A new look Event Sustainability Report for IMEX Frankfurt 2025 has been released, giving planners deep insight into the show as well as guidance and inspiration for their own events.
The report, compiled by isla—IMEX’s new sustainability consultants for IMEX Frankfurt—has been enhanced with expanded analysis, clear data and further transparency about successes and areas to improve.
The Event Sustainability Report is structured around the goals set for this year’s IMEX Frankfurt: to assess existing initiatives, strengthen measurement and share learnings with the business events community. An additional emissions supplement provides the most detailed picture yet of the show's carbon footprint and progress.
New for this year’s report:
- isla's TRACE was deployed more widely across the supply chain to accurately measure and track the show’s carbon footprint
- Following a successful pilot in 2024, the Better Stands initiative was rolled out at the show, with all space-only booths evaluated through a combination of pre- and post-show data collection and on-site audits
- A 12-page emissions supplement provides analysis across more than 25 measured data points—from transportation and travel, catering and energy, to materials and waste impact
Emissions supplement highlights
The emissions supplement takes a deeper look at the drivers behind emissions—providing the detail needed to turn data into actionable insight and forming the basis of IMEX’s decarbonization strategy.
Highlights include:
- At IMEX-operated food outlets, 67% of food served was vegan, up from 44% in 2024. That’s well above the industry average of 56%, according to isla’s Temperature Check Europe 2025.
- Sports event organizer, Eventpower, collected 1.5 tons of carpet—25% of the total recovered—for reuse at the Frankfurt City Triathlon.
IMEX CEO, Carina Bauer, explains the organization's commitment to sustainable shows—and a sustainable sector:
“Sustainability has been core to our shows, right from the launch of IMEX Frankfurt in 2003. Since then, we’ve refined our practices and adjusted our approach each year, sharing what we learn along the way with the wider industry. While we’re proud of the progress and positive impact we’ve made, we know there’s more to do.
“This year marks a shift in our show measurement and we now have a holistic view of IMEX Frankfurt’s emissions. Gaining this level of visibility has been invaluable, but the data also raises new questions and highlights where we need to dig deeper—measuring exhibitor impact; collecting data across our entire supply chain and championing sustainable travel methods, among other areas.
“But each step forward makes the next one clearer—for us and for the industry. That’s why we’re dedicated to going further—working hand in hand with our supply chain and exhibitors to understand their progress, tackle challenges, and advance their goals alongside our own. Building a more sustainable sector means collaborating beyond the show floor and taking purposeful action throughout the entire planning and delivery cycle, all year round.”
- The IMEX Frankfurt 2025 Event Sustainability Report can be downloaded here.
- Event professionals are invited to enter the IMEX-EIC Innovation in Sustainability Award which showcases impactful, sustainability-driven work—deadline February 9.
- IMEX Frankfurt 2026 takes place at Messe Frankfurt, May 19–21. To register, click here.
