Trailblazers

Sustainable suppliers

A growing number of businesses are taking sustainability seriously and making moves to operate in a way that is kinder to the environment. In this edition of TakeTheTimeFor5 we look at what some of the exhibitors at The Meetings Show 2025 are doing to be more sustainable.

Glaziers Hall invests in net zero strategy

Glaziers Hall, the historic Livery building on the Southbank in London, has invested £200k to replace its existing electric chillers and gas boilers with heat pumps.

In addition to delivering improved efficiencies, the change will also support the company’s sustainability strategy and ambition to become net zero, which has already delivered an annual reduction in gas consumption of 40% thanks to an upgrade to point of use boilers.

Will Simmonds, managing director, Glaziers Hall, said: "This year alone we have reduced our gas consumption by 40%, and we know that further efficiencies will be delivered are a result of the investment into heat pumps. While our customers may not be aware of the changes, we know that we are meeting with our ambitions to implement more sustainable ways of working, and that matters to us all.”

Olympia retains Green Tourism Gold certification

Olympia’s events business has successfully retained its Gold certification from Green Tourism, a globally recognised accreditation body that evidences high standards in sustainability, for a fifth year.

The venue underwent a rigorous assessment process with its sustainability practices and initiatives evaluated against a comprehensive set of criteria, including an ongoing commitment to: industry-recognised standards and practices, working responsibly, ethically, and sustainably, contributing to the local community, reducing its impact on the environment, and fostering a diverse, equal and inclusive environment for all visitors and staff.

Sian Richards, head of sustainability, Olympia Events, said: “We’re delighted to retain our Gold rating for another year and share this success with the rest of the industry.”

Yorkshire to host sustainability summit for events industry

The first Yorkshire Events Sustainability Summit (YESS) will take place on 16 June, 2025, at Horizon Leeds.

Created by industry change-makers Your First and supported by Conference Leeds, Make It York, Conference Sheffield, Meet North Yorkshire part of North Yorkshire Council, Barnsley Council, and Visit Hull & East Yorkshire, YESS will mark a new chapter in how the events industry approaches environmental, social, and governance (ESG) responsibility.

Ben Vollans, co-founder of Your First said YESS is built for event professionals ‘who are ready to move beyond buzzwords and take meaningful action toward a more sustainable future’.

“We created YESS because we’re tired of talk without action. It’s time to move past performative gestures and drive real, collaborative progress across the industry,” he said.

The programme has been curated to prioritise peer learning and open dialogue, with a mix of panel conversations, interactive workshops and a small exhibition area. One of the sessions will be hosted by Anna Abdelnoor, CEO & Founder of isla.

Brighter secures ISO 20121 certification

Brighter, Clarity Business Travel's Meetings and Events specialists, has attained the ISO 20121 certification for Sustainable Meetings and Events.

All members of the events team have undergone sustainable events training, increased regulatory compliance and better risk management. Marketing collateral has also been updated to include green symbols and compliance logos which are familiar to clients and  roles and responsibilities for staff, as well as contractors and suppliers, have been redefined to align with this standard.

Paul Casement, Brighter’s executive director of Groups, Meetings and Events, said: “We are seeing more and more of our clients wanting to really integrate sustainability into events. Tender processes increasingly want evidence of sustainability practices too. With this sustainability certification, clients old and new wanting to work with a responsible supplier can be confident that Brighter has the right skills and experience to deliver the event they desire.”