With IMEX America scheduled for October 8-10, 2024, the global event organizer has released a comprehensive sustainability report reflecting on both achievements and challenges from last year’s show in Las Vegas. Among the standout accomplishments, the event was recognized as a zero-waste event for the fifth consecutive year. Impressively, 93% of the event’s waste was diverted from landfills through composting, material recycling, and donations. This effort included 4,535kg of recovered event materials, office supplies, and furniture donated to local charities in Clark County.
The report also highlights that around 90% of all signage and banners from the show were preserved for future use, reflecting a strong commitment to reusability. The organizers recommend planning ahead to identify which materials can be reused and removing dates from signage to ensure they remain relevant and evergreen. Additionally, the event was powered by an estimated 132,000 kWh of renewable solar energy, significantly reducing its carbon footprint by approximately 95.5 metric tons of emissions.
Further contributing to sustainability, IMEX replaced traditional plastic badge holders with a new, eco-friendly craft paper material for over 15,000 participants. The lanyards were made from organic cotton, a more sustainable alternative that requires less water in production than conventional cotton. At the end of the event, badges and lanyards were sent to TerraCycle for proper recycling, ensuring that no materials were wasted.
Looking ahead, IMEX plans to implement the Better Stands methodology, first piloted at IMEX Frankfurt, at this year’s IMEX America. This initiative is part of a broader industry effort to eliminate “build and burn” booths, promoting more sustainable practices in the exhibition industry. The upcoming event will take place at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, with a pre-show educational day, Smart Monday, scheduled for October 7.
