As the global association of the exhibition industry, UFI is committed to driving and supporting sustainable development among our global membership and the exhibition industry at large.
UFI’s actions include cover 4 main areas:
- Assess the situation, raise awareness, and provide general guidance through background information, status reports and recommendations;
- Identify and share best practices through an annual award program;
- Educate through forums, events and webinars;
- Facilitate implementation at global scale through identifying existing initiatives and tools, supporting collaborative approaches, and coordinating and developing convergence when relevant).
To achieve this, UFI drives its efforts through different channels:
- its dedicated Sustainable Development Working Group, a platform of discussion and expertise, where sustainability topics are either directly handled or allocated to the right channel (e.g. internal to UFI in collaboration with other Working Groups, or via UFI Education, UFI Events and UFI Advocacy).
- its Associations’ Committee, where over 70 national, regional, and international exhibition industry associations work together to connect global and local initiatives.
- the Net Zero Carbon Events (NZCE) initiative, designed to accelerate the transition of the events industry towards net-zero emissions. UFI ran the project office on behalf of JMIC for phases 1 and 2 of the project (2021-2023) and continues to play an active role in both the governance and the delivery of several projects for the exhibition industry.
- Standardization bodies, when relevant. UFI took part in the development of ISO 20121 (its development in 2012 and its revision in 2024) and regularly discuss other frameworks.
Main topics and recent or ongoing projects are shared below.
For any questions, please contact Sustainability@ufi.org
Annual Award programme
- 14 themes covered: Strategy (2012), Reporting (2013), Innovative environmental initiative (2013), Measurement tool for effective results (2014), Innovative cost-saving in the value chain (2015), Actions to engage participants (2016), Destination approach (2017), Sustainable exhibiting (2018), Communication (2019), Waste Management (2020), Partnership for Sustainability in and after Covid-19 time (2021), Carbon Emission Reduction (2022), Best engagement program for stakeholders (2023), Sustainability integration into business proposals (2024)
- 118 Best Practices identified from 82 organisations based in 31 countries
General reports
- How the exhibition industry can contribute to the UNSDGs Global report – 2019
- Status of sustainability in the exhibition industry Global report – 2021
- Finding the Future, Together White Paper US and Canada – 2022
- The Trade Show Travel Balance Global report – 2024
Topics transferred to the Net Zero Carbon Events (NZCE) initiative – Resources | Net Zero Carbon Events
- Waste Management (initial UFI report in 2020: waste management in the Exhibitions industry)
- Sustainable Booths (“Better Stands” program)
- Sustainable Exhibition Logistics
- Carbon footprint measurement
Topics covered in liaison with other UFI Working Groups
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Topics recently covered or underway
- Frameworks, certifications, labels (ESG rating, ISO, GSTC, etc.)
- EU legislation (CSRD, Directive for single-use plastics, “Green Claims” project)
- Train schemes in Europe