IMEX America’s sustainability achievements have earned the 2021 edition of the show a major award from Trade Show Executive (TSE) and platinum certification from the Events Industry Council (EIC).

IMEX America received TSE’s Grand Award as the Show with the Most Commendable Green Initiatives at TSE’s Gold 100 Awards & Summit, which was held September 21-23, 2022 at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara in Santa Barbara, California.

The TSE team chose IMEX America as the winner of the Grand Award because of its stand-out sustainability successes at the 2021 edition of the show. These successes include:

• The show achieved its highest landfill diversion rate to date of 95%.
• This along with recycling, composting and donation efforts meant the show achieved the industry threshold for a ‘zero-waste event’
• 100% of carbon emissions from host venue MGM convention center were offset
• 12,000+ plastic water bottles were eliminated through reuse and provision of alternatives

These sustainability achievements are detailed in an independently verified annual sustainability impact report. The report makes public the show’s energy use, F&B, materials consumption and reuse, community impact and more. As a result, IMEX America also achieved MeetGreen’s highest level of environmental recognition: Visionary status.

IMEX America 2021, held at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, also ranked 57 in the prestigious TSE Gold 100. This listing recognizes the top trade shows held in the U.S. based on net square feet of paid exhibit space.

These honors were followed by the Events Industry Council’s announcement on October 11, 2022, that the show had achieved Platinum Level certification to the EIC Sustainable Events Standards.

The EIC Sustainable Event Standards are specific standards for environmental and social responsibility within the events industry. Created by the EIC Sustainability Committee in partnership with industry professionals and leading sustainability practitioners, the requirements provide event planners and suppliers with prescriptive actions for producing and delivering sustainable events. The standard specifies performance criteria in the areas of organizational management, marketing, communications and engagement, climate action, water management, materials and circularity, supply chain management, diversity, equity and inclusion, accessibility and social impact. The Event Organizer standard is one of seven comprehensive standards for environmentally sustainable meetings.

“We are proud and excited to achieve the EIC Sustainable Event Standards Event Organizer certification to the Platinum Level,” said Carina Bauer, IMEX Group CEO. “Certification to the event industry’s highest global standards gives us not only recognition for all sustainability efforts, but also a roadmap for measuring and improving our sustainable event programs in the future. We’re also committed to the Net Zero Carbon Events initiative and are on track to publish our pathway to net zero by the end of 2023. All of these milestones rely on a collective effort. Without engagement from our partners, exhibitors, suppliers and more we would not be able to make such a positive impact.”