We know sustainability is important to our attendees and exhibitors, as well as to our market as a whole. We want to make our event more responsible and play a role in helping our markets improve its own sustainability through connecting people with the networks and knowledge they want to help solve the big challenges in our sector.
Our Three Aims
We believe a sustainable event focuses on three key aims:
- Inspire the sustainable development of the licensing industry as a whole
- Run a socially responsible, fully inclusive event
- Run an environmentally responsible event by limiting waste and using environmentally-friendly materials
- All keynote and seminar content is free of charge online and is accessible to anyone in the licensing industry and looking to learn about licensing.
- BLE promotes the local event area including the promotion of local businesses, hotels and services in the area
- BLE shares news from our partners about what they are doing in sustainability, celebrating one another’s industry successes.
- Licensing University is available to all attendees in person or online and is a paid programme. The content offers insights into the basic of licensing and how to embed yourself in the market. Building purposeful partnerships with organisations such as Products of Change, Black Lives Matter Licensing, Women in Toys, to positively educate and connect the industry
- Through content
- Promotional support
- Presence at the shows
- Retail Mentoring Programme giving free CPD licensing training to junior retailers (funded by BLE, year long programme culminating at the show). Each year we’ll accredit approx. 80 retailers
- Supporting our official show charity; The Light Fund through:
- Donations on the showfloor
- Charity sample sale
- Sponsoring charity events and initiatives including Channel Swim, walks and Treasure Hunt
- Donation to Light Fund for every badge holder handed back at the show
- Sustainability clinics with industry experts for exhibitors and attendees to learn how to implement positive change in their business
- License This! competition giving 2 free stands to new licensors each year and providing a further 8 per year to pitch live to the BLE audience - great exposure and PR for those entering the industry. Launching a new category specifically for students in 2022
- Attend License This! sessions in support of emerging licensors
- Support The Light Fund via donations and sharing of the work they do.
- Watch content in person or online for free
- Invite your wider team to attend Brand Licensing Europe to grow their knowledge
- If you are a retailer, sign up to our free CPD accredited Retail Mentoring Programme.
- Take advantage of Licensing University which is paid for content educating you on everything you need to know about the basics of licensing.
- Share with us news about what you are doing in sustainability and DE&I. We want to share your journey through our numerous platforms
- Attend our DE&I and sustainability catwalk shows on Thursday 22 September at 10am and 12.45pm
- Visit the Products of Change stand (F211) and Black Lives Matter Licensing stand (D200) to find out more about the work they are doing to drive change in our industry
- Sign our pledge wall on the back of the catwalk and commit to taking ONE action to drive change within the industry
- Get involved with the numerous initiatives and conversations throughout the event which aim to help facilitate and inspire the sustainable development of your industry.
- Connect with attendees via the Online Event Platform to avoid the exchange of printed business cards
- All lighting in the venue is LED
- The carpet throughout the event is recycled
- Banners are made from a non-PVC material which can be recycled
- Use of many digital signage options to limit printing requirements
- Printing only on recycled and recyclable paperLimiting amount of paper distribution from third parties – eg media partners
- Removal of plastic badge wallets
- Lanyards all made out of recyclable and reusable material
- Water refill stations at the venue
- Discount off coffee for attendees bringing coffee cups which are reusable
- Features are built using sustainable items in the majority, such as fabrics which can be recycled and panels which are reused at other shows. These materials can be relevant for our industry who would want to replicate this on their shopfloors/factories.
- The BLE / Products of Change Sustainabilty Cafe reuses elements from the 2021 Sustainability Activation upcycling product displays
- BLE is an efficient event for everyone who participates. Over 4500 meetings are booked through our meetings platform plus thousands more booked outside of the platform. This saves participants hours of travel time and carbon footprint from having to carry out those meetings individually as opposed to across three days.
- Ensure your stand is designed so that its structure will be used again by either yourself or by your contractors. This forms part of our Better Stands initiative
- Consolidate your shipments and use logistic companies that have sustainability credentials. Select energy efficient, LED lighting and other equipment for your stand and be sure to power down your equipment at the end of the day.
- Reduce paper handouts by going digital and source recycled, sustainably certified paper options where printing is needed.
- When purchasing promotional items, consider the amount you order, the environmental credentials of the materials they are made from, as well as whether they are useful giveaways that will be used long after the event is over.
- Think about what waste your stand will create and try to minimize it as much as possible. For the unavoidable waste items, try to ensure it will be recycled. Key items to consider include signage, carpeting and packaging waste. Inspire the sustainable development of your industry by promoting your company’s and your products’ sustainability credentials.
- Ensure you and your contractor are aware of and compliant with all health, safety and security requirements.
- Encouraging show attendees to use public transport through including information in the pre-show communications, thus minimising the amount of car travel to the event. All travel information found here.
- Running the show at Excel generates business for local hotels, restaurants and cafes - helping them recover post pandemic.
- Promotions to all attendees and exhibitors about the ExCel London venue, things to do in the local area, recommended travel, restaurants etc. on the webpage.
- We will implement the Informa Event Safety Operating Model
- Health and Wellbeing of all show attendees is at the forefront of the experience. Making sure the event is accessible to all, free to attend.
- Working with the venue catering teams to ensure that food and wellbeing is considered in all food and beverage options and accessibility. Dietary and intolerance information clearly listed
- Wellness Lounge on showfloor which is a quiet place for a chance to recharge and relax.
- Take public transport to and from the event
- Spend in local businesses in the area such as restaurants, shop and bars. Get acquainted with the local area.
- Visit our Wellness Lounge to take a break and recharge.
- Enjoy our menus carefully selected to meet different dietary needs and a full range of options to suit all.
- Keep active during the show and get fresh air when you can
Sustainability in Informa Markets
Brand Licensing Europe is part of Informa Markets and the Informa Group. Sustainability at Informa focuses on the long term impacts we have on customers, colleagues, the communities we work in and the environment.
Many of our stakeholders are clearly telling us that sustainability (social, economic and environmental) is something that is no longer a nice to have but a necessary part of any event. We want to make sure we’re meeting those expectations and we believe that being sustainable is the right thing to do.
We also recognise that it’s not just about the way we produce our events and products but recognizing that we have a role to play in providing a space to work in partnership together with our markets to inspire the sustainable development of the industries we serve. This is an ongoing process for us and we’re looking for ideas of how we can improve.
More information about our work so far can be found on the www.informa.com/sustainability including our latest sustainability reports.
Informa and its events have received numerous awards and recognition including:
Contact and Share Your Story
Would you like to work with us on the sustainability of our event? Would you like to share your own story and efforts? Got an idea? Contact the event team or reach out to Informa’s sustainability team for more information: [email protected]
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