HOUSTON — At the 2025 Expo! Expo! IAEE’s Annual Meeting & Exhibition, the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE)® introduced a Sustainability Sanctuary.
Located directly on the show floor, this space encouraged attendees to tackle real-world challenges with discussions and workshops, and platformed leading voices.
“While IAEE had already embedded sustainability throughout Expo! Expo! — from digital-first materials to energy-efficient operations to inclusive accessibility practices — we also recognized there was an opportunity to take it a step further,” Marsha Flanagan, M.Ed., CEM, President and CEO of IAEE, said. “Sustainability couldn’t just be a behind-the-scenes commitment or a series of operational improvements. It needed a physical home where attendees could gather, collaborate and innovate together.
“The inspiration came from IAEE’s core belief that sustainability is no longer an option but a necessity and the understanding that meaningful change requires collective effort. We wanted to go beyond education sessions and best practice guides, and create a space where industry leaders, solution providers and sustainability advocates could advance from theory to practice. By creating this multi-zone collaboration hub, we wanted attendees to become active participants in shaping the industry’s sustainable future — reinforcing the message that sustainable exhibitions start with informed, empowered organizers working together toward common goals.”
We put together 10 takeaways from this groundbreaking opportunity.
1. Getting Sustainable Now Will Position You as a Leader
“We’re in the middle of a revolution happening faster than anyone expected and the early adopters are gaining significant competitive advantages,” Sydney Rhea, Sustainability Project Delivery Manager at Informa Markets and a past Trade Show Executive (TSE) Woman to Watch, told attendees. “The window is open. All we need to do is go right through it.”
2. Sustainability Can Help You Save — and Make —Money
Rhea noted that by saving time and energy, sustainable changes can reduce costs and even serve as sponsorship opportunities.
3. Start with What You Are Already Doing
According to Rhea, most teams already have more sustainability initiatives than they realize and it’s important to audit and communicate these first to create a launchpad for progress.
4. Build a Sustainability Network
Rhea encouraged attendees to identify three sustainability advocates within their organizations, because peer support drives success.
5. Lean into the “5 R’s” Framework
Think about “Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose and Recycle” when making any event decision.
“It’s about revolutionizing your business model for profitability and competitive advantage,” Rhea said.
6. Introduce a Multi-Pronged Sustainable F&B Approach
“You want to work with your entire events team,” Molly Crouch, Corporate Director of Sustainability, Sodexo Live!, explained. “Learn the who, what, where, when and how.”
Crouch advised attendees to implement smart cutlery and packaging, engage in food recovery (feeding people instead of landfills), have contractual waste hauling at all event locations and collaborate with shows before and after theirs to maximize sustainable F&B.
7. Reframe Plant-Based Meals: They Reduce Carbon Emissions AND Drive Wellness
Crouch noted that, when introducing sustainable F&B, it’s important to emphasize inclusion instead of highlighting exclusion, because sustainable options tend to be healthier and more inclusive where dietary needs are concerned.
“Good for the planet equals good for you,” Crouch said.
8. Attendee Travel is a Huge Part of an Event’s Carbon Impact
Bethany Jenkins, Sustainability Manager, Americas, at Informa, noted that the events industry is a travel optimizer by nature.
It’s up to us to work together to optimize that optimization as much as possible, Jenkins explained, noting that we have a duty to combat climate change’s impacts.
“This isn’t a problem that’s happening on the other side of the globe — it’s happening to us, to the people we love and our friends and our neighbors,” Jenkins added. “What can we as organizers do to reduce our event’s carbon footprint?”
9. Measure Your Event’s Travel Footprint by Collecting Data and Reduce it with Intentional Planning
Jenkins shared these real-world examples of how Informa has optimized its travel, driving sustainability while easing congestion in its host cities and improving the attendee experience.
- Event Shuttles. World of Concrete worked with a provider to move attendees from hotels to the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). The provider’s data helped them perform a basic carbon calculation.
- Public Transportation. When MAGIC Las Vegas had a large room block at Resorts World, they provided participants with free use of the Vegas Loop — within minutes they could go from the hotel to the LVCC.
- Bespoke Infrastructure. The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show collaborated with brightline®, a new train service, a water taxi service and an electric vehicle operation (through a sponsorship), to form a bespoke infrastructure for attendees.
- Attendee Carbon Offsets. SupplySide Global worked with AQ Green TeC, allowing attendees to enter travel data and perform carbon offsetting.
10. Certify to an External Standard Where it is Valuable for Your Brand and Communicate Your Sustainability Story
“We received positive responses from industry leaders and solution providers who are 100% on board with moving from conversation to action on championing sustainability in business events, and look forward to keeping the momentum on this very timely industry initiative,” Flanagan said. “For example, IAEE has challenged organizer members to implement one significant sustainability practice at their shows between now and IAEE’s 100th anniversary in 2028.”
To learn more about IAEE’s Sustainability Initiative, click here.
