L-R: Véronique Linden, environmental advisor at Oekozenter Pafendall; Isabelle Schummers, environmental advisor at Oekozenter Pafendall; Lex Delles, Luxembourg's Minister for Tourism; Credit: MECO

Wednesday 1 February 2023 marked the launch of the "Green Business Events" project in Luxembourg; the aim is to promote sustainable and inclusive professional events.

On Wednesday, Luxembourg's Minister for Tourism, Lex Delles, presented the Green Business Events project, which aims to reduce the environmental and social footprint of any type of business event, such as congresses, conferences, exhibitions or trade fairs.

This project, which is the business counterpart of the "Green Events" project of Luxembourg's Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development, facilitates the development of eco-responsible and inclusive event solutions.

Business event organisers who meet specific criteria will now be able to have their events certified with the official "Green Business Events" logo. According to the General Directorate for Tourism, the criteria of eco-responsibility and inclusivity to be respected were developed in collaboration with professionals in the sector during workshops dedicated to sustainable events. These were then tested at the following pilot events to ensure that they reflected the realities, needs and ambitions of the sector: Tourism Awards 2021, Arch Summit 2022, MOMENTUM 2022: Know, Form, Act and Long Live The Summer 2022. The selected criteria revolve around seven themes: communication, exhibition stands and furniture, mobility, sustainable catering, waste, water and energy, and accessibility and inclusiveness.

In order to obtain the official "Green Business Events" logo, organisers must first contact the project coordinator, Oekozenter Pafendall. During a first interview, the advisers of Oekozenter Pafendall will offer individual support to the organisers in order to support them in their process of obtaining the logo. Support and individual advice for event organisers in this context are free (paid for by the General Directorate for Tourism). Organisers whose events meet the mandatory criteria as well as 50% of the optional criteria applicable to the event will sign a charter of commitment and will be awarded the logo in digital form for the event in question. The logo may be used by the organisers on any communication medium before and during the event.

Minister Delles highlighted in this context that "sustainability plays an increasingly important role for professional events. Both organisers and visitors are looking for eco-responsible events and attach greater importance to the principle of social responsibility. With the 'Green Business Events' project, we are responding to this expectation." He added: "The General Directorate for Tourism will continue to make a greater commitment to sustainability, well beyond the 'Green Business Events' project. Thus, sustainability will be an integral part of our new 'Business Events Strategy', which will be officially presented in March 2023."

Isabelle Schummers, environmental advisor at Oekozenter Pafendall, indicated that "with the official launch of 'Green Business Events', any type of organiser will now be able to be supported in their approach towards more sustainable and inclusive events. We offer individualised and tailor-made support regardless of the size and type of event".

Futher information is available on the website https://greenbusinessevents.lu/.