UFI Updates Sustainability Projects and Initiatives Database

January 29, 2020
Kelsey Ogletree

UFI – the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry – has updated its database of initiatives and projects from the exhibition industry that support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the United Nations (which TSNN originally reported on here).

This resource, which was initiated by the UFI Working Group on Sustainability and put together in collaboration with Greenview, a member of this working group, showcases work done by organizers, venues and service providers. It was. The concept was also shared for use by the Joint Meetings Industry Council to expand the compilation to other segments of the event industry.

A collection of 25 case studies are compiled in a new report, “The Exhibition Industry and the UN SDGs: Connecting People, Multiplying Impact.” These submissions cover 14 countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Mexico, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, the Netherlands, the U.K. and the U.S. Each contribution falls in one of the three categories:

  • Exhibition Theme: How the theme of the exhibition contributes to the SDGs
  • Exhibition Operation: How the operator of the exhibition contributes to the SDGs
  • Company’s Operations: How a company’s operations contribute to the SDGs

In this collection of 25 case studies, five leading areas of best practices for the exhibition industry were identified:

  • Spreading awareness about SDGs and advancing sustainable industries
  • Taking consumption seriously and prioritizing local suppliers
  •  Combating waste with collaborative efforts
  • Stipulating environmental terms in contracts
  • Unveiling the secret to affordable and clean energy

 Of these submissions, 68 percent cited a contribution to SDG 12 on Responsible Consumption and Production. This included taking actions such as purchasing from local suppliers where possible, reducing the usage of single-use plastic, and reducing food waste through composting or redistribution.

“Making our industry more sustainable in all aspects of the word is vital not only for our future but is also a moral obligation to the survival of our planet,” said UFI President Mary Larkin. “The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals provide a framework where all businesses can show their respective contributions, and UFI is very happy to position the exhibition industry in this exercise.”

UFI’s 9th Forum on Sustainable Development, a special event on the issue scheduled in Paris for May 13-15, will include discussions with experts on UNSDGs.

To learn more about the SDGs and to read the 25 case studies, go here.

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