Sustainability was not just a talking point at IMEX America 2025. It was the backbone of the show. From IMEX’s own zero-waste operations to the initiatives showcased by exhibiting destinations, the commitment to climate action was visible across the entire show floor.
An increasing number of organizers, and especially B2B customers, are now following sustainability standards similar to IMEX. That is why many venues and destination marketing organizations put sustainability front and center in their offering this year. From Singapore to Toronto, the message was clear: climate action has become a core part of the event business. Let’s take a closer look at this shift.
Check out the global IMEX Sustainability Policy, along with their 2024 IMEX America Sustainability Report.
Singapore’s Sustainable Pavilion, for example, demonstrated how deeply sustainability can be embedded into event design. The pavilion eliminated carpet use and printed collateral, reused booth materials, and actively tracked its carbon emissions. Singapore ranks first in Asia-Pacific for destination sustainability, and its pavilion lived up to that reputation.
The Tokyo booth stood out with a particularly creative approach. Its furniture was borrowed or made from recycled materials, and the city prioritized ordering items locally to reduce shipping emissions. Any leftover materials were either donated or recycled, and even biodegradable cups were repurposed into locally donated toilet paper.
Sustainability was also a key selling point for destination marketing organizations from Canada, South America, and Europe, many of which showcased new frameworks and initiatives for measuring event impact.
With the event industry contributing an estimated 10% of global carbon emissions, the message was clear: we have an opportunity to do what events do best — create massive global impact and momentum for the betterment of humanity. This time, that impact can extend to all life on Earth.
Artificial intelligence emerged as another major theme. While AI might still sound abstract, it is already playing a key role, not just in content production or IMEX attendee experience optimization, but in sustainability management in various industries. Large language models are being used in other industries to conduct life-cycle assessments, revealing complex value chains and identifying the most impactful opportunities for change. The events industry, with our complex and global value chain, is next.
Platforms like Envire are building the data engines that will power this transition. By automating sustainability tracking and event-specific impact reports, venues can reduce costs, attract climate-conscious clients like AWS and Coldplay, and take measurable steps toward Net Zero Carbon Events.
Imagine a future IMEX where every aspect of the experience is optimized for both performance and sustainability: no waste, only upcycled materials; locally sourced food; efficient logistics that minimize emissions; and energy and water systems optimized in real time. Even air travel powered by bio-based aviation fuels already under development (check out EcoGrains).
And all of it happening seamlessly in the background, so attendees can simply enjoy the show.
It doesn’t get more human-centric than that.