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
SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES INCLUDE:
We want BLE to help inspire sustainable development.
Our efforts include:
- A dedicated panel session in the License Global Theatre discussing sustainability in licensing
- License This! competition giving 3 free stands to new licensors each year and providing a further 4 per year to pitch live to the BLE audience - great exposure and PR for those entering the industry
- Retail Mentoring Programme giving free CPD licensing training to junior retailers (funded by BLE, year long programme culminating at the show). This year we’ll accredit approx. 65 retailers
We also want to ensure we run an increasingly environmentally responsible event.
Our efforts include:
- 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
- Features are built using a majority sustainable items, such as fabrics which can be recycled and panels which are reused at other shows
- Lots of digital signage options to limit printing requirements
- Printing only on recycled and recyclable paper
- Limiting amount of paper distribution from third parties – eg media partners
- Collection of plastic badge holders for use at other events
We want to consider how we run our events in a socially responsible manner.
Our efforts include:
- Sample sale in partnership with The Licensing Awards and a number of exhibitors – sale of products donated to us, proceeds go to The Light Fund. Unsold products go to charities local to BLE HQ and to ExCeL
- Sponsorship of Light Fund events including sponsored row, walks, cycles etc
- Skills based donation to Richard House Hospice – marketing team to work with hospice marketing team to provide practical support
- Donation to Light Fund for every badge holder handed back at the show
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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