For IMEX Frankfurt 2025, sustainability is a central strategy, not a side story.
As the meetings and events industry continues to grapple with its environmental impact, IMEX Frankfurt 2025 has embedded environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles into the core of its operations, making it a leading example of how trade shows can actively drive sustainable transformation.
The 2025 edition, taking place at Messe Frankfurt May 20-22, reflects years of incremental evolution toward more environmentally and socially responsible practices. The venue itself now runs entirely on renewable energy, a significant milestone for an event of this scale. In a further effort to reduce carbon emissions, attendees traveling internationally can opt into carbon-offsetting programs built into the registration and transportation processes.
What’s striking this year is the depth of integration. Sustainability isn’t only evident in operational choices — like zero-waste catering and upcycled booth materials — it’s woven throughout the educational content as well. The expanded People and Planet Village is a notable example. More than just an exhibit space, it functions as an idea incubator, bringing together social entrepreneurs, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) advocates and nonprofits to explore how inclusivity and environmental responsibility intersect in the events space.
The educational program has also evolved to meet rising demand for actionable insight. Sessions delve into climate-conscious planning, circular economy frameworks, and regenerative event strategies — offering tools and case studies that event professionals can apply to their own programs. Rather than providing theoretical overviews, the focus is on practical execution and measurable outcomes.
Beyond the environmental metrics, IMEX Frankfurt 2025 is also addressing the human side of sustainability. Diversity, equity and inclusion are not treated as isolated themes but are integrated across the show floor and learning agenda. From small-business representation to panels featuring a variety of global voices, the event continues to broaden its scope beyond traditional commercial interests.
Central to IMEX Frankfurt’s story is that its organizers take a long-term view. The show is a platform for conversation, but the IMEX Group intends for those conversations to influence real change across the meetings industry. The overall intent is that many of the destinations and suppliers who come to the show are inspired to adopt new sustainability initiatives based on what they see and learn on site. This hope is that this ripple effect will extend well beyond the event’s closing day — and continue to make IMEX Frankfurt an industry-wide influence.
Planners also can expect to do more than just connect with suppliers at IMEX Frankfurt. The plan is to provide an opportunity for those on the meeting and event management side to benchmark their own sustainability practices against the evolving standard. Whether attending in person or following the outcomes from afar, industry professionals will find plenty of ideas, innovations and partnerships to bring back to influence their own work.
While scale and spectacle are in and of themselves worthy goals, IMEX Frankfurt wants to take it a step further by prioritizing purpose, challenging the industry to rethink what’s possible — and necessary — in today’s global event landscape.
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