A recent survey conducted by a leading DMC finds that sustainability continues to be far removed from the priorities of the global events industry as only 15 pc work towards reducing carbon emissions.

Despite all the talk about sustainability in travel and tourism, a major segment of the industry remains almost entirely cut off from the issue as a recent survey of the event organising industry around the world discovered.

The survey, conducted across the globe by Ovation Global DMC, found that less than 15 pc of current events worldwide actively prioritise and work towards achieving carbon net zero status.

According to a press statement by the company, these results underscore the need for increased sustainability initiatives within the industry.

The survey, which polled event planners, and suppliers from North America, Europe, South America, Asia, and Australia and Oceania, aimed to assess the level of commitment and progress in implementing carbon reduction measures.

Its key findings were startling, to say the least. Only 15 pc of events worldwide actively focus on lowering carbon emissions. The results indicate a gap in prioritising sustainability practices within the events industry.

The survey also found that even though effectively measuring the carbon footprint is essential for lowering and understanding how to off-set emission, only 38 pc of participants claim their company measures the footprint of the overall organisation while only 33 pc measure the carbon footprint of the events they organise.

The survey findings point out that working with sustainable vendors is an important step towards achieving NetZero Carbon Events. Although results show that only 14 pc of companies currently mandate working with vendors that actively work towards NetZero, 50 pc of companies share that they are in the process of implementing these measures. This highlights the acknowledgement and recognition from organisations to work with more sustainable vendors in the future.

The survey findings add that client mandate and maintaining image and reputation are the key drivers for most companies working towards Net Carbon Zero Events. It is followed by the desire to attract new customers with sustainable practices.

 

The global survey also revealed internal recommendations for companies to create a Carbon NetZero ecosystem. Among the recurring responses were the need for systems that measure the carbon footprint of each event, the implementation of a 4-day work week and reduction of short haul air travel.

“We believe that the events industry has the power to be a catalyst for positive change. By embracing sustainable practices, event organizers can not only reduce their environmental impact but also inspire others to follow suit,” says Rutger Hoorn, VP of Sales and Strategic Partnerships at Ovation Global DMC.