April 30, 2013 – Signal Hill, CA –Bowman Design Group, an integrated marketing and communications design firm specializing in identity, exhibits, and event marketing, is the first and only company in the United States to receive "Sustainable Company" certification from FAMAB, the German exhibition and events industry association. Third party verification of Bowman Design Group's audit established that 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. Tom Bowman, founder and chairman of Bowman Design Group, used the baseline data to develop the company's green business plan that resulted in a dramatic 65% reduction in GHG emissions in just two years. The firm has continued to reduce its GHG emissions during subsequent years.
Bowman says that a low-cost GHG inventory is an important step in developing an effective green business plan—for any business. "The results we achieved can be replicated by following a few simple steps. 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," says Bowman.
Bowman was recently 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. "Europe continues to lead the world toward a sustainable future. We're 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," says Bowman.
FAMAB's sustainability certification was developed in partnership with auditing firm CO2OL, as well as Viabono GmbH, an initiative of the German Federal Ministry 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.
About FAMAB
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. Membership in FAMAB is a quality seal that guarantees individual professionalism and overall performance. Learn more about FAMAB's international chapter at http://www.famab.de/IC/IC.html.
About Bowman Design Group
Los Angeles-based Bowman Design Group translates complex ideas into engaging stories. The results are unique and memorable exhibitions, events, multimedia, and print communications for corporations, museums, and other institutions. Clients include the National Academy of Sciences and Scripps Institution (in collaboration with Ed Hackley), Florida Crystals, Domino Specialty Foods, Mitsubishi Electric, Northrop Grumman, Kid City (The Children's Museum of Tampa), and the FIFA World Cup. Learn more at http://www.bowmandesigngroup.com.