Specialist, Global Events, IMPROVE Review progress and develop standard operating procedures to simplify, and improve sustainable event management performance Achieved: Learnings incorporated into development of Symantec Sustainable Event approach and guidelines

9 p. 9 PERFORMANCE REVIEW

10 p. 10 PERFORMANCE REVIEW Sustainable Event Management Process Performance Event Audit System The MeetGreen calculator was used to evaluate the overall sustainability performance of the event management processes. The MeetGreen system aligns with the APEX-ASTM Environmentally Sustainable Meeting standards, and evaluates over 150 best practices to measure performance achievements and determine an overall meeting sustainability score in the following areas: Destination, Venue, Accommodation, Transportation, Food and Beverage, Exhibition Production, Audio/ Visual, Communications & Marketing, On-site Office and Offsets. Sustainable Event Management Process Performance Using the MeetGreen calculator, Vision Las Vegas 2013 earned an overall meeting sustainability score of 70 percent (100 percent being the best performance). The benchmarking chart compares the two Symantec Vision conferences against the sustainability practices of other events that were measured using the same MeetGreen methodology. The chart highlights that the sustainability performance of Vision Las Vegas is well above the average of 45 percent and a significant improvement against the Vision 2012 Barcelona score. This increase in performance is due to a combination of applying lessons learned from Barcelona; an increased focus on developing more effective sustainability processes and procedures; and better engagement of suppliers and internal event teams. At the same time, the chart highlights that more work is required to reach leadership or best practice performance. Event Sustainability Benchmarking The MeetGreen Calculator benchmarks the sustainability performance of an events sustainability management processes aganst 150 criteria, and compares this as a percentage score. Average Audited Event 45% Symantec Vision 2012, Barcelona 52% Symantec Vision 2013, Las Vegas UN Global Compact Leaders Summit 2013, NYC Global Reporting Initiative Conference 2013, Amsterdam Oracle OpenWorld 2013, San Francisco 70% 77% 82% 90%

11 p. 11 PERFORMANCE REVIEW 76% 74% 48% 75% 66% 68% 76% 44% 69% 60% 95% 56% 76% 57% 71% 48% Event Management Performance Ten categories of event management best practices were assessed by category. The 2013 Las Vegas Vision Conference was then benchmarked against the 2012 Barcelona Vision to see where we had improved and where greater improvement was possible. 31% 40 22% 20 Legend 0% 0% Vision Barcelona 2012 Vision Las Vegas 2013 Destination Accommodations Meeting Venue Transportation Food & Beverage Exposition Comm. & Marketing Onsite Office Audio Visual Offset Top Successes percent of key suppliers were assessed for sustainability percent of signage was diverted from landfill. 45 percent was made from a more sustainable substrate percent of food was sourced locally within 400 miles percent of waste was diverted from landfill due to improved design, material usage and waste management procedures 5. Integration and support of two community projects Top Opportunities 1. Integrate sustainability more tightly into the meeting design process 2. Enhance integration of sustainability criteria into supplier engagement, contracting and performance management 3. Work with chefs and caterers to serve more healthy, locally grown food, offer vegetarian menu options, and use more sustainable service ware 4. Rethink and evolve design of the Expo and branding to maximize reuse of signage; reduce use of foam core, vinyl and fabric; and switch to more sustainable print substrates (i.e. Falcon and Eco board). 5. Improve integration of Symantec s ethical and responsible sourcing practices when procuring event merchandising

12 p. 12 PROGRESS, OPPORTUNITY AND INNOVATION

13 p. 13 PROGRESS, OPPORTUNITY AND INNOVATION PROGRESS, OPPORTUNITY AND INNOVATION Customer Satisfaction Vision 2013 was a resounding success. 96 percent of attendees who replied to the post-event survey rated Vision as excellent or good, with 97 percent of attendees stating that they would recommend the event to others. The three reasons most cited for attending were quality networking opportunities, information increase and improvement of skills through high quality technical training. When questioned about sustainability, 83 percent of respondents thought it important for Symantec to address the environmental and social impacts of the conference. 88 percent were satisfied with Symantec s approach and event sustainability performance. The most commonly noticed sustainability initiatives were increased recycling, the reduction in water bottles and reduced paper usage. Delegates suggested that in the future Symantec should improve the sustainability and quality of food and beverages, provide more and separate recycling bins, and increase communication about the sustainability strategy. The Event produced a measurable total of 2,907 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents (tco2e), which is equal to the average total annual emissions of 169 US inhabitants, or 1,530 Brazilian inhabitants (source: US Department of Energy). This is also equivalent of driving a mid-sized petrol car for over 8.8 million miles (source; US EPA). The biggest GHG emissions source is from participant air travel, which represented 87 percent of the emissions total. Emissions resulting from the event venue and hotel represented approximately ten percent of the emissions total, with the remaining nine percent coming from paper, waste, local travel and food production. The total emissions prorate to an average of 1.2 tco2e per participant. Interestingly this is double the average emissions at Vision 2012 Barcelona (0.5 tco2e), which is primarily due to the increased flight emissions required to reach Las Vegas; particularly from the 30 percent of customers who flew in from outside of the US (i.e. Canada, Mexico and Brazil). Symantec Vision 2013, Las Vegas GHG Emissions by Catagory (tco 2 e) 1.70% 0.40% 0.29% 0.03% 0.54% 9.55% 87.49% Flights 87.49% Venue and Hotel 9.55% Waste Disposal 1.70% Food and Paper 0.54% Local Travel (taxies) 0.40% Expo and Branding Transportation 0.29% Water 0.03% Greenhouse Gas Emissions Total Event GHG (tco 2 e) Average GHG Per Event Participant (tco 2 e) Responsible event management requires planners to identify and track greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through an assessment of event related energy and fossil fuel usage. The measurement approach was developed in alignment with Symantec s global greenhouse gas measurement methodology, trialed at the Vision Barcelona Conference in 2012 and improved for Vision Las Vegas. The calculation now includes emissions generated from waste disposal, water supply and treatment of water and the transportation of the Expo and branding materials. GHG Emissions Vision 2012, Barcelona GHG Emissions Vision 2013, Las Vegas GHG Emissions Vision 2012, 1, Barcelona GHG Emissions Vision 2013, 2, Las Vegas

14 p. 14 PROGRESS, OPPORTUNITY AND INNOVATION Understanding and Reducing Event Waste The Vision conference produced 87.8 metric tonnes of waste. This is equivalent to the weight of seventy Mini Cooper S or Honda Civic cars. 48 percent of the waste created in the hotel and event spaces was diverted away from landfill. Waste generation in Las Vegas was almost ten times the amount created for the Barcelona Vision conference. This increase can be partly explained by the fact that hotel waste was included in the calculation for Las Vegas which the other event did not include. However, the big difference also indicates that there are significant geographic and cultural differences in waste production between European nations and the US. The Appendix table entitled: Performance Indicators has more detail on the waste streams. As a key component of the Symantec s corporate responsibility strategy, the Global Events team is focusing on improving upstream design and downstream waste management processes to reduce waste, save money and improve delegate experience. Key challenges and opportunities include: Branding: A key challenge for Symantec is the amount of single use carpet, signage and branding materials employed to decorate the plenary room, Expo hall and general areas. Over 727m2 (7825ft2) of carpeting and 1,623m2 (17,470ft2) of signage was used at the conference. Working with production suppliers and the venue sustainability team, a plan was developed to reduce waste by rethinking the build of Expo hall and brand environments. For example, the Expo was built almost entirely using modular aluminum booth systems that are manufactured using 65 percent of recycled metal and are recyclable on disposal. The Tuxedo carpet as made from 30 percent recycled materials. 80 percent of the carpet used at Vision was reused by the production company, with the remaining 20 percent being recycled. The Visquee plastic cover sheets used to protect the carpet during set up were made from 50 percent recycled content. Over 28 rolls were used and in the future general contractors should be engaged to identify ways to reduce such waste. The materials that are used to decorate the Expo booths are progressively being switched to more sustainable options. In this year s event Foam Core and Gator Board was replaced with Falcon and Eco Boards, which are more easily recyclable and less toxic to produce. These small changes alone improved the recycling of event materials to 85 percent, reducing a considerable 4 metric tonnes (8,500lbs) of waste that normally would have ended up in the landfill. Average Waste Per Event Participant (kg) Symantec Vision 2013, Las Vegas Symantec Vision 2012, Barcelona Oracle OpenWorld 2013, San Fransisco European Ecological Federation UN Rio+20 Corporate 0.84 GRI Global Conference

15 p. 15 PROGRESS, OPPORTUNITY AND INNOVATION Food and Beverage: 25 metric tonnes or 29 percent of all event waste was from food and beverages. This is a large percentage, which demands that event teams work with catering suppliers and delegates to better calculate the actual food required and served, and identify ways to reduce waste. Efforts were made to work with the venue s catering team to use as much ceramic, glass and metal service ware as possible to reduce the waste from disposables. To enable delegates the flexibility to eat on the go, during the morning program, disposable sustainable service ware was used for breakfast boxes. Performance would be improved if planners could find an alternative way to design the breakfast, and reduce/ eliminate the use of disposables. Every attendee was provided with a refillable metal water bottle, and water coolers were placed throughout the conference area. It was noticed that these bottles were not reused significantly during the event. One reason identified was that they were not pre-washed when unpacked and given to the clients, and another is that delegates left them in their hotel rooms on subsequent days. The best solution to water service is reusable glassware. Printing: During the event planning 50,000 letter pages were printed. Over 28 inserts, equating to 28,000 printed items, were provided by sponsors for inclusion in the conference bag. Symantec event teams would be advised to review the use of bag inserts, as there may be better ways to provide sponsors with brand visibility and return on their investment with less environmental impact. Waste Management Procedures: Working closely with suppliers, the waste diversion rate was increased to 48 percent, which meant that over 40 metric tonnes (89,804lbs) of waste was diverted and not put into landfill sites. Symantec consultants engaged with the event venue operations team and general contractor to use and support the existing waste management program that sorted and diverted over seven streams of waste including aluminum, plastic, cardboard, paper, food, oil and glass metric tonnes (176lbs) of signage was donated to the Teacher EXCHANGE program and converted into colorful art (see Community section on page 18), and food waste was composted and sent to a local pig farm. A materials collection point was established, and participants were invited to recycle products they did not wish to take home. Symantec donated these materials to the Teacher EXCHANGE program. Waste Management 46.49% 0.09% 52.04% Total Landfilled 52.04% Total Recycled 46.49% Total Donated 0.09% At Freeman we have been on our sustainability journey since 2006, and we realize that progress is only made through collaboration, partnering and leadership. The event team at Symantec asked us to partner with them to provide more sustainable services, and with everyone s support we were able to help them on their journey. Jeff Chase - Vice President of Sustainability, Freeman General Service Contractor to Symantec Waste Recycling 4% 29% 3% 2% 62% Organic Waste (composted) 62% Glass 29% Plastic 4% Metal 3% Paper and cardboard 2% Carpet 0%

16 p. 16 PROGRESS, OPPORTUNITY AND INNOVATION Venue, hotel and F&B The MGM Grand Resort demonstrated commitment to being a leader in environmental stewardship. They participate in the Green Key Green Meetings Program through their Green Advantage program. Green Key evaluates hotels based on their green practices on a scale of one to five Keys, with five keys being the highest ranking. They have a four key rating in the Green Key Eco-Certification and a five key rating in the Green Key Green Meetings Program. Working with a committed venue such as the MGM Grand, significantly improved sustainability results at the conference and reduced the work for event organizers. Early in the event planning MGM s operations and sustainability team were engaged and provided resources, expertise and support to make Vision a more sustainable conference. MGM was responsible for catering and sourced approximately 60 percent of food within 400 miles of Las Vegas. No organic food was included in the menus and 10 percent of menu options were suitable for vegetarians. Merchandising Procuring Responsibly Over 20,507 items of merchandising in 20 different categories of products were procured for Vision Las Vegas. This was 10 percent less than the Vision conference in Barcelona. Merchandising varied from conference bags, to T-shirts, water bottles, badge holders, lanyards and wristbands. While improvements in sourcing were integrated, additional steps to more closely adhere to responsible procurement guidelines can be made. For example, the purchase of merchandising products manufactured with reused and recycled content could be encouraged; suppliers could be engaged to review how materials are boxed and shipped; and the sourcing of fair trade and ethically produced products could be increased. Careful attention to sustainability criteria will be required by event planners in the future as Symantec implements a more rigorous sustainable procurement program, which requires that suppliers are in compliance with the Symantec Supplier Code of Conduct. Consideration to eliminate plastic wrapping for merchandising will minimize amount of waste produced. Or if not possible ensure it is made of recycled materials or is recyclable. By improving purchasing decisions, the Global events team would strengthen Symantec s commitment to stringent labor, ethics, environmental, and health and safety requirements, and powerfully communicate Symantec s commitment to responsible business and innovation.

17 p. 17 PROGRESS, OPPORTUNITY AND INNOVATION Managing the IT Environment A key environmental impact at IT conferences is the electricity consumed by the large number of servers and PCs. At Vision over 200 servers and PCs were used in the workshops, labs and breakout sessions. The Symantec event IT team replaced the previous eight PC server racks with four Mini Mac servers. In addition to the energy savings, the reduction in size and weight of equipment to be shipped saved on transportation costs. For the labs and training classes, all handout materials were eliminated. Instead, participants were provided with dual screens. Not only did this eliminate the printing and waste of over 30,000 sheets of paper, the innovation improved the student experience and simplified the instructor s preparation work. Audiovisual Productions Working with production partners, the plenary sessions were built and produced using modular and reusable equipment that resulted in almost zero waste. LED video walls were used in combination with highly efficient projectors, resulting in a 70 percent reduction in energy usage. Their compact and light design of new equipment allowed all materials to be loaded into only two trucks, which provided a significant reduction in emissions and costs compared to previous Vision conferences, when four or more trucks were used. Attendee Communication Internal and external communication with an objective of raising awareness of the sustainability initiative started in March with articles in the conference newsletter, and a section dedicated to sustainability on the website. During the event, sustainability was included in event news updates, digital media boards, the mobile app, and in the pocket guide. Improved communication could have been achieved with the implementation of a sustainability wall similar to that used in Vision Barcelona. Sustainability was incorporated into the event program with the selection of Recycled Percussion as the gala night entertainment. This band s junk rock combines recycled objects and rock instruments into a uniquely high-energy blend of rock, funk, and pop.

18 p. 18 COMMUNITY OUTREACH

19 p. 19 COMMUNITY OUTREACH Symantec supported three different organizations at Vision Las Vegas: 1. Teacher s Exchange: In collaboration with the MGM Grand and Freeman, all unwanted backpacks, notebooks, badge holders, and other conference materials were donated to the Teacher EXCHANGE program, a re-use and recycle resource center for all Southern Nevada public school teachers. A donation point was setup where participants could drop off unwanted materials throughout the conference. The large format signage was also donated and this was turned into pieces of very colourful artwork at local schools. 2. NPower s mission is to help nonprofits, schools and individuals build technology skills by harnessing the power of the tech community. At the conference Symentec presented a check to NPower executives during the Women in Technology reception. 3. FIRST Nevada inspires youth to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that inspire innovation, and fosters well-rounded life capabilities including selfconfidence, communication, and leadership. Symantec provided a $10,000 donation to the Las Vegas FIRST Nevada Robotics Competition during the conference and invited local participatants of the National Robotics Challenge to come on-site and demonstrate their robots to the Vision participants.

20 p. 20 COMMUNITY OUTREACH Vision Barcelona was the first time we created a comprehensive sustainability event strategy, took action and measured our footprint. From that baseline we gained new knowledge and created improved processes that helped us to innovate, drive sustainability performance and improve our customers experience at Vision Las Vegas. Claudia van t Hullenaar Principal Specialist, Global Corporate Events, EMEA

21 p. 21 INCREASING SUSTAINABILITY PERFORMANCE

22 p. 22 INCREASEING SUSTAINABILITY PERFORMANCE At the final stage of the Vision event sustainability approach, we review progress and identify areas where we can improve sustainability performance at future large and small events. We share these conclusions in order to contribute to the development of a global Symantec sustainable event strategy, and to help other organizers implement more sustainable events. Integrate sustainability into event design With Vision Barcelona and Las Vegas we have learnt that greater results are achieved when sustainability is considered as one of the core design principles of the event, rather than an add on component. By integrating sustainability into event strategy during the initial planning stages of meeting design and organization, it is much easier to engage internal team members and suppliers, leading to improved performance, cost efficiencies and innovation. This is particularly evident when sustainability is incorporated into the early stages of Expo and branding design and planning. By integrating environmental considerations earlier in the process, Symantec designers can work with suppliers to explore the use of new, more sustainable materials and rethink designs. Looking ahead the events team can start to identify elements of the event branding that can be reused for multiple events. Many other organizers have found ways to neutrally brand, and reuse a percentage (20 to 40%) of branding by eliminating the reference of the year or particular event brand on some signage. After considering the cost of storage and transportation, this could potentially reduce costs and environmental impacts. Education There are varying levels of knowledge and experience of sustainable event management within the internal and external supply chain. It is important to develop more formal education activities to ensure that sustainability is part of the learning path of all Symantec event staff. The new Symantec Sustainable Events Manual under development will provide best practices and examples of standard operating procedures and checklists based on industry standards. Regular communication via internal team updates, meetings and training classes needs to continue as this is an effective way to develop skills, share best practices and improve performance. The event sustainability team has a key role to enable the development and sharing of knowledge through the internal event team and amongst partners.

23 p. 23 INCREASEING SUSTAINABILITY PERFORMANCE Procurement Performance will be increased across all Symantec s events if a sustainable event policy is developed and used as a tool to formally communicate sustainability expectations and requirements to suppliers and partners in the event category (i.e. venue, event agencies, transportation companies). This policy can be formally integrated into the procurement processes, including requests for proposals, master agreements, and the contracting of new and existing suppliers. Assessing the sustainability performance of the supply chain in regular review meetings provides the opportunity to address performance issues, implement process efficiencies and identify new ways to partner on sustainability. Many suppliers have their own sustainability initiatives, and collaboration can be a more efficient way for all parties to achieve their goals and make a significant combined impact. Use FLOSS principles for food and beverage Improving the sustainability of the food and beverage offerings is relatively simple and can deliver significant improvement to the participant experience at parity cost. Food inspires powerful emotions and feelings, and menus can be designed to powerfully communicate the local culture and identity of the event. Careful attention to menu planning by reviewing and rethinking event menus, collaborating with chefs and caterers will create more exciting, healthier and diverse options. Messaging boards, story cards and food labels can be used to emphasize Greener, tastier and healthy options, and can be supported by assurance marks such as Fairtrade, Marine Stewardship Council and SOIL. This labeling can be used to share facts about the producer and to weave a story about Symantec s commitment to better food sourcing. The FLOSS methodology used at Visions, is a good guide to assist menu design and procurement: FLOSS stands for Fresh, Local, Organic, Seasonal and Sustainable. Symantec event organizers can communicate and discuss the FLOSS concept with catering partners (venue, hotel and restaurants), and invite them to propose more balanced, healthier and exciting options. Catering suppliers are best engaged at an early stage in the event planning process to find local suppliers and sustainable options at reasonable cost. It is important to state that event menus do not have to be 100 percent FLOSS. Switching to 100 percent organic, for example, may be too expensive in many markets; however, an evolving approach to incorporating these principles can be started and incorporated into different areas of the event, such as an organic coffee break, a fresh fruit juice stand, or a buffet of locally produced cheese. Food Management 29 percent of all event waste at Vision was food. Event teams are advised to work more closely with catering suppliers and interview delegates to better calculate the actual food required and served, and identify ways to reduce this waste and associated cost. A key challenge for event teams is the increasing tendency of caterers to use disposable food service ware. In these cases venues and caterers should be engaged and requested to provide biodegradable or recyclable service ware at parity costs. Planners should also check to see that the venues waste management practices can process compostable or biodegradable materials. However, a better and simpler solution is to use ceramic plates and cups, and metal cutlery, which have a significantly lower carbon and environmental footprint. In most cultures, people prefer ceramic ware as it represents a quality of service, which could increase attendee satisfaction.

24 p. 24 INCREASEING SUSTAINABILITY PERFORMANCE Rethink design: Reduce, reuse, recycle Over 524 m2 (5,640 ft2) of fabric, voile and vinyl was used for branding. Most of this material is not recyclable. PVC needs be phased out as it s highly toxic to produce and difficult to recycle. In parallel, Symantec teams can continue to develop their relationship with organizations such as Teacher EXCHANGE, and donate materials to local community groups. As a potential next step, unwanted vinyl banners could be upcycled and repurposed as event bags or ipad cases. Foam Core and Gator board can be replaced with more sustainable Falcon and Eco Boards, which are more easily and safely manufactured and recycled. Curved designs as used in the booths typically require PVC. Flat designs can be made from more sustainable Eco Boards, potentially leading to cost savings. New print systems are entering the market that print a thin disposable film on board that can be removed and recycled allowing the board to be reprinted and reused. The Symantec Cyber Ready Challenge and Hands-On Lab Rooms in the Expo are built from Perspex sheeting, which is easily scratched and then becomes difficult to reuse. A future possibility would be to use perplex for only the top part and then use a more sustainable solid material for the bottom which could be more easily reused, and could save costs.

25 p. 25 INCREASEING SUSTAINABILITY PERFORMANCE Standardize measurement and reporting There is considerable effort to collect data for a sustainability report as most partners and vendors are still unfamiliar and unaccustomed to providing sustainability data. With practice and provision of tools, measurement processes can become the new normal and a culture of sustainability reporting is created. Symantec s measurement needs are best explained to suppliers at project initiation and requirements included into procurement contracts. To facilitate this transition, both basic and advanced levels of reporting that correspond to the complexity and size of the event would need to be developed and implemented. Activate delegates Developing social responsibility projects with the local community is an excellent way to not only communicate Symantec s commitment to corporate responsibility, but also engage event participants. For future projects, there is an opportunity to research projects that ensure the charitable efforts make the biggest impact possible. This could include bringing onsite the community project, and more fully involve delegates. For example, it would be possible to organize a hands-on activity in a venue room where delegates could volunteer 30 to 60 minutes of their time to participate and support a variety of causes: i.e. preparing food boxes, making hygiene kits, building furniture, assembling bikes, creating decorative art. Create repeatable, sustainable processes Our continuing challenge is to incorporate sustainability into all of our standard operating processes. By implementing a more formal sustainable event management system we have the opportunity to not only improve environmental and social sustainability, but quality and risk management, whilst providing a system that allows for greater scalability of the event management team around the world. We will be looking at the ISO20121 International Standard for Sustainable Event Management to see how this could help us implement future processes, while aligning with our corporate sustainability strategy and environmental management systems. Conclusion Symantec is committed to integrating corporate responsibility into everything we do. With a commitment to continuous improvement and by implementing these practical recommendations Symantec will take on its role in our renewed commitment to leading in corporate responsibility. This report presents an opportunity to demonstrate event sustainability and inspire others in the meetings and events industry.

26 p. 26 PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

27 p. 27 PERFORMANCE INDICATORS Performance Indicators Symantec selects the following indicators to assess the sustainability impacts of the Vision conference, and the performance of the sustainability event management system. The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G3.1 Framework and the corresponding Event Organizers Sector Supplement is used to improve the disclosure of the data. Impacts KPI Data GRI Indicator Economic Participation Number of attendees 2,320 Investment in event sustainability Total expenditure to improve event sustainability $10,000 EN30 Total saving from event sustainability initiative $40,000 EN30 Attendee satisfaction Attendee importance of sustainability program 83% PR5 Social Attendee satisfaction with sustainability program 88% PR5 Overall attendee conference satisfaction rating 98% PR5 Stakeholder engagement Suppliers signing sustainability clauses in contract 0 HR2, EO7 Key suppliers evaluated for sustainability 86% HR2,EO7 Suppliers with eco-certification 1 HR2,EO7 Health and quality of air Space designated smoke free in venue 100% EO7 Injuries registered during event None LA7, PR1 Accessibility Hotels and venues with accessibility programme 100% PR1 Community Action Donations of cash or in-kind by Symantec $10,000 EO11 Environmental Number of charities and NGOs supported 2 EO11 Number of delegates and staff participating in community action projects Not Measured EO11 GHG emissions Total Carbon footprint (tonnes co2 equivalents) 2,907 EN16, EN17 Flights 2,544 EN16, EN17, EO2 Local travel (taxiis) 12 EN16, EN17, EO2 Water 1 EN16, EN17 Venue and Hotel 278 EN16, EN17 Expo and branding transportation 8 EN16, EN17 Food and Paper 16 EN16, EN17 Waste disposal 50 EN16, EN17 Event emissions as a percentage of s Greenhouse gas emissions in % EN16, EN17 Emissions per delegate (tonnes co2 equivalents) 1.25 EN16, EN17 Emissions offset 0 EN26

28 p. 28 PERFORMANCE INDICATORS Impacts KPI Data GRI Indicator Environmental Energy Electricity consumed (kwh). 691,568 EN4 Renewable energy used in venue 18% EN6 Gas consumer (kwh) 76,091 EN3 Water Water used (m 3 ) 916 EN8 Materials Sheets of A4/Letter paper used for printing. 50,635 EN1, EN26 Signage (m 2 ) 1,623 EN1, EN26 Signage made from sustainable substrate 45% EN1, EN26 Signage diverted away from landfill 85% EN1, EN26 Signage reused 0% EN1, EN26 Carpet used for event (m 2 ) 728 EN1, EN26 Carpet diverted from landfilled 80% EN1, EN26 Total number of merchandising items 20,507 EN1, EN26 Merchandising items sustainably sourced 12% EN1, EN26 Badges recollected (number and %) n/k EN1, EN26 Waste Total waste from event (Metric Tonnes) EN22 Total landfill EN22 Total reused (that normally is landfilled) 1.21 EN22 Total donated 0.08 EN22 Total recycled EN22 Organic waste (composted) EN22 Paper and cardboard 0.69 EN22 Glass EN22 Metal 1.17 EN22 Plastic 1.69 EN22 Carpet 0.25 EN22 Total diversion from landfill 48% EN22 Total waste per event participant (Tonnes) 0.04 EN22 Food Number meals served 9,590 Local sourced food produce (<400 miles) 60% EN26, EO5 Organic food sourced for meals 0% EN26, EO5 Vegetarian meals served 10% EN26, EO5 Plastic water bottles used in event 500 EN26, EO5 Plastic bottles not served due to bulk water dispenser 1,040 EN26, EO5 MeetGreen Event sustainability performance score 70%

29 p. 29 ABOUT THIS REPORT

30 p. 30 Report Scope Data in this report relates to the Symantec Vision Las Vegas Conference, which took place from April 14th through to April18th, It covers all areas of event logistics and production that are managed by Symantec Global Corporate Events Team. The information in this report is intended to address the primary concerns of Symantec s employees, customers, investors, and NGOs whose missions relate to Symantec s business and areas of operation. This report has been developed with direction from the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G3 Sustainability Reporting Guidelines and the Event Organizers Sector Supplement. Symantec s latest Corporate Responsibility Report can be found on the Corporate Responsibility website Contact Us We welcome your comments, questions and ideas. These can be submitted by to events_emea@symantec.com All rights reserved. Symantec and the Symantec Logo are registered trademarks of or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.