Trade Show Industry Task Force Develops Framework to Support a More Sustainable Future

September 20, 2022

On Sept. 14, a cross-industry task force of event industry stakeholders released a collaborative research report that identifies key focus areas to support the B2B trade show industry’s transition to a more sustainable and low-carbon economy.

The result of a two-year independent research program, the report, “Finding the Future, Together: Towards a More Sustainable B2B Trade Show Industry in the U.S. and Canada,” details the industry’s most significant environmental impacts and creates a data and knowledge foundation for decision-making, knowledge-sharing and action. It also showcases steps the industry has already taken to address those impacts and identifies 30 near- and long-term steps it needs to adopt to secure a sustainable future. 

“The B2B trade show industry delivers enormous social and economic benefits and is an essential engine for connection, knowledge transfer, trade, education and employment,” said Heather Farley, chair of the Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO) Sustainability Committee and COO at Access Intelligence. “Like all industries, we know that our impact extends to the environment as well and that through working and partnering in a collaborative way, we can keep progressing towards a more sustainable, lower-carbon future.”

To support and inform these efforts, it was important to conduct authoritative independent research to evaluate the U.S. and Canadian B2B trade show industry’s biggest material environmental impacts, she added. 

These impacts are:

  • Carbon: Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from participant transport, particularly flights, as well as energy use at venues and logistics, focused on the shipping from the warehouses of general service contractors (GSC) to the venue.
  • Waste: Generated at venues (for example, showfloor and catering waste) and at GSC warehouses where many of the materials and booths are built and supplied.
  • Booth construction: Inclusive of booth materials (such as carpet), construction methods, transport, reuse and other variables.

The task force then explored 30 actions for industry-wide adoption that will help improve the industry’s collective sustainability. They include:

  • Transitioning to renewable electricity at all parts of the transportation supply chain.
  • Creating time-bound targets to reach net zero carbon and move to a more circular model by phasing out unsustainable materials.
  • Implementing industry-wide agreement on the design and material specifications of booths and commonly used equipment and materials.
  • Optimizing logistics, saving fuel, time and money, and reducing air pollution.
  • Collaborating with host cities and key partner industries, such as airlines and hotels, to transition to a lower-carbon transport system and reduce generated waste.
  • Investing in infrastructure to support waste recycling and energy efficiency.
  • Optimizing industry standards for sustainable design, data and metrics.

According to task force officials, the hope is that the report and its foundational research will help contribute in a significant way to other collaborative sustainability programs that support a transition to a net zero carbon, circular economy-led and more responsible events industry, including:  

The report consolidates and simplifies a series of internal research reports into the environmental impacts of the U.S. and Canadian B2B trade show industry, conducted by sustainability consultancy Little Blue Research with the support of strategic consultancy A Bird’s Eye View (referred to in the report as LBR). Their insights and evidence were supplemented by direct contributions from 40 industry stakeholders and by thousands of responses to two industry surveys conducted by the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) and UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry. 

Created in 2018, the task force is an informal collaboration between 14 organizations from across the events sector including event organizers, venues, GSCs and associations. The task force’s sponsoring organizations and their nominated representatives include:

  • Ben Wielgus, Informa
  • Cathy Griffith, Emerald
  • Christian Druart, UFI
  • Courtney Muller, SISO Board Representative (left Nov 2020)
  • Heather Farley, SISO Board Representative (joined Nov 2020)
  • Helen Sheppard, RX (joined Nov 2021)
  • Katarina Tesarova, Sands
  • Kevin Bird, Shepard
  • Mariela McIlwraith, Events Industry Council
  • Marisa Heller, Freeman (joined July 2020)
  • Melinda Kendall, Freeman (left June 2020)
  • Nalan Emre, IMEX (left February 2022)
  • Nancy Drapeau, CEIR
  • Rita Ugianskis, SISO Board Representative (left Nov 2020)
  • Roger Lehner, IMEX (joined February 2022)
  • Scott Craighead, IAEE (left August 2022)
  • Sheila LeMaster, GES
  • Jyoti Chopra, MGM Resorts (joined 2021)

“We are passionate about building a sustainable future for the industry and helping the markets we serve embed sustainable practice into their own communities and activities,” said Charlie McCurdy, CEO of Informa Markets. “Through collaborative efforts, we have made great progress. And through the task force, we now have a platform to showcase emerging best practices and continue to innovate and evolve together. This is only the beginning, and we look forward to more industry stakeholders joining this effort.” 

SISO was the majority underwriter of this study. Download the full report here.

Task Force key findings

 

Don’t miss any event-related news: Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter HERE, listen to our latest podcast HERE and engage with us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram!

Add new comment

Partner Voices
Here at Mandalay Bay, venues are inviting and innovative. As one of the most iconic names on the Las Vegas Strip, the Mandalay Bay Convention Center has recently undergone an exciting upgrade. This renowned venue now offers everything your business needs, with a refreshed convention space designed to inspire productivity and creativity, as well as an impressive selection of world-class restaurants and amenities. If you're searching for a venue that is both inviting and innovative, Mandalay Bay is the place to be. Mandalay Bay is committed to investing in a new wave of enhancements, not only in the convention space but also throughout the entire resort. With new restaurant openings and remodels, spectacular entertainment, and updated rooms, Mandalay Bay promises to deliver new and exciting experiences to its guests until 2024. To create a truly effective conference venue, Mandalay Bay has carefully considered what businesses require. The right technology, capacity, and inspiration are essential to take ideas to the next level. The refreshed Mandalay Bay Convention Center has been designed with your business in mind. Every room is equipped with newly-upgraded technology, enhancing our ability to support bandwidth demand and overall data capabilities. Additionally, the addition of 10 new digital walls provides bigger and more dynamic ways to display customized content messages. Mandalay Bay offers world-class conference space and service. The venue options range from ballrooms to ample pre-function spaces, catering to teams of any size while accommodating multiple large groups simultaneously. Our certified planners work collaboratively with you to understand your specific event requirements, anticipating your business needs and offering the best-fit solutions. In addition to providing exceptional conference facilities, Mandalay Bay is also dedicated to sustainability. We strive to give our guests an unforgettable experience while minimizing our impact on the environment. As part of our sustainable energy efforts, you'll find refillable water stations throughout the property, eliminating the need for single-use plastic bottles and reducing unnecessary plastic usage. Mandalay Bay is proud to offer an upgraded and enhanced experience for businesses seeking a venue that combines innovation, convenience, and sustainability. Whether you're hosting a conference, meeting, or other business event, Mandalay Bay's refreshed convention space, world-class service, and commitment to sustainability make it the ideal choice. Come and discover the new wave of experiences awaiting you at Mandalay Bay on the Las Vegas Strip. Wherever your organization is going, getting there starts with being here.