GES UK
Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2023, 2024)
Reporting Period: 2023
Environmental Metrics
Total Carbon Emissions:5351 tCO2e (location-based) / 4177 tCO2e (market-based)
Scope 3 Emissions:7,587.40 kgCO2e (2022)
Renewable Energy Share:100% (electricity)
Water Consumption:87,988.00 m3
Waste Generated:205.72 tonnes
ESG Focus Areas
- Sustainable Venue and Events
- People, Culture and Safety
- Our Community and Platform for Change
- Clients, Partners and Supply Chain
- Governance and Ethics
Environmental Achievements
- Achieved 100% landfill diversion rate for over a decade
- Developed a new waste management strategy
- 12% reduction in electricity consumption in 2023 from 2019 levels
- Transitioned all plant machinery to biofuel, saving 79 tonnes of CO2e annually
- Partnered with Bywaters for improved waste management
- Switched to recyclable materials for signage
- Procured 100% renewable electricity since 2020
Social Achievements
- Trained all public-facing staff to support people with hidden disabilities
- Launched Halo Incident Management System to improve security
- Hosted 700+ local primary school pupils for the Moneywise Challenge
- 36% increase in charitable contributions in 2023 (£251,404)
- Developed a new IMPACT toolkit to help organisers maximise social impact
- Introduced new Sustainability Standards for Procurement
- Partnered with Foodsteps to introduce carbon footprint ratings on hospitality menus
- Gained ISO 27001 certification for our management office
Governance Achievements
- Introduced Sustainability Standards for Procurement
- ISO 27001 certification for management office
- Net Zero Carbon Events Pledge signatory
- isla venue member
- UN Global Compact member
- Carbon Neutral PAS 2060 certified
- ISO 14001 and ISO 20121 certified
- Member of the AEV Cross-association Sustainability Working Group
Climate Goals & Targets
Long-term Goals:
- Net zero carbon by 2045
Medium-term Goals:
- 50% carbon reduction by 2030
Short-term Goals:
- Recycling rate of 75% by 2025
- Achieve accessibility certification by the end of 2025
Environmental Challenges
- Transitioning completely from gas due to on-site CHP energy centre
- Finding suitable sustainable alternatives for external signage materials
Mitigation Strategies
- Exploring decarbonisation opportunities such as solar panels, wind turbines, and heat pumps
- Continuing to trial new sustainable technologies with suppliers
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: 5% of suppliers assessed (2022)
Responsible Procurement
- Sustainability Standards for Procurement
- Procurement Policy and Supplier Code of Conduct
- Local sourcing where possible (within 25 miles)
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI, PAS 2060, SBTi Corporate Net Zero Standard
Certifications: ISO 14001, ISO 20121, ISO 27001
Awards & Recognition
- Sustainability Award (London Venue and Catering Awards)
- Venue of the Year (Event Supplier and Services Association)
- England’s Best Convention Centre (MICE Awards)
- Venue of the Year (Exhibition News Awards)
- Automotive Event of the Year (Formula E) (C&IT Awards)
Reporting Period: 2024
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Environment
- Social
- Governance
Environmental Achievements
- Reduced HGV road miles and emissions by 50% by moving offices and warehouses onsite at the NEC Birmingham and ExCel London
- 35% of forklifts are electric (zero emissions during operation)
- Reduced waste caused by damage and excess packaging from stand services due to operational improvements
- Completed a cradle to gate assessment of some high-carbon materials
- Funded the planting of 438 trees
- Achieved ESSA Gold Sustainability Accreditation
- ISO20121 compliant
Social Achievements
- Implemented a H&S platform mandating online H&S training for all employees and subcontractors
- ISO45001 compliant (Occupational Health & Safety Management)
- 78% of service partners completed H&S training
- Offer Vitality Health and BHSF Healthcare plans
- Introduced an end-of-year shutdown and three additional discretionary leave days
- Reviewed Time Off in Lieu (TOIL) Policy
- Run educational meetings on menopause and neurodiversity
- Offer 'We Care Employee Assistance' program
- Regularly donate to food banks and charities
- All employees entitled to two days of volunteering annually
Governance Achievements
- Sustainability performance embedded into individual objectives and bonus structures
- Updated Environmental Sustainability Policy
- ESG Strategy aligning to the B Corp framework
- Abide by Viad's Always Honest: Compliance and Ethics Program Manual
Climate Goals & Targets
Long-term Goals:
- Achieve B Corp Certification (2026 and beyond)
- Close the gender pay gap (2026 and beyond)
- Launch Graduate Training Programme (2026 and beyond)
- Offer a variety of apprenticeships (2026 and beyond)
- Deliver Net Zero events by 2050
Medium-term Goals:
- Roll out digital platforms to 80% of shows (by 2025)
- Increase percentage of electric forklifts to 100% (by 2025)
- Investigate post-event footprint reporting (by 2025)
- Have 50% more sustainably accredited materials in portfolio (by 2025)
- Increase EV charging for forklifts and LGVs (by 2025)
- Extend secondary caregiver leave by an extra week (by 2025)
- Improve wellbeing days (by 2025)
- Further engage with service partners to consolidate training records (by 2025)
- Facilitate contractor workshop on H&S (by 2025)
- Provide pay grading, inflation-led pay increases, and a bonus plan (by 2025)
- Introduce an additional company volunteering day (by 2025)
- Launch Community Engagement Programme (by 2025)
- Launch Better Together Programme (by 2024)
- Switch bank to one aligning better with sustainability targets (by 2025)
- Look at feasibility of increasing pension contributions (by 2025)
- Provide mentoring (by 2025)
- Provide clearer career objectives (by 2025)
Short-term Goals:
- Develop a Supply Chain Management Plan (by end of 2024)
- Conduct a Scope 1-3 carbon footprint (by end of 2024)
- Evaluate the footprint of events (by end of 2024)
- Decrease overall waste and increase recyclable waste (by end of 2024)
- Run a company-wide challenge to encourage biodiversity around offices (by end of 2024)
- Improve customer service (2024)
- Conduct eNPS survey every four months (2024)
- Update several policies (by end of 2024)
- Send out ESG questionnaire to stakeholders (by end of 2024)
- Set more KPIs (by end of 2024)
Environmental Challenges
- The events industry is traditionally emissions-heavy
Mitigation Strategies
- Trialing an onsite event delivery platform to improve efficiency and reduce waste
- Working towards B Corp Certification
- Aligning Net Zero targets to an SBTi approved pathway
- Signed up to the Net Zero Carbon Pledge for the Events Industry
- Developing a Supply Chain Management Plan
Supply Chain Management
Responsible Procurement
- Developing a Supply Chain Management Plan
- Sourcing toilet paper with a lower carbon footprint
- Ensuring uniforms are sustainably sourced
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: B Corp, SBTi
Certifications: ISO20121, ISO45001, ESSA Gold Sustainability Accreditation
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- New countertop range
- Recycled graphic panels
- Alternative flooring solutions