Green Business Events: Profiling Through a Case Study

Abstract

There is an ever increasing emphasis being placed on business, in general, to address not only issues of sustainability, and more specifically the issues associated with reducing the negative environmental outcomes of business activity. While some events incorporate environmental sustainability as a core part of their brand, there is less documented evidence that the strategies of “reduce, reuse, and recycle” have been adopted in the more “mainstream” business events sector. This article analyzes green practices of business events through a case study approach. The evidence suggests a green exhibition business event profile: an overarching environmental policy foundation, reusing materials through subcontracting and a comprehensive, cost-driven set of green practices emphasizing energy conservation and waste minimization. The green practice mix of exhibition business events differs from other event types.