Sustainability is no longer an optional consideration in event planning. It is now a professional expectation, shaped by client demand, supplier responsibility, and increasing scrutiny from stakeholders and attendees alike. Yet delivering a truly sustainable and responsible event is not without its challenges. For MICE professionals, the question is no longer whether to act, but how to do so in ways that are practical, measurable, and credible, rather than simply performative.
For M&I Expo Abu Dhabi (14–16 April), we are partnering with event:decision, specialists in sustainability audit and advisory for the global events industry. Together, our aim is to help planners better measure, implement, and communicate sustainability in ways that stand up to scrutiny and deliver genuine impact. Drawing on this collaboration, we’ve identified ten practices that should be firmly embedded in event planning in 2026 and beyond.
For many events, travel – particularly long-haul air travel – remains the single largest contributor to carbon emissions. Addressing this does not mean eliminating travel altogether, but planning it more intelligently.
Leading planners are increasingly:
Where air travel is unavoidable, even decisions such as seat class can have a meaningful impact, with premium cabins generating significantly higher emissions per passenger. Certified carbon offset programmes can help balance residual emissions, and tools such as event:decision’s Track support planners in understanding travel-related emissions without requiring complex data input.
Meaningful reduction is only possible with accurate measurement. Establishing a sustainability baseline allows planners to move from assumptions to informed decision-making, and to set realistic, trackable goals.
Understanding which elements of an event are the primary drivers of emissions enables more responsible choices around event size, format, and delivery. Increasingly, planners are using dedicated tools to gather and analyse this data, making measurement a standard part of the planning process rather than an afterthought.
Venue selection remains one of the most visible and influential sustainability decisions an organiser can make. In 2026, sustainability credentials should be assessed with the same rigour as capacity, location, and service level.
Planners are prioritising venues with recognised certifications such as LEED, BREEAM, or GSTC MICE Standards, alongside strong energy and waste management systems and transparent reporting. Crucially, conversations around sustainability expectations should begin early, giving venues and suppliers time to understand and align with event requirements.
Sustainability extends beyond environmental impact. Events also have the potential to deliver meaningful social and economic value to host destinations.
This can include:
In addition to reducing transport emissions, these choices support local communities and create more authentic, destination-led experiences. Tools such as event:decision’s Impact: Responsible Event Review can help benchmark performance in this area and assess the social value generated through methodologies like SaVY.
Waste reduction must be considered at every stage of the event, from planning through to breakdown. This includes minimising single-use plastics, selecting suppliers with robust waste-reduction practices, and designing waste management systems that are easy for attendees to follow.
Clearly marked recycling and composting stations, positioned in high-traffic areas, help encourage participation. Some events are also finding success in introducing light gamification or incentives to reinforce responsible behaviour, when aligned with the audience and event culture.
Food and beverage decisions can have a significant environmental impact, often more than planners anticipate. Increasingly, sustainable catering strategies include:
Venues with refillable water stations are becoming a baseline expectation, while encouraging reusable bottles and cups further reduces waste. Where possible, surplus food should be donated to reputable local organisations. event:decision’s Impact: Responsible Event Review can support planners in assessing and improving catering sustainability as part of a broader evaluation.
Sustainability is most effective when responsibility is shared across attendees and exhibitors alike. Clear communication and visible recognition help encourage informed, responsible choices throughout the event.
At M&I Expo, this approach is reflected in the Green Tick initiative, which gives suppliers the opportunity to demonstrate how they support planners’ sustainability objectives — whether through providing emissions data, guidance on eco-conscious choices, or low-impact event practices. Green Tick recognises evidence-based action and practical support for planners, rather than positioning suppliers as inherently “sustainable.”
When sustainability is framed as a collective effort, it becomes both more credible and more impactful.
Digital tools continue to play a critical role in reducing the physical footprint of events. Paperless registration, event apps, digital signage, and virtual or hybrid components all help cut resource use and emissions.
Hybrid formats, in particular, allow planners to extend reach while reducing the need for long-distance travel, offering a more flexible and inclusive approach to participation when used strategically.
AI-driven planning tools are increasingly helping organisers forecast emissions, optimise logistics, screen and select partners and compare sustainability scenarios, making it easier to design lower-impact events from the outset rather than correcting issues retrospectively
Sustainability should be embedded into procurement criteria, not addressed retrospectively. In 2026, planners are increasingly expected to evaluate suppliers on environmental and social performance alongside cost, quality, and reliability.
This includes requesting sustainability disclosures during the RFP process, assessing policies and reporting practices, and prioritising partners who can demonstrate measurable progress. Embedding sustainability into procurement ensures responsibility extends across the entire supply chain, not just the elements under direct organiser control.
Sustainability is not a one-off initiative, but an ongoing process of improvement. Reviewing performance after each event, setting future targets, and sharing learnings across the industry all contribute to meaningful progress.
Approached collaboratively, sustainability can also strengthen relationships between planners, suppliers, and destinations. While RFPs remain central to the industry, demonstrating responsible and sustainable practice is increasingly a key differentiator – and an opportunity to stand out.
The global events industry has a significant influence on social, economic, and environmental outcomes. Sustainable event management integrates responsible decision-making into every stage of the event lifecycle, from concept through to reporting.
By embedding these ten practices, planners can reduce environmental impact while enhancing social value, improving attendee experience, and strengthening stakeholder confidence. In a competitive marketplace, sustainability is no longer just about doing the right thing – it is about doing things better.
© M&I is part of Worldwide Events Group Ltd, which includes PLE, 1st Floor, 5-7 Marshalsea Rd, London, SE1 1EP
Affiliate company: White Label Travel
14-16 April 2026 | Abu Dhabi
American buyers
24 - 28 Feb | Austria
Foster new cross-continental business relationships
Global curators
29 Mar - 1 Apr 2026 | Italy
The ultimate event for luxury incentive travel
Open your property up to a new range of events and opportunities by taking advantage of an online assessment created by our event partner, Healthcare Venues, which will determine if your venue is capable of hosting healthcare meetings and events.
If your property passes, you’ll receive Healthcare Venue certification, verifying you to our buyer network as a specialist healthcare venue.
Tim Chudley
Managing Director, Sundial Group
