Emerald Carpets Achieves Gold Certification to the EIC Sustainable Event Standards

The company earns its first EIC certification for environmental and social responsibility

WASHINGTON, D.C. (24 June 2026) – The Events Industry Council (EIC) announced today that Emerald Carpets, a leading manufacturer and supplier of flooring solutions for the trade show, exhibition and special events industry, has achieved gold level certification to the EIC Sustainable Event Standards. This is the first EIC certification for the company and recognises Emerald Carpets’ longstanding commitment to sustainability, innovation and responsible manufacturing practices.

"Achieving gold certification from the Events Industry Council is an important milestone for us and reflects decades of commitment to environmental responsibility," said Sustainability Manager, Will Estes. "Sustainability has been part of our business philosophy long before it became an industry priority. From designing products for reuse and recyclability to investing in renewable energy and waste reduction initiatives, we are committed to helping our customers achieve their event goals while reducing environmental impact."

The EIC Sustainable Event Standards were created through a global collaborative process with participation from subject matter experts in all sectors. They provide a framework for collaboration and a strong focus on guidance and metrics so that event professionals at all stages of their sustainability journey have the support needed to implement and measure sustainable practices.

The standards specify performance criteria in the areas of organisational management; marketing; communications and engagement; climate action; water management; materials and circularity; supply chain management; diversity, equity and inclusion; accessibility; and social impact. To date, more than 300 professionals have participated in the review of the standards. The exhibition services standard is one of several comprehensive standards for environmentally sustainable events.

Emerald Carpets has served the trade show, exhibition and special events industry since 1976. Its sustainability initiatives include the development of reusable and recyclable flooring products, use of 100% renewable electricity, waste diversion programs, domestic sourcing and manufacturing and ongoing investments in circular product design.

"This achievement reflects Emerald Carpets' deep commitment to sustainable practices and continuous improvement," said Amy Calvert, CEO of the Events Industry Council. "Through innovation, responsible manufacturing practices and a clear focus on environmental stewardship, Emerald Carpets is a perfect example of how suppliers can play a meaningful role in advancing sustainability across the events industry."

The Alliance for Audited Media (AAM), a not-for-profit auditing organization, performed the independent third-party certification of Emerald Carpets' compliance with EIC's Exhibition Services standard.

"Emerald Carpets' achievement represents an important milestone for both the company and the broader events industry," said Richard Murphy, CEO, president and managing director of the Alliance for Audited Media. "By pursuing certification to the EIC Sustainable Event Standards, Emerald is helping demonstrate how suppliers can lead sustainability efforts through transparency, accountability and a commitment to continuous improvement."

To learn more about Emerald Carpets and its sustainability initiatives, visit emeraldcarpets.com.

Contact:

For all EIC media enquiries, additional comments and requests for interviews, please contact Steve Dobbins, Events Industry Council

Tel: +1 323 578 2671 / Email: media@eventscouncil.org

ABOUT EVENTS INDUSTRY COUNCIL

The Events Industry Council’s worldwide federation includes 30+ Association Members and 30+ Corporate Members with global operations and event teams in countries around the world. EIC’s collective network touches an estimated half a million event professionals and more than 70,000 organisations across the global business events ecosystem.

EIC is the global champion for event professionals and event industry excellence. It promotes high standards and professionalism in the events industry with the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) programme and signature programme activities. The CMP credential is recognised globally as the badge of excellence in the events industry. The qualifications for certification are based on professional experience, education and a rigorous exam. Learn more at www.eventscouncil.org.

ABOUT EMERALD CARPETS

Founded in 1976 by Shelby Peeples, Emerald Carpets marks 50 years of delivering flooring solutions tailored to the specialized demands of the trade show and special events industries. From the beginning, Emerald has worked closely with contractors and exhibit design professionals to develop carpet products engineered for durability and repeated use. Long before sustainability became an industry priority, the company’s focus on reuse and performance helped reduce waste while delivering long-term value to customers.

As Emerald Carpets looks ahead to its next 50 years, the company remains committed to advancing sustainable flooring solutions through ongoing collaboration with material experts and recycling partners, guided by a continued focus on innovation, service, and sustainability. Learn more at emeraldcarpets.com.

ABOUT THE ALLIANCE FOR AUDITED MEDIA

As the leading global not-for-profit media assurance organization, the Alliance for Audited Media advances transparency, accountability and trust across media and advertising. From cross-media audits and data verification to industry certifications in areas such as brand safety, measurement, retail media and ethical AI, AAM validates the data and processes that power today’s media. Through impartial assurance and forward-thinking frameworks, AAM helps organizations demonstrate credibility and authenticity in a rapidly evolving media ecosystem. Learn more at auditedmedia.com.