WASHINGTON, DC — Today, a cross-industry task force released a report detailing areas where the North American B2B trade show industry can focus to transition to a more sustainable, low-carbon economy.
Finding the Future Together: Toward a More Sustainable B2B Trade Show Industry in the United States and Canada is the result of a two-year study conducted by independent researchers Little Blue Research and A Bird’s Eye View, and overseen by a working group of representatives from 14 of the leading trade show companies and associations. The report consolidates and simplifies a series of internal research reports on the environmental impacts of the B2B trade show industry in the United States and Canada.
“The B2B trade show industry provides enormous social and economic benefits,” said Heather Farley, SISO Sustainability Committee Chair and COO of Access Intelligence, “and is a critical driver of connection, knowledge transfer, commerce, education and employment. Like all industries, we know that our impact also extends to the environment and that by working and collaborating with them, we can continue to move toward a more sustainable, low-carbon future. To support and inform these efforts, it was important to conduct authoritative, independent research to assess the most significant environmental impacts of the B2B trade show industry in the United States and Canada.”
The sustainability study findings were complemented by industry studies conducted by the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) and UFI, the global association for the exhibition industry. “The work of this task force on Finding the Future Together is unprecedented. The exhibition industry is committed to creating a sustainable future and wisely using the social and economic power of exhibitions and events as a platform to raise awareness and drive change,” said Cathy Breden, CMP-F, CAE, CEM, CEO of CEIR.
According to the Trade Show Sustainability Report, the areas that produce the greatest “material impact” on sustainability are: carbon emissions from attendee travel, venue, and logistics; physical waste from GSC venues and warehouses; and trade show booth materials. “The data generated by this project provides invaluable insights into the state of sustainability in the exhibition industry in the United States and Canada. More importantly, we can use these findings to align indicators and metrics with global practices, as part of our global work within the UFI Sustainability Working Group and the Net Zero Carbon Events initiative,” said Kai Hattendorf, CEO of UFI, the global association for the exhibition industry.
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The report and the research it summarises are primarily designed to provide the data and analytical foundations on which the exhibition industry can confidently set priorities for action and develop sustainability policies. The report sets out a high-level roadmap for change covering 30 ‘quick wins’ and longer-term actions that the exhibition industry can undertake to move towards a more sustainable future. The timeline is divided into initiatives to be delivered in the next 12 to 24 months, followed by proposed targets to be achieved in the next two to five years. Some of the key areas for improvement include: attendee transport and logistics, on-site energy sources and waste management, food and storage waste, and stand materials.
“Sustainability must be the norm and there is still much work to be done. The impact we can have together as an industry and by acting on what the report shows is imperative to the longevity of exhibitions and events. Actions speak louder than words, and this gives us the roadmap to a more sustainable future,” said Bob Priest-Heck, CEO of Freeman.
Organizations that comprised the working group overseeing the research project included SISO, Emerald, IMEX, Informa Markets, RX, Freeman, GES, MGM Resorts International, Sands, Shepard, CEIR, UFI, EIC and the Events Industry Council.
Contact Heather Farley at heather@SISO.org
Contact Cathy Breden at cbreden@ceir.org
Contact Bob Priest-Heck at bob.priest-heck@freeman.com