OUR SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS
Since 2022, Advertising Week has been a member of Isla, the UK-based membership organisation committed to reducing the environmental impact of events. Our collective focus is to make events:
Zero Waste
100% Renewable
Reduce Carbon Emissions
This aligns with the global Net Zero Carbon Events pledge to halve carbon emissions by 2030 (v 2020) and make events net zero by 2050.
Using Trace, Isla’s proprietary measurement tool, we focused on three key areas in 2022:
Single Use Plastics
We reduced the event’s carbon footprint by 64% through removing all single-use plastics and making water stations available for refills.
Team Air Travel
Non-UK-based team members traveled by air on economy to reduce CO2 emissions by over 90 tonnes (v business travel).
Food
Our main venue and special events switched to vegetarian menus, reducing emissions by over 10.5 tonnes.
2023 AND BEYOND
In 2023 we aim to make Advertising Week Europe our flagship event for sustainability: measuring and modelling behaviour and decision-making for all our events globally.
With the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development goals at the heart of our approach, we will focus on measuring and reducing in three further areas, as well as two additional key areas, to help guide reduction in this and future events in London and globally.
Use the dropdown menu below to see what we are doing in each area:
Working with suppliers to switch to reusable/ recyclable materials. For example, using recyclable cardboard substrate to replace all foam boards and a recyclable poly-substrate to replace wall wraps instead of vinyl.
We are working with suppliers to measure and reduce the carbon impact of banners, signage and backdrops. We are also introducing new delegate passes printed on card stock to eliminate the need for plastic lanyards and reusing aluminum frames from 2022.
We are doubling down on measuring and reducing waste for the entire event by using china, glass and silverware wherever possible. All disposable food and drink cartons and cutlery are to be fully compostable or recyclable.
We’re working with vendors and partners on guest list management and pre-ordering food to lessen food waste. Any leftover food is to be passed onto established homeless shelters.
On site you’ll see in-venue recycling stations to help reduce waste, and we are working with Eventcycle for the Zero Waste removal of residuals at the end of the event.
Collaborating with venues to measure energy use through the event and move to renewable energy suppliers where possible.
As a hybrid event, we’re measuring the impact of our virtual audience watching streamed content during and after the event.
Measurement, transparency and accountability are essential to the success of these initiatives at Advertising Week Europe and as we continue to expand and grow our global business sustainably.
Sustainability Partner
Working with Scope 3 to deliver on any or all of these aspects will ensure that not only do we impact and reduce our own carbon footprint but be a platform to inform and lead our partners in every market to take action.
