Tradeshows can be green, too! Travel meetings and events company gets nominated for sustainability award

IMEX, a global tradeshow geared at the incentive travel, meetings, and events industry, was recognized by the Association of Event Organizers (AEO) as one of eight companies to make it onto the shortlist for its coveted 2009 Sustainable Initiative of the Year Award; an award granted to a project that reduces environmental impact across an event or company over a period of 12 months.

Since its launch in 2002, IMEX has taken a rather strong position on environmental impact, developing successful partnerships ith eco-sensitive suppliers and vendors as well as partners like the Green Meeting Industry Council.

“I am delighted that our efforts have been recognized in this way,” said Ray Bloom, IMEX Chairman. “I know we do not stand alone in taking the issue of environmental impact within the exhibitions industry extremely seriously, and I am pleased to tell you that this year, more than ever, and despite global economic pressures, our visitors and exhibitors responded extremely positively to our green initiatives. It may take some time, but I fully expect that some years into the future, none of us will need to highlight the issue of carbon reduction as it will be second-nature to businesses all over the globe.”

In order to win, applicants need to demonstrate exactly how their environmental project has made a measurable difference in terms of sustainability, as well as detailing its impact on business performance and its commercial value.

Since IMEX was launched in 2002, the trade show has taken a strong position on environmental impact. It went on to develop highly-successful partnerships with a raft of environmentally-minded suppliers, as well as association partners such as the Green Meeting Industry Council.

IMEX’s green initiatives

In early 2008, IMEX organizers set out to reduce their carbon footprint as well as significantly cut waste output while improving energy usage and management. In coordination with The Carbon Consultancy, a commissioned independent consultancy, IMEX underwent a company-wide environmental audit, including an extensive review of all its product and service suppliers. This required detailed consultation with stand builders, freight, logistics and airline companies, printers and cleaning contractors, in addition to Messe Frankfurt’s management team.

The organizing team then launched a program to reduce energy consumption and waste output in advance of and throughout the yearm resulting in a 20% reduction in waste output (34 tons) despite a 7% rise in delegate (visitor and exhibitor) numbers and a 6.3% reduction in carbon emissions per visitor. In addition, 87% of waste was recycled including 40 tons of paper and 32 tons of cardboard.

IMEX also introduced bio-diesel fuels on 20% of its courtesy buses and has become the first guest exhibition at Messe Frankfurt to use hydroelectric power. A concerted effort to encourage and incentivise hosted buyers to travel by train resulted in a 70% reduction in the number of flights booked by German-hosted buyers and a subsequent 30% rise in the number of European buyers traveling to Frankfurt by train.

IMEX is a previous winner of the AEO Trade Show of the Year Award and AEO Best Visitor Experience – Trade Show Award. The trade show also runs its own series of green awards every year, which are presented during IMEX. These include the Green Meetings Award, Green Supplier, and Green Exhibitor Awards, together with a Commitment to the Community Award, which honors successful corporate social responsibility programs.

For more info, visit www.imex-frankfurt.com.