Sustainability | Expo Middle East

IAAPA has partnered with companies that support IAAPA’s sustainability initiatives. The following are some of their sustainability efforts at the Expo:

ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi (venue)

ADNEC Group announced its pledge to Net Zero Carbon Events, a promise to produce a net zero carbon footprint events by 2050 as it creates and supports a greener future for the MICE industry. This pledge is part of a global new initiative, which arises from the work of an organising task force initiated by leading events industry stakeholders through global industry trade associations. These include the Global Association of The Exhibition Industry (UFI), International Association of Convention Centres (AIPC) and International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), in addition to representatives from global key stakeholders in events industry.

To position ADNEC as a group of sustainable venue and operations, and enhance the positive environmental reputation of the group.
Reduce the venue environmental impact by implementing technologies for waste reduction and recycling.
Embed an environmental awareness culture in both employees and visitors.
Increased overall waste recycling (volume and as % of operations) - vs. recycling targets.
Investment in solar panels and water saving technology.
Innovative and circular approach to waste reduction to include: Converting cooking oil from catering into diesel which is used to operate ADNEC machinery and reduce primary fuel consumption.
Recycling and embedding a ‘Green’ culture to include Reverse Vending Machines (RVM) which accept plastic bottles and cans which support recycling and segregation, a key challenge in effective waste management.
A cash rebate from ADNEC’s key waste management partner, DULSCO, is provided from the RVM, which ADNEC donates to the Red Crescent.
Liquid Food Composter is used to convert food waste into liquid compost. Food waste composted is utilised in landscaping around the venue.
Collaboration with a local university to identify methods of utilizing liquid compost in hydroponic cultures used by ADNEC’s catering partner, Capital Hospitality.
ADNEC has made provision to ensure full waste management cycle is addressed with segregation bins throughout the facility ranging in size and scale.

For full details on the ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, click here.

GES (official contractor)

Sustainable travel
We promote and support remote working and hybrid working and encourage the use of digital meetings wherever possible. We have ongoing incentives for staff to take public transport wherever possible plus support and encourage the use of electric and other ultra-low emissions vehicles.

Waste and recycling
The Company commits to keeping waste to a minimum by preventing, reusing, recycling or recovering waste wherever possible. We will ensure waste is sorted, stored and disposed of properly and in a sustainable manner in all of our locations.

Information technology and sustainability
We will work towards the use of certified sustainable PCs, laptops, monitors, mobile devices, network and server hardware. All equipment must be disposed of correctly through an approved e-waste recycling contractor. No IT equipment should be sent to landfill or thrown out.

Training and staff involvement
We will encourage all staff to undergo training on environmental sustainability and climate change. We will aim to raise awareness of environmental sustainability across our operations.

Sustainable procurement
We aspire to reduce our carbon footprint throughout our supply chain. We commit to the principles of buying locally, seasonally, and making a concerted effort in all our procurement decisions to reduce the distance travelled between source and destination.

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
We are aligning our business to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UN created the 17 SDGs in 2015 with the objective of setting universal goals that met the urgent environmental, political and economic challenges faced globally.

Whilst we recognise the importance of all 17 SDGs we have decided to focus on the following 5 that we feel best align to our goals and objectives.

We have aligned these goals with the three key components of ESG: Environment (SDGs 7, 12 & 13), Social (SDGs 3 & 10) and Governance (SDG 8).

We are committed to take these goals into consideration when approaching our sustainability goals as a business.

Environmental - We align our environmental sustainability performance and goals with the SDGs 12 and 13

12. Responsible Consumption and Production- To ensure waste reduction across the Company and maintain and improve our sustainable waste management.

13. Climate Action- we are aiming to reducing our GHG emissions from all aspects of the business and we are doing this by integrating climate change measures into our strategies and planning, such as signing up to the 2050 Net Zero Carbon Events pledge.

Social - We align our social sustainability performance and goals with the SDGs 3 and 10.

3. Good Health and Well-Being-We are aligning our commitment to achieving social sustainability by ensuring good health and well-being for all employees.

10. Reduced Inequalities- We aim to reduce inequalities across the whole business in any way we can. As stated in our Always Honest policy, as a business we treat everyone with dignity and respect, and do not allow discrimination against employees. Additionally, we adhere to the gender pay gap difference, carry out an evaluation on equal pay analysis and have access available to D&I training.

Governance - We align our governance sustainability performance and goals with the SDG 8. 8. Decent Work and Economic Growth- We are aligning our governance sustainability goals to SDG 8, as The Company aims to create a strong and positive working environment, whilst also helping the business to grow.

Compliance
This Policy is in compliance with ISO20121:2024 Event sustainability Management System and ISO14001 Environmental Sustainability System.

The Company’s commitment to ESG is growing year on year please reach out the team [email protected] if you need any support or queries about this policy or have any other related questions.