Act for the planet
At every event, we promise you one thing: a visit to the future. But this future needs to be healthier, cleaner and greener for all. That’s why caring for our planet is one of our core values. And it’s why we’ve built sustainability into our business model.
Despite our hard work, we know there’s more to be done. Hitting our sustainability targets and achieving net zero by 2050 demands innovation and action. So, that’s exactly what we’re doing.
Where we are. Where we’re going
Before laying out our roadmap, we needed to get a full view of our current impact. We completed an evaluation of our carbon footprint (including all events, venues and offices), using the rigorous standards set by the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.
The first complete GHG assessment (Scopes 1, 2 and 3) took place in 2018-2019, followed by another in 2022-2023. The second assessment revealed that we’ve reduced our total group CO₂ emissions by 33% and that we’d reduced our scope 1 and scope 2 CO₂ emissions by 37%. We’re determined to continue moving in this direction.
Our five priority areas
Our Net Zero Roadmap sets concrete CO₂ emission reduction targets for all our events and venues. It focuses on five key areas:
Energy
Travel & Accommodation
Freight & Logistics
Production & Waste
Food & Food Waste
Our progress in numbers
Addressing climate change demands immediate and decisive action. Since our first carbon assessment in 2018-2019, we have been actively reducing our impact through sustainable event organisation and responsible venue management. We are encouraged by the progress we have made so far:
-33%
total CO₂ emissions
-37%
energy-related CO₂ emissions in our venues
-39%
waste-related CO₂ emissions
-14%
CO₂ emissions per event
These steps reflect our ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship and our dedication to playing a significant role in the global effort against climate change. While we are pleased with these improvements, we recognise there is still much work to be done and remain focused on continuing our efforts towards a more sustainable future.
A sustainable business model
70% of our event stands are made of reusable modular structures.
Our values and business model inherently support sustainability. Our all-in, tech-driven business model is testament to a pioneering spirit that positions us as one of the most sustainable ways to host exhibitions.
Here’s how we’re making a difference:
Stands
All-in modular stands are re-used from one edition to the next, which significantly reduces purchase and waste emissions. As transport of all-in stands is grouped, this model also reduces transport emissions. In some cases, our all-in stands are stored in our venues and do not even require transport.
Duration
Our events are compact and usually last no more than two days. This means the carbon footprint is lower than traditional trade shows.
Proximity to local markets
Most of our events are aimed at regional or national markets. 75 km is the average distance our attendees travel to come to our events. This approach aligns with the growing preference for domestic suppliers and personalised experiences.
Technology
Through digitalisation and the use of new technologies like the Smart Badge (allowing visitors to collect material digitally), we’re significantly reducing paper waste.
Our sustainability journey
The Paris Agreement is adopted at the COP21. It is considered a historic achievement in international efforts to combat climate change, as it brought together nearly all countries in a common effort to address a global challenge.
Easyfairs signs the Net Zero Event Carbon Pledge, committing to achieving net zero by 2050 and halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. This marks the most inclusive collaborative action to tackle climate change within the events sector.
We launch multiple surveys for key stakeholders and deliver employee engagement and awareness campaigns.
Our first greenhouse gas emissions baseline is calculated for 2018-2019. This results in concrete targets and a Net Zero Roadmap covering both our events and venues.
We introduce our ESG Scorecard to monitor and assess the sustainability efforts of our events, enabling us to set benchmarks and drive progress in our commitment to environmental responsibility.
We launch the ESG Academy, a dedicated online learning channel aimed at providing our teams with comprehensive knowledge and skills in sustainability.
We initiate a large awareness campaign to foster inclusivity, diversity, and equity within our organisation.
Great news! A new greenhouse gas emissions assessment conducted for 2022-23 reveals a 33% reduction in our group’s carbon footprint since 2018-2019.
We adopt our new Code of Business Conduct to set ethical standards, foster transparency, and uphold our reputation as a responsible corporate citizen.
Easyfair is recognised for its sustainability strategy and results, receiving the prestigious ESG Award from Exhibition News.
Easyfairs publishes its inaugural annual sustainability report, giving a transparent overview of performance up to the end of fiscal year 2023, and looking forward to further progress in pursuit of its “Act for the Future” strategy. Among other achievements, Easyfairs has cut its carbon footprint by a third since 2019.
UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry names Easyfairs as the winner of the 2024 UFI Sustainable Development Award.
Supporting our communities on their net zero journey
67% of our events include sustainability content in their programme. We plan to make this 100% in 2024.
Driving real change takes collaboration. That’s why we’re going beyond our own reduction targets and we actively support our communities on their journey to net zero.
How are we doing this? In several ways. Our events are showcasing the latest innovative solutions in sustainability. We’re amplifying the environmental movement in a plethora of industries, creating a ripple effect across entire communities. And we’re embedding net zero messaging into all areas of our event content.
From expert keynotes and sustainable exhibitor tracks to innovation tours and start-up zones – sustainability is always on the agenda.
See how London Packaging Week supports the industry in their net zero transition
Latest news on sustainability
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