Implementation of a sustainability accreditation for the large European expo. Introduction of attendee communication encouraging to take steps to reduce impact including ‘Meatless Thursday‘.
Background
How to reduce an impact of a large-scale event and create a behavioural change amongst participants to raise awareness and encourage action?
International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) is a global trade association representing over 9,000 amusement-industry members and operating several global attractions-industry trade shows. It is also a producer and owner of IAAPA Expo Europe, the Leisure Industry’s Premier Event in Europe.
Approach
Working with the regional operations team, I implemented several criteria required for the expo organisers in order to be awarded the The Austrian Ecolabel for “Green Meetings and Green Events”. My own initiatives and results included:
- Design and implementation of a “Meatless Thursday” on the final day of the Expo. This single meat-free day saved approximately 7,704 kilograms of CO2 emissions, equivalent to a diesel car driving 31,000 km. All meals were served in reusable or biodegradable containers, with proper waste separation on-site.
- On-site and online communication to IAAPA employees, prospective and verified attendees before and during the Expo to raise awareness of the actions taken, increase engagement and participation.
All initiatives can be found here.
