A helping Hannuwa
LOOK TO NATURE FOR REGENERATIVE EVENT MANAGEMENT , SAYS CARINA BAUER , CEO OF THE IMEX GROUP , WHO HIGHLIGHTS HERE SOME OF THE FINDINGS FROM THE REGENERATIVE REVOLUTION REPORT , CO- CREATED BY IMEX
e partnered with Guy Bigwood , managing director , Global Destination Sustainability Movement , to create the Regenerative Revolution report in order to encourage a frank and fearless conversation about sustainability and the role of the global meetings and events community in bringing about change . We didn ’ t want the report to be a showcase of our existing sustainability credentials , but a broader guide for the entire industry to provide direction on what we can collectively achieve .
The report , sponsored by Marriott International , details a set of guiding principles called ‘ Hannuwa ’, an ancient San word from South Africa that means the gathering of good fortune through living in harmony with our natural environment . Hannuwa comprises four key principles and an eight-step
methodology which serves to educate and guide event organisers to move beyond sustainability to a more regenerative , circular event management .
This methodology isn ’ t yet fully integrated into our business – but we have plans in place to ensure it will be . Having researched and learned about Hannuwa , these principles are now a firm goal for our organisation , and we ’ re busy looking at how the measures can be incorporated into our activity throughout the year including our live shows .
Put simply – our ultimate goal is to have a circular , regenerative tradeshow . We ’ ve already taken some key steps on our journey towards this : both of our shows , IMEX in Frankfurt and IMEX America , are now fully powered by renewable energy . IMEX in Frankfurt is an entirely zero waste event and at IMEX America , only 6 % of waste goes to landfill . IMEX America has been ranked as one of the most sustainable shows in North America , achieving an APEX / ASTM level 1 score of 93 % in 2018 .
Sustainability has long been a core value of the IMEX Group , since the launch of the first IMEX in Frankfurt in 2003 and we began by taking small steps – using recycled and recyclable materials such as carpet and signage , offering regionally sourced food and reducing red meat , for example .
Our journey has evolved over time – and that ’ s in no small part due to our work with our partners and stakeholders – we ’ ve asked our suppliers and our venues to help us provide environmentally friendly solutions and , in many cases , these ‘ green ’ options then become standard practice for suppliers who can offer them to other clients . We actively involve our exhibitors - our sustainable exhibiting guide details measures they can take before , during and after their time at our shows – and we also share our learnings with attendees through bespoke education .
Good practice doesn ’ t begin and end with our shows however , we ensure it is built into our organisation through a dedicated ‘ green squad ’ – a passionate group of employees across all departments who ‘ see the world through green eyes ’. It ’ s this group of individuals who are helping us to further evolve our activities - moving from sustainable to regenerative events by incorporating the guiding Hannuwa principles in the months and years ahead . Creating an entirely circular , regenerative tradeshow is our ultimate aim and we intend to achieve this through collaboration and determination . You don ’ t need to be big or have a big budget to achieve stronger sustainability , but you do need persistence and commitment . My hope is that event professionals will join us as we start 2021 in building a more regenerative , resilient events industry .
“ Creating an entirely circular , regenerative tradeshow is our ultimate aim and we intend to achieve this - step by step .”
The Regenerative Revolution , A new paradigm for event management is authored by Guy Bigwood , managing director , Global Destination Sustainability Movement . It is free to download now from the IMEX website .
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