BEIA's MEETINGS 2023 commits to carbonzero

New Zealand's largest business events exhibition is set to be the most sustainable yet as it works towards Toitū net carbonzero certification.

Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA) is working towards Toitū net carbonzero certification for its upcoming 27th MEETINGS event to be a Certified Event Operation.

MEETINGS 2023, which will take place 21-22 June at Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre, is set to be the most sustainable yet, with a renewed commitment to reducing the event’s greenhouse gas footprint.

“As the business events industry’s peak body, it is our role to lead the way in sustainability practices and make them core to everything we do,” BEIA chief executive, Lisa Hopkins said.

“Working with Toitū to achieve this certification means all emissions associated with the planning and operations of MEETINGS 2023 will be measured, audited in alignment with strict world-leading criteria, and then offset via quality assessed carbon credits.

“Not only will this show our exhibitors and buyers we are committed to reducing environmental impact, but also it will give us the platform to work towards continual reduction of carbon emissions for MEETINGS year-on-year.”

Held in Wellington for the first time, the event’s venue is the brand new Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre, which holds a 5-Star Green Design certification from the New Zealand Green Building Council.

Other initiatives for MEETINGS 2023 include carbon-offsetting hosted buyers air travel with Air New Zealand’s FlyNeutral programme, reducing printed material, eliminating satchels, and partnering with local charities Kibosh Food Rescue, Gillies McIndoe Research and Wellington Zoo to make donations on behalf of every hosted buyer.

While BEIA is passionate about reducing the environmental impact of MEETINGS, Hopkins said they can’t do it alone and is encouraging exhibitors and buyers to take whatever steps they can to help reduce their footprint too.

“We are encouraging exhibitors to help by offsetting carbon emissions from travel and freight to Wellington if possible, using sustainable packaging, reducing waste from one-time items by creating reusable generic signage or digital signage options, bringing reusable coffee cups and water bottles and arranging for plants used on stands to be donated or re-planted,” Hopkins said.

“Hosted buyers can make a difference by bringing reusable coffee cups, water bottles, and bags, and by using the MEETINGS App, recycling name badges, walking to the venue if staying locally, and choosing one of three charities for BEIA to donate to.”