IMEX America Sustainability
Initiatives, Education, Run a Legacy Program,
IMEX America is committed to encouraging the meetings, incentive travel and events industry to address sustainability issues and to tackle these issues in a proactive, measured way. The intention is to develop a long-term relationship with the exhibitors, attendees, venues and vendors to build a successful show and to increase our sustainability efforts for the future.
IMEX America 2012 was benchmarked against the APEX/ASTM Environmentally Sustainable Event Standards, Level 1; achieving 63% compliance. Key success areas included:
- 87.5% of exhibit waste from the Sands Expo and Convention Center diverted from landfills. 72% in total diverted when combined with show-related events and meetings held at The Venetian® l The Palazzo®
- 40% of food served at The Venetian®|The Palazzo® and the Sands Expo and Convention Center met sustainability criteria
- 12 metric tons of organics and service waste was composted by The Venetian® l The Palazzo® and the Sands Expo and Convention Center
- 94 % of the total carpet on show floor was reused from previous events
For more information on our audited results view the latest press release.
Sustainable Event Report
We are pleased to publish our Sustainable Event Reports from MeetGreen® for IMEX America.
For the second IMEX America in 2012, the primary sustainability focus was to document sustainability performance of existing event management practices against the recently released APEX/ASTM Environmentally Sustainable Event Standards. In collaboration with MeetGreen®, IMEX America engaged suppliers to deliver actions and measurements as part of a sustainable event management initiative.
 The 2012 Sustainable Event Report
The inaugural report for IMEX 2011 summarises our sustainability program innovations, best practices and our event footprint as baseline statistics from which we will measure the results of our future sustainability programs.
The 2011 Sustainable Event Report
Please contribute to IMEX America green goals by:
- Using the recycling bins
- Posting brochures back to the office
- Carbon-offsetting your travel to Las Vegas
- Exhibitors can order a a sustainable booth that includes: FSC certified and formaldehyde free wall panels; earth-friendly inks; shelves and counters made from formaldehyde free particle board and eco friendly carpet.
- Exhibitors can opt for sustainable catering for their booth.
IMEX America runs two Green Teams open to all exhibitors and hosted buyers/attendees to join by completing green tasks to reduce waste output and increase awareness of corporate social responsibility. Members of the Green Team are given a green ribbon to wear during the show. For more information about joining the Green Team click here.
- Recycling your USB sticks
Drop your spare (pre-cleaned) USB sticks in the recycle bins at the show and we will send them to schools in India for re-use. You will find the recycle bins at the Sustainability Hub on the show floor and at the Information Counters.
We are embracing the 'Clean the World' initiative, a not-for-profit company that
collects and leftover soap and shampoo products discarded by hotels and re-
distributes them to needy groups around the world to help prevent illness and
disease.
A Clean the World Tour and volunteer opportunity will take place on Smart Monday, Oct. 14 2013. You will learn more about the mission of Clean the World, walk through the soap and amenity recycling process and get involved in the process by sorting bottles and creating hygiene kits. Registration will be available here approximately 2 months prior to IMEX America.
Education
We will provide educational opportunities, working in partnership with GMIC, for attendees, exhibitors and hosted buyers on issues and solutions related to sustainability practices within the industry by providing:
- information on how attendees can participate in sustainability practices,
- Free educational sessions that will take place at the Sustainability Hub on the show floor.
- The full program will be available from 2 months prior to IMEX America.
Legacy Program
Badge Back: We run a 'badge back' legacy program. As participants leave the exhibition they can recycle their badges in designated badge boxes, each box will represent a legacy project in the local area. For every badge recycled donations will be made to support the project.
The supported Las Vegas legacy projects are:
- Opportunity Village are a local non-profit organization employing people with intellectual disabilities in Las Vegas. They operate three employment training center campuses and a Thrift Store, employing approximately 1,600 individuals with disabilities in the Las Vegas Valley. The revenue generated in the Thrift Store supports programs like PRIDE and ENABLE, which are respite and rehabilitation programs, costing approximately $4.5 million to run per year. Visit www.opportunityvillage.org for more information.
- The Shade Tree is a local 'grassroots' non-profit organization with no national affiliation or support. Their mission is to provide safe shelter to homeless and abused women and children in crisis and to offer life-changing services promoting stability, dignity, and self-reliance.
Using programs offered by The Shade Tree, women can rebuild their lives. They can find employment, secure permanent housing and become productive members of the community. The Shade Tree is the largest shelter of it's kind in the state, and is the only 24-hour accessible shelter designed specifically to meet the needs of women and children in Southern Nevada. With 364 permanent beds, The Shade Tree provides some 80,000 nights of shelter each year. On average, 33% of their clients are children under the age of 18.Visit www.theshadetree.org for more information.
IMEX thanks bXb Online for it's kind donation and support towards this program.
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