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• Standardise signage formats so material can be reused.
• Use modular sets and rental based production to minimise construction waste.
• Request recycling and composting options and brief delegates on how to participate.
Dubai’ s citywide Dubai Can initiative is a strong example of how behavioural change can reduce waste. Organisers increasingly encourage delegates to bring reusable water bottles and use the network of refill stations across the city. These small actions, when scaled across thousands of delegates, produce real reductions in single use plastic consumption.
Make responsible choices in catering and F & B Food and beverage decisions carry one of the largest environmental footprints of any event. Dubai’ s guide offers a series of practical steps to help associations reduce impact while still delivering high-quality delegate experiences. These include:
• Prioritising menus that feature local and seasonal ingredients.
• Offering more plant-forward options, which have significantly lower emissions.
• Designing menus based on realistic consumption patterns.
• Avoiding unnecessary packaging and choosing service styles that reduce disposables.
• Partnering with suppliers that support food redistribution programmes for surplus meals.
Dubai based caterers have expanded responsible menu options and integrating food waste monitoring and redistribution pathways into event operations.
Leverage citywide sustainability infrastructure Delivering a sustainable event becomes significantly easier when the destination itself is structured around responsible practice. In Dubai, the Dubai Sustainable
Tourism( DST) programme gives organisers a ready-made foundation to build on, particularly when it comes to accommodation choices.
Associations are encouraged to treat accommodation selection as a sustainability decision. Hotels certified under the Dubai Sustainable Tourism Stamp have been assessed against 19 criteria covering energy efficiency, water management, waste reduction, guest engagement and staff training – with gold, silver and bronze tiers verified standards offering planners flexible options.
Again, brief accommodation providers early, request sustainability data as part of contracting and align them with your event’ s goals.
Engage delegates in the sustainability journey A good rule of thumb: sustainability is both operational and experiential. Delegates play a central role in achieving event wide impact, and the guide encourages organisers to actively involve participants. Associations can:
• Brief delegates on sustainability goals before the event.
• Promote public transport, pooled transfers or walking routes when feasible.
• Provide opportunities for delegates to participate in sustainability activities or community programs.
• Showcase sustainability data and outcomes post-event.
These actions create a sense of shared purpose and reinforce the association’ s commitment to responsible practice.
Measure, report and improve The final step is measurement. Associations are encouraged to track metrics that align with their sustainability goals. These may include:
• Waste diversion percentages
• Energy consumption
• Water usage
• Food waste volumes
• Carbon footprint estimates
• Inclusivity and accessibility indicators Reporting results to delegates, members and partners builds credibility and reinforces progress. It also provides a benchmark for continuous improvement at future events.
Dubai Business Events offers guidance on measurement frameworks and can help associations connect with local partners who utilise responsible reporting.
A practical path to purpose driven meetings Sustainability is not a trend. It is a responsibility. But it does not need to be complex. Dubai’ s practices into a more sustainable business events ecosystem offer associations a clear and achievable pathway that turns sustainability from a broad ambition into an achievable set of intentional actions.
For global associations seeking a destination that not only supports sustainability but actively enables it, Dubai provides a practical and actionoriented model. In Dubai sustainability is a way of working, delivered collectively and grounded in achievable outcomes. n
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