The Bowman Design Group has become the only company in the United States to earn
the “Sustainable Company” certification from FAMAB, the German exhibition and events industry association.
“Europe continues to lead the world toward a sustainable future,” said Tom Bowman, founder, Bowman Design Group. “We are proud to be the first company in the United States to meet FAMAB’s rigorous standards, and I’m eager to share our expertise with other companies in this country.”
Third party verification of the Bowman Design Group’s audit established the company met or exceeded goals set for nine criteria, including greenhouse gas emissions, energy efficiency, transportation and suppliers and material purchasing. Bowman Design Group, which has previously won awards for its sustainability work from California Air Resources Board and the Alliance to Save Energy, began collecting its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions data and verifying them with The Climate Registry in 2006.
Bowman used the baseline data to develop the company’s green business plan, which resulted in a dramatic 65 percent reduction in GHG emissions in just two years. The firm has continued to reduce its GHG emissions during subsequent years, and Bowman says a low-cost GHG inventory is an important step in developing an effective green business plan.
“The results we achieved can be replicated by following a few simple steps,” said Bowman. “By knowing where our environmental impacts were coming from and performing a simple cost-benefit analysis, we were able to choose actions that slashed our environmental footprint while saving us money every year.”
Bowman recently was named chair of the Sustainable Exhibit Leadership Committee for the Exhibit Designers and Producers Association (EDPA). In that capacity, Bowman will lead the development of a sustainability initiative for EDPA membership to challenge and educate members on how to go green – operationally as well as in their exhibit and event design work.
FAMAB’s sustainability certification was developed in partnership with auditing firm CO2OL, as well as Viabono GmbH, an initiative of the German Federal Ministry intended to create and apply consistent sustainability standards. An increasing number of European exhibition and event management firms have sought the FAMAB certification since the sustainability data collected are specifically relevant to the exhibit and events industry.
The association, founded in 1963, is an interdisciplinary association of specialists in the field of exhibition construction, event marketing and communications, and creating brand experiences. FAMAB offers its members networking opportunities and professional training.
Los Angeles-based Bowman Design Group is an integrated marketing and communications design firm specializing in identity, exhibits and event marketing. Clients include the National Academy of Sciences and Scripps Institution, Florida Crystals, Domino Specialty Foods, Mitsubishi Electric, Northrop Grumman, Kid City (The Children’s Museum of Tampa) and the FIFA World Cup.
