Earlier this month, UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, released the second edition of its report on the exhibition industry’s contribution to the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). The report details 25 case studies submitted by exhibition organisers, venues, and service providers from 14 countries, including South Africa, in order to identify trends and best practice recommendations.
The report highlighted five areas of exhibition industry best practice. These are:
- Spreading awareness about SDGs and advancing sustainable industries
- Taking consumption seriously and prioritising local suppliers
- Combating waste with collaborative efforts
- Putting it down in ink – stipulating environmental terms in contracts
- Unveiling the secret to affordable and clean energy
Interestingly, 68% of the submissions could demonstrate a contribution to SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. Examples of this include purchasing from local suppliers, reducing the amount of single-use plastics, and reducing food waste by either redistribution for consumption or composting.
“68% of the submissions could demonstrate a contribution to SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.”
The report was initiated by the UFI Working Group on Sustainability, who produced it in collaboration with Greenview, and is available for free download from here.
The countries that are represented in the case studies are: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Mexico, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, the Netherlands, the UK and the US. Each contribution falls in one of the three following categories:
- Type I: Exhibition Theme: How the theme of the exhibition contributes to the SDGs
- Type II: Exhibition Operation: How the operator of the exhibition contributes to the SDGs
- Type III: Company’s Operations: How a company’s operations contribute to the SDGs
“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.” – UFI President Mary Larkin
“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. 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,” says UFI President Mary Larkin.
The UFI 9th Forum on Sustainability will take place in Paris, France on 13-15 May 2020 and will include discussions with experts on UNSDGs. The is available at www.ufi.org/paris2020.
