Can you explain your role and responsibilities ? My role is to develop a roadmap on what becoming net zero means to us at RX and for all of our show brands . What do we mean when we say we want to achieve net zero ? What are we measuring ? Where are our carbon emissions coming from ? Are they direct or indirect ? And how do we reduce them ? I will be working closely with our event and operations leaders , and external partners such as our venues and suppliers , and the other companies who have signed the UFI pledge , to define and benchmark key metrics , and then to identify and create best sustainable practices for our own offices , our events , and the sectors we serve .
Net zero by 2050 is an ambitious goal . Where do you start ? In fact , RX is aligning with the RELX commitment to achieve net zero by 2040 . You start with a top-down commitment to achieve your goals . You also need event and operational leaders who are inspired and equipped to make the journey with you . So my immediate priority is to establish a sustainability structure within RX , so that each of our business hubs has a task force that clearly understands our carbon emission targets and is responsible for driving change .
We are also setting some key metrics in areas where we can affect the biggest change , namely energy and waste . We will be working with our venues and suppliers to determine how much energy our events consume , and how much waste we produce , recycle or dispose of into landfill . We ’ ll be looking at stand construction and transportation , printed marketing collateral vs digital alternatives , food waste and its journey to compost or the incinerator .
Some of our events have already gone some way down this road giving
“ My role is to develop a roadmap on what becoming net zero means to us at RX and for all of our show brands . ”
us a great kick-start . Having teamed up with Iniciativa Verde to reduce its carbon footprint , ILTM Latin America is now carbon neutral . STANDout , our Austrian stand building business , is embedding sustainability into its business , from using recyclable stand building materials , to driving electric vehicles . And many of our shows now offer SMART badging , eliminating the need for business cards , paper brochures and catalogues . Their learnings will help inform our journey to becoming a fully sustainable business .
What is also really encouraging is that we are not doing this alone , but as part of an industry effort alongside our UFI carbon pledge co-signatories . It is good to know that many of our venue partners and suppliers are as committed to the cause as we are .
In what other ways is RX working to support sustainability ? As a global organiser of market-leading events , we are committed to promoting and supporting sustainable business transition within the sectors we serve .
For example , World Travel Market ’ s Responsible Tourism programme is the largest of its kind in the world – an international forum that aims to engage businesses , DMOs , government and decision makers in spreading sustainable practices and ethical methods across the travel industry . in-cosmetics Global is helping to accelerate the move to cleaner , greener beauty products through its Sustainability Corner , Formulation Summit , Innovation Zone and industry awards . Functional Fabric Fair – Powered by Performance Days in the US is dedicated to showcasing the latest sustainable trends in textiles , with every exhibitor reviewed to ensure they fulfil global sustainability criteria .
RX is also proud to run a global portfolio of energy business events which are all working to accelerate the UN ’ s sustainability agenda . Our market leading brands include World Future Energy Summit , Pollutec , All-Energy , and World Smart Energy Week . By providing a platform for thought leadership , and a showcase for clean energy transition , we are helping to solve the most pressing climate issues of our time , and creating blueprints for a sustainable future . EN
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