CHICAGO — Earth Day 2026 has come and gone, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to forget about sustainability, especially because eco-friendly strategies don’t just help the planet — they also save you money. To help you continue to level up, Trade Show Executive’s Young Professionals Corner got practical sustainability tips from venue leaders across the U.S.
Yashi Dadhich, Director of Energy & Sustainability at Javits Center
Event professionals can make an immediate impact by engaging with us early in the planning process. Our team works with a wide range of events and is equipped to tailor sustainable solutions to meet each event’s unique needs.
The more we understand your goals upfront, the better we can help bring them to life. True success comes from collaboration — when multiple teams come together with a shared commitment, we can take sustainability efforts to the next level.
Tyler Debella, Director of Operations at the Baltimore Convention Center
If event teams are not able to implement sustainability actions directly, one of the most effective ways to support our efforts is by helping communicate and promote existing initiatives to attendees and exhibitors.
Even simple messaging can have a meaningful impact by encouraging participation and reinforcing awareness of available sustainable options.
At its core, this work is about building a shared mindset that any positive action — no matter how small — contributes to a larger, collective effort. Sustainability is not achieved in isolation, but through cumulative actions across all stakeholders.
Related. Eight Earth Day Updates from Major Venues
John Fort, Health, Safety & Sustainability Manager, Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center
We’ve designed our sustainability programs to be simple to activate during the planning process.
Event professionals can request recycling and composting services, coordinate food recovery through our team and local partners, reduce single-use materials and packaging, and encourage attendees to use refillable water stations and proper waste sorting.
They can also replace printed materials with our on-site digital e-poster network, which currently includes 16 screens across the venue and continues to expand.
Additionally, we can help coordinate donations of leftover materials or products by connecting planners with local nonprofits and arranging post-event pickup.
Ariane Hiltebrand, Director of Sales & Marketing at the Miami Beach Convention Center (MBCC)
Event organizers can align with MBCC’s sustainability initiatives through several practical steps, including choosing digital materials over printed collateral, selecting sustainable menu options and minimizing food waste.
Additional opportunities include utilizing the venue’s recycling and composting programs, reducing single-use items and participating in donation initiatives such as the “Conventions C.A.R.E.” program, which redistributes leftover materials and goods to local nonprofit organizations.
Engaging with the MBCC team early in the planning process also allows for the identification of tailored sustainability strategies for each event.
Ethan Lang, Director of Facilities and Engineering at the Baltimore Convention Center
When attendees are given clear, accessible opportunities to make more sustainable choices, it empowers them to take ownership of their impact and enhances their overall event experience. These positive experiences often carry forward, encouraging continued engagement at future events and other venues.
Sometimes, you don’t get the information you need unless you ask. Event professionals are encouraged to engage with their venues to better understand their overall impact.
In many cases, venues can easily provide valuable insights and resources with minimal effort.
There are often opportunities for events to increase their positive impact with little to no added burden on their teams. By simply asking for available sustainability resources and post-event data, planners can gain a clearer picture of their footprint and identify ways to improve for future events.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Javits Center
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