The Meetings Show, the UK’s leading event which brings
together the world’s meetings and events community, has unveiled further
commitments to minimising its environmental impact.
Working with isla as its strategic sustainability partner,
The Meetings Show will forge ahead with its plans to reach net zero by 2050 and
cut carbon emissions by 50 per cent by 2030.
Using isla’s measurement platform TRACE to help measure and
minimise carbon emissions, The Meetings Show will collect data around the areas
of travel, waste, catering and energy from this year’s show activity. The
collected data will then be assessed and used to create a full Event Impact Report
that will provide data insights on findings and help steer further improvements
for future shows.
To allow better calculation of The Meetings Show 2023’s
carbon footprint – and identify areas of improvement - visitors, suppliers and
staff are being asked to supply information on their travel habits to and from
the event. Work is already underway to minimise negative environmental impact.
For example, furniture at the show will be hired from
existing stock to avoid buying and disposing of single-use furniture and the
volume of printed materials has been greatly reduced and replaced with digital
signage and digital materials.
Elsewhere, the food being served in the central lounge bar
will be plant-based while red meat will not feature on the Hosted Buyer Lounge
menu.
Recommendations have also been provided to exhibitors and
show suppliers, to enable them to make more informed choices around key areas
such as transport and catering and there will be themed education sessions to
provide advice to event professionals in making their events more sustainable.
Jack Marczewski, portfolio event director of The Meetings
Show, TEAMS Europe and Business Travel Show Europe, said: “We are committed to
minimising our environmental impact and promoting sustainability. We recognise
that sustainability is a complex topic, and it is through collaboration and
knowledge sharing we’ll create meaningful change. With everyone’s support we
can make faster progress and so I hope all suppliers and visitors will be
forthcoming with relevant data to move forward.”
The Meetings Show recently appointed isla CEO and founder
Anna Abdelnoor (pictured) to its Advisory Board. Isla will host five
educational sessions on its stand (A41) at this year’s show and provide
information about The Complete Sustainable Events Course, which it created in
partnership with The Meetings Show and which will run from September.
There are various ways to register to attend The Meetings
Show 2023 (at ExCeL London on 28-29 June) which will be co-located with Business
Travel Show Europe and TravelTech Show.
Find out more about the buyer, hosted buyer and visitor
registration options here.
