IMEX Goes Greener In 2009

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IMEX continues to assert its leadership on environmental issues within the global meetings industry with a number of new "green" initiatives for the award-winning trade show in 2009, taking place 26-28 May in Frankfurt. Its continued commitment to environmental improvement is demonstrated in the recent completion of IMEX's first ever independent environmental audit. Conducted by The Carbon Consultancy, the audit found that IMEX managed to reduce its per delegate carbon emissions output by 6.3% last year, despite an increase in delegate numbers. Other reductions were achieved in the areas of Hosted Buyer air travel, IMEX staff travel emissions and waste reduction. Organisers, Regent Exhibitions, will use the Report's findings to further reduce their carbon footprint throughout the coming year.

In 2008 IMEX became the first in its sector to use hydroelectric power together with 21,000 fully recyclable and compostable plastic visitor badges. In common with many other trade shows, IMEX traditionally used to print plastic badges and the same number of plastic badge holders. By switching to 100 per cent recycled paper badges using a corn-starch polymer coating, organisers saved the equivalent of five grown men in sheer weight of plastic.

In 2009 IMEX will be the first to introduce badge lanyards made entirely from plant silk - a completely organic product made from waste grain fibres.

Other green practices for 2009 will include biodiesel courtesy buses, reuse of surplus food through local farms and the use of sustainably-sourced materials for bags and printed items in particular. Last year IMEX succeeded in reducing its total waste output by 20% and expects to exceed this figure come May. IMEX will also be encouraging those who are able, to travel by train to Frankfurt. Last year this led to a 70% reduction in the number of flights booked by German hosted buyers and a 30% increase in European buyers booking train travel.

Each year IMEX presents the Corporate Responsibility Centre, which is run in partnership with the Green Meeting Industry Council (GMIC) for the benefit of visitors and exhibitors. It provides a host of useful resources and advice for meetings industry operators interested in improving their green and socially responsible credentials. For the first time the Centre will be offering green workshops led by Tamara Kennedy, Executive Director, Green Meeting Industry Council and Fiona Pelham, Founder Member, Positive Impact. The twice-daily workshops will focus on "Steps to sustainability - how to get green" and will cover the latest ways in which the industry is positively influencing the global environment, local community and business economics.

IMEX will again present its Green Awards in 2009, also in partnership with the GMIC. These high profile acknowledgements include a Green Meetings, Green Supplier, Green Exhibitor and Commitment to the Community Award. All are designed to showcase and celebrate a positive approach to environmental and CSR improvements across a number of industry sectors.

IMEX also undertakes regular global research into green issues, all of which is published free of charge online at the IMEX Global Data Exchange. (www.imex.frankfurt.com/dataexchange.html).

Says Carina Bauer, IMEX Marketing and Operations Director, "From our own experience we know it can be hard to distinguish fact from fiction when it comes to 'going green'. Research shows that people want two particular types of help: tools and practical support. As a result of our experience plus working with some market-leading partners over the past few years, we are in a position to pass on this kind of knowledge to buyers, visitors and exhibitors. Above all, IMEX 2009 will offer its participants practical tips and ideas that don't involve high level policy or behavioural changes so that everyone – at every level – can participate in reducing their environmental impact if they so choose."

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