A showcase for eco-responsible business meetings. This is what Luxembourg has been offering event organisers since 1 February. Congresses and conferences, trade fairs and exhibitions, conventions or incentives: all types of events can include the following in their communications the "Green Business Events" logosymbolising their commitment to sustainability and inclusiveness. Provided, of course, that they meet a certain number of criteria, validated in advance by Oekozenter Pafendall, the NGO coordinating the project under the patronage of the Luxembourg Tourism Board.
The Green Business Events project sets out a framework for drastically limit the ecological impact of events. Designed in collaboration with industry professionals at workshops dedicated to sustainable events, the criteria - some compulsory, others optional - are based on seven themes: communication, exhibition stands & furniture, mobility, sustainable catering, waste, water & energy and accessibility & inclusiveness.
Since 2019, the Grand Duchy's Ministry for the Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development has been promoting virtuous events for the general public using the "Green Events" logo. Trade fairs, forums, concerts, Christmas markets, student evenings, sports competitions: a wide range of events have been able to promote the logo. The Luxembourg Ministry for Economic Affairs, through its Directorate General for Tourism, is today extending this initiative to the professional meetings.. The project also involves the Luxembourg Convention Bureau, the IMS (Inspiring More Sustainability) network of Luxembourg's leading CSR companies, and the support of the Ministry of the Environment.
" Organisers and visitors alike are looking for eco-responsible events and give greater importance to the principle of social responsibility" said Lex Delles, Minister for Tourism, underlining that the " an increasingly important role "CSR for professional events. " In this way, sustainability will be an integral part of our new "Business Events-Strategywhich will be officially presented in March 2023" he added.
Organisers wishing to ensure the sustainability of their events can have their approach certified by Oekozenter Pafendall, whose advisors offer individual, tailor-made support to help them obtain the "Green Business Events" logo. And all free of charge, since its allocation is handled by the Directorate-General for Tourism. Once the event's criteria have been validated, the organiser signs a commitment charter giving him the right to display the logo in digital form. " With the official launch of "Green Business Events", all types of organisers can now be supported in their drive towards more sustainable and inclusive events." said Isabelle Schummers, Environmental Advisor at Oekozenter Pafendall.
To ensure that we are in touch with the realities and needs of the sector, several pilot events were used as tests, notably the lifestyle trends show Long Live The Summer and the Arch Summit, a meeting place for players in technological innovation, both held at Luxexpo The Box last year. For its part, the Luxembourg Ministry of the Economy has applied these best practices to itself at the second annual Luxembourg Stratégie conference. Gathered at the Maison des arts et des étudiants in Esch-Belval, players in the local economy shared their thoughts on the energy transition, in particular the challenges posed by certain preconceived ideas limiting the emergence of more resilient modes of production and consumption. Naturally, the ecological impact of the event was kept to a strict minimum.
For more information, please visit www.greenbusinessevents.lu.
Contact:
LUXEMBOURG CONVENTION BUREAU G.I.E.
35, AVENUE DE LA LIBERTÉ | L-1931 LUXEMBOURG
Tel.: +352 22 75 65 1
Internet : www.business-events.lu
