Sustainability at the WindEurope Annual Event 2024 in Bilbao

Sustainability is at the heart of what we do as an industry

And that goes for our events too! Sustainability is an integral part of our event organisation, from the planning right through to the assembly and dismantling stage.

We’ve looked at every aspect of our event planning, and we aim to align our initiatives with priorities set out in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. By evaluating our practices from one event to another, we are better able to judge and prioritise risks and opportunities for the future – while also building on best practices and past success.

As we work together to produce these events, we’ve drawn up a few priority action points for WindEurope Bilbao 2024.

Here is a sneak peek into some of the steps we’re taking:

Catering

Our standard catering offer is mainly vegetarian. We do not serve meat as part of our delegate lunch. 80% of our lunch menu is purely plant-based and we also offer sustainably-sourced fish. 95% of our produce comes from local suppliers in the Basque Country. The menu is planned around the availability of organic and seasonal produce.

We prioritise reusable crockery and cutlery, and we are working to replace disposable plastic with compostable/biodegradable materials.

We have replaced single-use water bottles with water stations across the venue. So make sure to bring your own refillable bottle!

Food Donations

We are working with a local company – Oreka – on donating food.

Any food surplus from our event will be donated to local organisations on a daily basis.

After the event, we will publish a full report, sharing more information on the actions taken in this area.

Printed material

We’ve significantly cut back on printed material at our events. From issuing three different publications, we are now down to one per event.

The WindEurope Annual Event 2024 Guide has a smaller format and only features essential information. It is printed with vegetable ink and recycled paper from FSC certified forests. FSC certification ensures that the forest is managed in a way that preserves biodiversity – maintaining strong conservation values and monitoring the environmental and social impacts of forest management. The paper has also been carbon-balanced, as certified by the World Land Trust.

As for lanyards, these are made from recycled material and any leftover lanyards are repurposed post-event.

Waste management

We are working closely with the venue and our suppliers to cut down on waste during and after the event. Sorting bins are available across the venue and are clearly marked. Exhibitors are required to order appropriate waste disposal containers for leftover material after the event.

Plastic and paper will be collected for recycling. Any remaining wood will be used to make pallets.

We are giving a second lease of life to many items, including banners, lanyards and other material.

We are encouraging all our exhibitors to join in the effort to make smart purchasing decisions, avoiding overpackaging and cutting down on waste.

Repurposing material

We are aiming to re-use many items after the event, including hostess t-shirts, lanyards, flags, banners, and others. Instead of ending up in landfills, these items will be repurposed and given to local charitable organisations.

Communication and awareness building

We’ve created guidelines for our Exhibitors on all actions to consider when planning their activities onsite – from stand design to catering, shipment to lighting, electronics and giveaways.

Join us!

All these efforts wouldn’t be possible without ongoing help and support from the venue, our partners, exhibitors and all other stakeholders. In this shared path to sustainability, every bit of progress counts! Here are some of the actions you can take to make a difference:

• Bring a reusable water bottle and enjoy free refills at our water stations located at every coffee bar and lounge area at the venue;
• Get your metro card and use public transport. It’s the quickest way to reach the venue from the city centre;
• Drop your badge and lanyard in the collection box when leaving the venue.

We need your support to make this effort a success!

If you are interested in learning more or getting on board, you can reach us at: [email protected].