Easyfairs is presenting its latest sustainability update as proof that environmental performance in the events sector can be measured, improved and embedded into day-to-day operations rather than treated as an optional extra.

The Belgian-headquartered organiser, which runs 110 titles in 16 countries, says in its second annual sustainability report that it has cut total carbon emissions by 34% since its 2019 baseline. It also reports a 64% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions and a 27% fall in carbon intensity per event, helped by the introduction of a new ESG platform designed to track annual impact more closely.

The company’s broader strategy, branded "Act for the Future", is built around three strands: action for the planet, for society and for its people. Its environmental targets include halving emissions from energy consumption by 2030, while venues in Sweden and the Netherlands already run on green electricity. Easyfairs has also installed solar panels at sites including Gorinchem, Antwerp Expo and Flanders Expo, and says Malmömässan uses geothermal heating.

Food and materials are another focus. The company is phasing out red meat across its venues by 2025, wants to halve food waste by 2030 and plans to ensure that recyclable or reusable packaging and cutlery are available at all in-house catering points by 2025.

Beyond operations, Easyfairs is trying to make its events part of the sustainability conversation itself. It says 75% of its events now include sustainability themes in their content programmes, while 76% work with charities. Earlier company figures showed 67% of events carried sustainability content in 2023 and that those shows delivered 1,200 hours of educational programming on the topic.

The organiser also points to internal workforce measures as part of the same agenda. It reports an employee Net Promoter Score of 34 and says women hold 49% of senior leadership positions. ESG objectives are now tied into variable pay, and the company has launched an ESG Academy Award to recognise teams making notable progress.

In a sector under growing pressure from clients, attendees and regulators to prove its environmental claims, Easyfairs is pitching transparency as much as progress. The report does not suggest the work is finished; rather, it frames sustainability as an ongoing operational shift, with the company arguing that growth in events should not come at the expense of environmental resources.

Source: Noah Wire Services