In an industry accustomed to spectacular scenography and long speaker lineups, people rarely talk about what remains after the lights go out. NEM (New Europe Market) is one of those events that recognized program quality is important, but that sustainability is becoming the new standard of success.
As the leading regional event for the media industry, NEM has for years been synonymous with relevant panels, top-tier production and flawless organization. But the latest edition demonstrated how a small shift in approach can achieve much more — for both the brand and the planet.
Planning began with a clear goal: maintain the quality of the experience while removing any unnecessary elements that generate waste or needless emissions.
This year, paper accreditations (replacing last year’s biodegradable wristbands) took the place of plastic credentials housed in plastic cases, eliminating the need for hundreds of unnecessary pieces of plastic. Catering focused on seasonal, local ingredients, and waste volumes were reduced through planned ordering and donation of surpluses. Scenography was designed so elements could be reused multiple times, and for the purpose of calculating CO₂ emissions we worked closely with the hotel to obtain exact information on the amount of waste left after the conference. They separated, sorted and weighed all event waste for us, including organic waste. We also received precise electricity consumption data since each hall has its own meter, making that information straightforward to verify.
The biggest shift was in mindset — sustainability was not treated as a “task” separate from the program, but as an integrated part of the entire experience.
The result? Compared with the baseline year (2022), waste was reduced by 42% and the CO₂ footprint was cut by 28%. And perhaps more importantly — 92% of surveyed participants identified sustainability as an integral part of the NEM experience.
The message is clear: sustainability is not “installed” a week before the event. It is planned from the first meeting and becomes as important a KPI as ticket sales. And the participants? They notice it — and appreciate it.