IBC CEO shares update on show sustainability

ESG has always been an important focus for IBC. Tell me about some of the steps taken to improve sustainability across the organisation in recent years. 

At IBC, we’ve been committed to integrating environmental, social and governance principles into our operations for many years as we recognise how important it is that we contribute to a sustainable future for our industry and society.  

As an organisation we have undertaken a yearly carbon footprint audit since 2018 and offset the organisation’s carbon footprint through international social development schemes. To give you some idea of the level of success, our annual offset for IBC’s activities at the show and during the year has been just around €5000 per year. The wider events industry is working towards becoming Net Zero by 2050. IBC has signed up to this but we are determined to move more quickly where possible. 

We are committed to reducing emissions by taking action as an organisation and collaborating with our value chain, including suppliers, exhibitors and visitors, to lower both direct and indirect emissions. Additionally, we are developing our offsetting strategy aligned to best practice to further support our sustainability efforts and maintain carbon neutrality.  

What about sustainability initiatives around the show – can you share any highlights? 

While as an organisation we’ve made strong progress in terms of sustainability, we’re also clear that arranging an event that brings tens of thousands of people to Amsterdam raises its own sustainability questions, which we’re working hard to answer. We’re very proud of our Donation Room initiative, for example, where exhibitors can hand in unwanted items at the end of the show to be distributed among various social initiatives across Amsterdam. Last year we donated to enterprises including a refugee centre close to the RAI, schools, community centres and a food bank.  

We also support eco-conscious travel initiatives including the TATA Communications IBC Sustainability Bike Ride and, new for this year, The Flint Green Line, which encourages visitors to travel to Amsterdam on the Eurostar rather than flying to reduce carbon impact. 

The recovery from the pandemic has been strong and it’s clear that there is real business value in bringing the media and entertainment industry together for the show, but we know we also have a responsibility to have a strategy that works towards ensuring the event, not just IBC as an organisation, is as sustainable as possible. While we’ve done a lot, this is the beginning of the story, not the end. 

How does IBC work with the RAI to implement sustainable practices? 

We work closely with the CSR team at the RAI to share their initiatives with IBC stakeholders and we always look to identify opportunities to elevate best practices for sustainability. The RAI already has some impressive initiatives in place focusing on areas such as waste, water, CO2 emissions, congestion and stakeholder wellbeing, and it continues to aspire to do more. In fact, RAI Amsterdam was the first convention centre in Europe to be certified with Platinum status by EarthCheck, which recognises sustainable destinations and organisations, and it’s also working towards achieving Net Zero in 2050. 

Progressing sustainability and leading the way in reducing our impact is certainly a goal we share with the RAI and I look forward to continuing to work closely with them. Also, let’s not forget that Amsterdam is run by the Green Party, who have just won a second term. So there is a progressive green culture established in this city.  

What role does the IBC Show play when it comes to encouraging and recognising sustainable innovation? 

The IBC Show has long been an important platform for people to showcase sustainable technology, learn more about the green agenda and form communities to further develop the conversation. With initiatives such as the IBC Accelerator Programme, we’ve been helping to push things forward in this field for some years now. This year, for example, the ECOFLOW Accelerator project is exploring the environmental impact of media consumption with a view to helping broadcasters and users make energy-saving choices. Across the showfloor, many exhibitors will be highlighting their latest sustainable and energy-efficient solutions across the spectrum of the media and entertainment industry. And, of course, our highly regarded Innovation Awards feature Environmental & Sustainability and Social Impact categories, helping to raise profiles and celebrate those who are making a difference in these areas. 

Is sustainability on the content agenda this year too? 

One of the pillars running throughout the content programme is People & Purpose and once again we’re creating a platform for groups to share their latest advances, research and knowledge in this important field. Highlights this year include IBC partner Greening of Streaming, who presented the ‘The Greening of Streaming Hour at IBC2024’ on Friday, and the Media Tech Sustainability Series’ ‘Sustainability in Action’ event on Sunday, which will feature case studies from industry leaders on implementing sustainable practices in media. There are also numerous sessions across the IBC Conference and Showfloor Theatre programmes that will explore sustainability. 

Can you share any future plans for making the show more sustainable? 

While we’ve made good progress on our sustainability journey as an organisation, we want to be even more proactive and coherent going forward and we have huge ambitions around making IBC a more sustainable show. A key part of this is bringing in Hope Solutions, a sustainability consultancy that works with major global businesses, events and artists, including BBC, Coldplay, Live Nation and Netflix. I think working with an organisation that has specialist knowledge and works in the wider space will have a huge impact on future shows. Of course we can’t do this without the help and support of all our stakeholders. Therefore we will be asking for your input, beginning with focus groups here at IBC2024.  

We’ll be sharing more details of our plans soon – it’s the beginning of something exciting, so watch this space.