We asked sustainability experts in the meeting and event industry to tell us about recent trends in event sustainability. Their thoughts demonstrate the depth and breadth of industry progress, from better collaboration to effective carbon tracking to reusable trade show stands.
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As a sustainability consultant, I’m happy to say there is more budget allocated for training and initiatives. My approach is to encourage planners to focus on one thing at a time. Sure, there are at least 100 things they can and should do. However, in the moment when they are downloading a library of content, it can feel overwhelming, so I give them permission to fix one problem at a time. This gives them the confidence to take action! The more we see action, the more we deliver positive impact. As budgets continue to allow for ongoing training, the knowledge and skills will accumulate and lead to true industry transformation.
Aurora Dawn Benton
Founder
Astrapto
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I have seen us finally moving past the “low hanging fruit” solutions of eliminating plastic water bottles and such. As I’ve talked to more planners and suppliers, I see a deeper interest in strategy and creating actual impact with their sustainability initiatives. I think this has been aided by some of the reporting now available from hotels and venues. I also think planners are starting to see more support from their suppliers. There’s still a very long way to go, but we’ve started to turn that corner.
Courtney Lohmann, CMP
Founder
Courtney Stanley Consulting LLC
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Over the last years, we’ve witnessed substantial progress in event sustainability, particularly with the growing use of carbon footprint tracking tools. These tools are becoming more advanced and enable better integration of data from travel, accommodation and onsite operations to give a clearer view of an event’s environmental impact. We have also seen notable improvements in catering, with an increasing number of event planners focusing on plant-based menus, local sourcing and more sustainable ingredients. Working with our global clients, we’ve noticed a strong tendency for sustainable catering trends emerging in Europe. Other regions are starting their sustainability journey with simpler approaches but with a bold ambition to catch up.
What is particularly encouraging to see—and something we’ve long advocated for—is the increasing collaboration among stakeholders, venues, sponsors and suppliers to align their sustainability goals. Across association and corporate events, we see momentum build as businesses become more eager to embrace sustainable practices. However, while reducing the environmental footprint is important, it is essential to also prioritize the social aspect—diversity, equity and inclusion—to ensure a more positive and meaningful legacy of an event.
Milda Salciute
Director of Events and Academy
GDS-Movement
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Our industry is inherently collaborative, and we’ve seen some great examples of sustainability progress when people join forces.
One example of this is the Better Stands Initiative. IMEX is one of 11 organizers involved in the Better Stands pilot, which aims to reduce single-use disposable stands at exhibitions in favor of reusable structures.
Following the Better Stands pilot at IMEX Frankfurt in May, we used the same methodology at IMEX America in October with booths assessed according to how much is reused or recycled.
We’ve found that this initiative has really opened up detailed discussions with exhibitors and stand constructors around what’s going well and what can be improved. By working closely together, we’re all on the same page in terms of the actions needed to reduce event waste year on year.
The Better Stands Initiative is in a good place to be scaled across the industry with the ultimate aim to cut out “build and burn” booths forever.
Roger Lehner
Senior Operations & Sustainability Executive
IMEX
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One of the most notable advancements in event sustainability has been the introduction of the Net Zero Carbon Events Roadmap. For the first time there is a detailed framework clarifying responsibilities for emissions across our diverse and fragmented business events industry. By recognizing the complexity, the roadmap offers clear guidance on who is accountable for specific types of emissions—be it venue operators, event organizers, service providers, etc. In addition to this, there has been significant progress in measurement, providing a solid methodology and enabling more accurate and comprehensive tracking of environmental impacts. Another example is new AI-powered platforms for sustainability, making environmental data more accessible, empowering event professionals to make informed, sustainable decisions more efficiently.
All these innovations demonstrate the industry’s commitment to addressing climate challenges with clarity, collaboration and actionable solutions. They not only inspire confidence in our ability to adapt but also set a strong precedent for driving meaningful change in sustainability practices across events worldwide.
As a measure of the impact and progress to which the Net Zero Carbon Events campaign and roadmap have been a significant catalyst, 733 stakeholders including venues, conference and events organizations as well as suppliers worldwide have now registered with the campaign, of which most are signatories of the NZCE Pledge and are required to report back to the initiative. This is a significant step in terms of making environmental sustainability one of the requirements within their daily operations.
Alexander Alles
Executive Director
Joint Meetings Industry Council (which leads the Net Zero Carbon Events initiative for the industry)
