IMEX America maintained a 90 percent waste-diversion rate in 2025 while hosting its largest edition to date, according to a new event sustainability report.
The report, developed with sustainability consultants MeetGreen, tracks waste, materials, food recovery, travel data, and other environmental measures from the 2025 show.
IMEX America has now met its zero-waste event threshold for seven consecutive years. The designation reflects the diversion of at least 90 percent of waste from landfill and incineration.
Waste and material use decline
Water refill stations and coolers helped eliminate the equivalent of 50,615 plastic bottles during the show. That equals an average of 2.8 bottles per attendee.
Meanwhile, IMEX reduced carpet use by 5,280 square meters, or 14.5 percent, compared with the previous year.
The show also returned 87 percent of its carpet to local inventory for use at future events.
In addition, IMEX introduced a recovery program for polyester banners and structural booth materials. The effort recovered an estimated 1,133 kilograms of polyester.
IMEX says the recovered material will be repurposed for livestock shade, bedding, and cleaning uses.
Travel remains largest emissions challenge
IMEX expanded its use of isla’s TRACE platform to measure the show’s carbon footprint.
The event captured data for 90 percent of participant air and ground travel. That gave organizers a broader view of where emissions occur across the show’s supply chain and attendee travel.
However, participant travel remains the largest source of event-related emissions, according to IMEX.
“As IMEX America continues to grow, so does the scale of its sustainability challenge, from waste and materials to catering and attendee travel,” said David Harrison, chief financial officer at IMEX.
“That’s why transparency and measurement are so important. This report from our 2025 show highlights strong progress: maintaining our zero-waste status for the seventh consecutive year, reducing material consumption and improving emissions tracking. It also highlights where more work is needed, particularly around participant travel, which remains the largest contributor to event-related emissions.”
Report supports broader strategy
The 2025 report supports IMEX’s companywide sustainability strategy, which includes a goal to reduce carbon emissions by 20 percent by 2030.
According to the report, food and beverage menu items were sourced within a 500-mile, or 804-kilometer, radius of Las Vegas.
IMEX plans to continue sharing sustainability practices during IMEX America 2026, scheduled for Oct. 13 through Oct. 15 in Las Vegas.
The show’s People and Planet Theater will offer sessions on inclusive proposals, environmental, social, and governance strategy, and lower-carbon menus.
IMEX organizes IMEX Frankfurt and IMEX America for the global business events industry. For more information, visit www.imexevents.com.
Press release submitted by IMEX. Edited by Exhibit City News for clarity, length, and style.
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