Suppliers to the exhibition and events industry face significant sustainability challenges such as how to reduce emissions and improve waste management, amongst many other issues, not to mention increasing pressure from customers looking for lower carbon solutions to help them meet their own sustainability goals.
The team at Immersive AV had been thinking about what more they could do as a supplier, when a forward-thinking client expressed an interest in carbon reporting.
“One of our clients ROAR B2B wanted to find out the carbon footprint of a stand. We realised that was something that we should explore and that could be useful to all our clients. We started off by using another tool but it was not suitable from a supplier’s perspective, so ROAR B2B recommended Green Circle Solutions,” said Scott Holman, Commercial Director.
After the introduction, Scott and team had a demonstration of the Green Circle Carbon Calculator. “The moment I saw it, I knew it was what we wanted to do. It was perfect,” he said.
“The Green Circle Carbon Calculator is so simple to use – there are just four sections to complete. The report it produces is very elegant, looks professional and reads well. We like that it is data oriented and easy to understand, “he added.
The immersive AV team is now using the Software as a Service (SaaS) version of the Green Circle Carbon Calculator to provide every customer with a free carbon report so they can see the impact that their stand has had on the environment. Scott explained that it has prompted some event organisers to ask other suppliers for carbon reporting data.
“As a supplier, we want to take the lead, “he said. “Our customers are over the moon we are going down this route and are excited to see us doing this. I would like everyone to go with Green Circle and offer this. It is what the industry needs, and it will help standardise the numbers,” said Scott.
Immersive AV hopes that the rest of the industry will follow suit and carbon reporting, underpinned by emission reduction actions, will become standard practice.
Carbon reporting within Immersive AV is also a key priority. The company has committed to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2050 and will support its clients and suppliers on this pathway. The company’s two key priorities are reducing GHG emission and reducing waste. Key emission hotspots have been identified including travel, transportation, and energy use. Employee initiatives have been put in place to encourage use of electric vehicles. Regional hubs have been established for storing equipment to help reduce transport emissions and a thoughtful waste management policy ensures a reuse and recycle approach, with local charities benefiting too.
Immersive AV aims to integrate cutting-edge, low-impact technologies and modular event design into all its projects.
Education remains a key priority. Said Scott: “All employees undertook training to understand more about sustainability and we learnt that it is not just about the environment, it is about wellbeing, communities, inclusion and people too.”
All new hires now undergo training with the Event Supplier and Services Association (ESSA), a trade body representing the suppliers of goods and services to the events industry. Specifically, staff will also take the ESSA Sustainability Module which provides a framework for assessing and recognizing an organisations' commitment to sustainability.
Immersive AV has decided to become ESSA accredited to demonstrate its competence and capability to manage health and safety effectively. This third-party validation highlights that a company is well-versed in assessing risks, implementing safety measures, maintaining a secure working environment, and executing projects with a strong focus on health and safety.
The company has formed partnerships with SpeakSee who make conversations accessible for all through live captioning and Sorensen who provide expert sign language interpreters to enable easy discussion between deaf and hearing participants.
“Together as organisers and suppliers it is our responsibility to make our events accessible to all not just the few,” he said.
Enhancing accessibility and free carbon reporting are just two ways that Immersive AV is differentiating themselves in the market and adding value to their customers. In fact, all the progress it is making as a company will also benefit Immersive AV’s customers and, of course, society more broadly.
As more organisations are measuring emissions from their supply chain for Scope 3 reporting and looking to their suppliers to help them meet their own Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) goals, sustainability is increasingly becoming a competitive advantage for event suppliers
“We must be realistic, set small targets, lay the foundations, and build upon them. Goals drive us forward, but we must balance them with being cost effective and affordable for our clients,” Scott concluded.
Every company has a role to play in addressing global warming and Immersive AV is certainly playing its part and leading the way in the industry.
