CO2 offsetting for exhibitors and sustainable catering services from Accente Gastronomie Service GmbH are among some of GCB’s initiatives.
The German Convention Bureau (GCB) will make its stand at IMEX 2013 an environmentally-friendly operation for the first time. The activity at this year’s show, taking place from 21-23 May in Frankfurt, underlines the GCB’s commitment to sustainability in the meetings industry.
The GCB, the umbrella organisation for the German events industry, has committed itself to promoting sustainable development in the country. As well as benefiting the environment, this strategy reinforces Germany’s status as a leading player in the field of sustainable events, helping its businesses to secure long-term success in this competitive global market.
"In light of this commitment, we believe that all aspects of trade fairs should be sustainable, and we are delighted to be working with such capable partners to make this a reality", commented Matthias Schultze, managing director of the GCB.
CO2 offsetting with CO2OL
The GCB is working with CO2OL, Forest Finance Service GmbH, for the first time in 2013 in order to offset the CO2 emissions resulting from its stand. This will include the emissions produced by exhibitors and service providers travelling to and from the venue, as well as the carbon footprint created by technical equipment, overnight stays and waste disposal.
The exhibitors at the Germany Stand – a total of 215 businesses and organisations – can also play their part in making it as sustainable as possible. When planning their visit, they have been encouraged to consider the impact of travel, logistics and the printing and distribution of brochures. Exhibitors in the outdoor area can also get involved by checking CO2OL’s CO2 calculator via the GCB homepage to work out their potential carbon footprint for IMEX and putting in place measures to minimise this.
Catering using regionally-sourced, ecological and sustainable produce
The GCB’s focus on sustainability continues through its tendering process for external service providers. Catering supplier Accente Gastronomie Service GmbH fulfilled all of the GCB’s criteria by sourcing ingredients directly from the surrounding region wherever possible, selecting seasonal produce and placing particular emphasis on fair trade products. Furthermore, Accente has a growing fleet of electric cars and saves resources by employing low-emission vehicles. The caterer is also dedicated to running an ethical and socially responsible business by, for example, monitoring the conditions in which imported goods are manufactured.
