CMM CMM Sustainability & Ethical Practices 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which globally recognized standard specifically addresses sustainable event management practices?
- ISO 9001
- ISO 20121 (Correct answer)
- ISO 14001
- ASTM E2774
Correct answer: ISO 20121
ISO 20121 is the international standard for sustainable event management, providing a framework for improving the sustainability of events.
Question 2: A CMM wants to reduce the carbon footprint of an annual conference. Which action has the GREATEST single impact?
- Switching to digital name badges
- Selecting a venue accessible by public transportation or near attendee concentrations to reduce air travel (Correct answer)
- Using recycled paper for printed materials
- Offering plant-based meal options
Correct answer: Selecting a venue accessible by public transportation or near attendee concentrations to reduce air travel
Reducing attendee air travel—by choosing a centrally located or transit-accessible venue—typically has the largest single impact on an event's total carbon footprint.
Question 3: Which of the following BEST describes 'greenwashing' in the meetings industry?
- Using green-colored branding in event marketing
- Overstating or falsely claiming environmental sustainability efforts to appear eco-friendly (Correct answer)
- Hosting outdoor events in natural settings
- Partnering with environmental charities
Correct answer: Overstating or falsely claiming environmental sustainability efforts to appear eco-friendly
Greenwashing refers to misleading claims about environmental practices, which damages credibility and can expose an organization to legal or reputational risk.
Question 4: Under the CMP Standards of Conduct, a meeting professional who receives a gift from a vendor should:
- Accept it discreetly without disclosing it
- Disclose it according to organizational policy and consider whether it creates a conflict of interest (Correct answer)
- Return it immediately regardless of value
- Accept it only if the event is complete
Correct answer: Disclose it according to organizational policy and consider whether it creates a conflict of interest
The CMP Standards of Conduct require disclosure of gifts per organizational policy and careful evaluation of whether acceptance creates an actual or perceived conflict of interest.
Question 5: What does a sustainable food and beverage strategy at a meeting typically include?
- Importing exotic foods to impress attendees
- Sourcing locally grown, seasonal foods and minimizing food waste through careful quantity planning (Correct answer)
- Offering an unlimited buffet to ensure no one goes hungry
- Prioritizing branded packaged snacks for convenience
Correct answer: Sourcing locally grown, seasonal foods and minimizing food waste through careful quantity planning
Local, seasonal sourcing reduces transportation emissions while precise quantity planning minimizes the waste that ends up in landfills.
Question 6: Which metric is commonly used to measure and report an event's environmental impact?
- Net Promoter Score (NPS)
- Carbon footprint in metric tons of CO2 equivalent (Correct answer)
- Cost per attendee
- Sponsorship revenue per session
Correct answer: Carbon footprint in metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Carbon footprint expressed in metric tons of CO2 equivalent is the standard metric for quantifying and communicating an event's environmental impact.
CMM CMM Sustainability & Ethical Practices 1
Which globally recognized standard specifically addresses sustainable event management practices?