Sustainability
Siblings:
AccommodationHow to get thereTravel passMeeting roomsYour guide to CopenhagenSustainability is at the heart of what we do as an industry, and that goes for events too!
Sustainability has always been top of mind of how we operate, we are in the process of formalizing our event sustainability approach and have defined three core commitments, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and principles and our values.
Minimize our footprint:We are committed to environmental stewardship by minimizing the environmental and carbon footprint of our events.
Thrive together: We are fostering a culture of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion while prioritizing well-being and security of all our stakeholders.
Drive long-term prosperity: We uphold the highest standards of business ethics which are at the heart of our governance principles.

Travel
Did you know… Global transportation is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. Taxis running on gasoline or diesel are major CO2 emitters – giving off about 250g per km! Public transport is more energy efficient, emitting just 100g for each passenger over the same distance.
What are we doing about it? The City of Copenhagen is offering discounted public transport travel passes to all WindEurope participants – encouraging sustainable commuting and reducing the event’s carbon footprint.
How can you help? Take public transport whenever you can to reduce your carbon emissions and support sustainable travel options!
Read more about Travel Pass Read more about Travel Pass Buy Travel Pass

Food
Did you know… The food industry has a major environmental footprint – responsible for 26% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Meat production is the big culprit here. It takes up large tracts of land – around 77% of all global agricultural areas. And it consumes lots of water too – around 15,000 liters for every kg of beef.
What are we doing about it? Our event lunches this year are 80% plant-based and we do not serve meat – which cuts down significantly on the carbon footprint linked with meat and dairy produce. And on top of that, all the food served here at the Bella Center is organic and locally sourced too.
How can you help? Try out some of the sustainable dishes available at the Lunch Area! Mindful food choices are a great way to make a difference to the world around us!

Food waste
Did you know… Every year up to 1/3 of food produced around the world ends up in refuse.This isn’t just a waste of everything that goes into making food – water, energy, and labour. It also leads to more greenhouse gas emissions. As food waste decomposes in landfills, it gives off methane, one of the major drivers of global climate change.
What are we doing about it? We’ve taken steps to minimise food waste – making careful use of food quantities onsite. Any leftover food is reused to ensure nothing goes to waste. Inedible or spoiled food is turned into biogas. And everything else – sandwiches and salads for example – will be donated to local charities such as Det Runde Bord.
How can you help?Make sure to only take what you know you will eat – and help us cut down on food waste! Every little effort helps!

Waste and plastic pollution
Did you know… Our modern society produces 2bn metric tonnes of waste a year. And most of this waste ends up in landfills or dumped directly into the natural environment. Landfills are the third-largest source of human-related methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas.
For plastic, it’s even more alarming. Only 9% of the 9bn tonnes of plastic produced every year is recycled. The rest gathers in landfills, oceans, and other ecosystems, where it can take thousands of years to degrade. At this rate, by 2050, there will be more plastic in the oceans than fish – when measured by cumulative weight.
What are we doing about it?
- We’ve installed water refilling stations around the venue to cut back on single-use plastics.
- The carpet onsite is recycled. After the event, it’ll be turned into granulate – and will get a second lease of life in the plastic used for cars built in Germany.
- Your lanyard is made from recycled plastic – and the badge holders are biodegradable!
How can you help? Please dispose of your waste in the correct bins to help reduce landfill waste. If you have a water bottle, feel free to refill it whenever you’re thirsty! And when the event is over, leave your badge in the special collection box so it can be recycled!

Thriving together
To foster a more inclusive and safe wind industry, we emphasize diverse attendance, gender balance in speakers, and stringent health and safety measures.
- Encourage diverse attendance: We create inclusive programs reflecting varied perspectives and ensure comfort and respect for all. Our free student-only program and Wind Energy Open House provide renewable energy insights to diverse communities.
- Promote gender balance in speakers: We promote gender balance by encouraging more female representation among our speakers. We support other initiatives that promote a more balanced gender representation of the industry. You can find more on this under the side events we support.
- Ensure health, safety, and security: We prioritize the safety of all stakeholders by implementing comprehensive health and safety measures and providing thorough briefings and documentation throughout event planning and delivery.
Want to know more?
Read more about Student Programme Read more about Wind Energy Open House Vattenfall Networking Event for Women



Legacy
To drive long-term prosperity, we support local communities and uphold high business ethics. We ensure transparency, respect, and efficiency in our business relationships, prioritizing sustainable products and services.
As part of our Legacy initiatives and support work towards the local communities, we are supporting the Danish Climate Forest Fund, established by the Danish Parliament, now under the Ministry of Environment of Denmark.
The Fund works to boost the green agenda and contribute to climate action: It helps protect natural ecosystems and create long-term environmental benefits.
Through this Fund, WindEurope supports afforestation and biodiversity projects – These will be given the status of forest reserves and low-lying areas as a permanent natural condition with natural water levels. Projects are designed to provide long-term, cost-effective climate effects many years into the future.
You can find more information here: www.klimaskovfonden.dk/english
Resources
We check our facts before posting. Here are the resources used in putting this page together:
- Climate Change Impacts on Transportation
- Post-Pandemic, Public Transport Needs to Get Back on Track to Meet Global Climate Goals
- Environmental Impacts of Food Production
- Plastic pollution
- Impacts of Plastic Pollution
- The Women for Sustainable Energy – Strategies to Foster Women’s Talent for Transformational Change
Photo credits:
- Travel: Photo by Büro Jantzen for Metroselskabet
- Food: Photo by Sri Lanka on Unsplash
- Food Waste: Photo by Jeremias Ybañez on Unsplash
- Waste and plastic pollution: Photo by Linus Belanger on Unsplash
- Thriving together:Photo by Shane Rounce on Unsplash
- Legacy: Photo by Noah Buscher on Unsplash