McCormick Place has earned Platinum Level Certification under the Events Industry Council’s (EIC) Sustainable Event Standards, advancing from Gold status in 2025.
Platinum is the program’s highest certification level. The standard evaluates environmental and social practices across climate action, water use, materials, supply chains, accessibility, inclusion, communications, and community impact.
The Alliance for Audited Media completed the independent third-party review.
Certification covers venue-wide operations
McCormick Place offsets 100 percent of its electricity use through certified wind renewable energy certificates. The Chicago convention center also operates a rooftop garden that supplies ingredients for its food-service program and supports an onsite honeybee program.
In addition, the venue works with Fight2Feed to recover surplus food and event materials. The nonprofit distributes those resources to more than 100 community organizations.
McCormick Place also reported nearly $37 million in investments with minority- and women-owned businesses during fiscal year 2025.
“Achieving Platinum Level Certification from the EIC is a tremendous honor and reflects the dedication of our employees, clients and partners who help make sustainability part of everything we do,” said Larita Clark, chief executive officer of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, which owns McCormick Place. “By working alongside event organisers to achieve their sustainability goals, we are also creating lasting environmental, social and economic impact on our community.”
Platinum follows cleaning certification
The new recognition follows a separate sustainability milestone announced in June.
McCormick Place became the first facility to earn Cleaning Industry Management Standard Green Building + Sustainability Certification with Honors from ISSA, The Association for Cleaning and Facility Solutions.
That certification focuses on verified cleaning and facility management practices. By contrast, the EIC certification covers the convention center’s broader environmental and social operations.
Together, the certifications recognize separate parts of the venue’s sustainability program. The ISSA standard evaluates cleaning systems, service delivery, employee practices, safety, and environmental care. The EIC standard examines how the property manages sustainability across events and daily operations.
Standard supports event planning
The EIC developed its Sustainable Event Standards with input from more than 300 industry professionals.
The program gives venues and event teams a framework for measuring progress and planning more sustainable events. It also covers areas such as organizational management, marketing, attendee engagement, circular materials, and social impact.
“We are pleased to recognise McCormick Place’s sustainability efforts with Platinum Level Certification,” said Amy Calvert, president and chief executive officer of the EIC. “Achieving Platinum reflects years of dedication, collaboration and continuous improvement. McCormick Place has demonstrated how sustained commitment can drive meaningful progress and inspire others across the events industry.”
McCormick Place offers 2.6 million square feet of exhibition space and 173 meeting rooms. The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority owns the campus.
McCormick Place is a convention and exhibition facility in Chicago. For more information, visit www.mccormickplace.com.
Press release submitted by Hawthorne Strategy Group on behalf of McCormick Place. Edited by Exhibit City News for clarity, length, and style.
