Sustainability

Ecological, social and economic aspects are key components of sustainable development for the trade fair industry. Our members are actively committed to making their own companies and trade fair operations more sustainable step by step.

Many trade fair organisers already report voluntarily on their strategies and approaches. Numerous reporting obligations and specifications from the European Green Deal bring additional requirements, for example on supply chains, energy efficiency and the circular economy. These pose challenges for the industry, but also open up opportunities.

The trade fair industry is endeavouring to act in to act in a resource-efficient manner. To this end, an industry position has been developed that is constantly being refined. One important milestone is the purchase of green electricity, which many companies have already achieved.

Responsible trade fair catering with demand-oriented offers and reusable crockery remains an important task. Stand construction focusses on reuse and recycling. Multifunctional stands and durable furniture reduce resource consumption and also costs in the long term, without losing the individuality typical of the German trade fair industry.

For us, future-oriented business and socially responsible action go hand in hand. In summer 2022, the German trade fair industry established industry-wide standards for the first time, with a focus on environmental sustainability. In the following years, the industry’s position was further developed.

The industry position is currently being revised to align it with the rules on sustainability communication that have been in force since 27.09. 2026. 

The guide, developed jointly by AUMA and fwd:, demonstrates how materials can be used more efficiently, reused and returned to the circular economy within the exhibition industry. This guidance document supports exhibition companies, exhibition organizers, exhibitors and service companies in integrating resource management at an early stage into planning, procurement, implementation and dismantling.  

With checklists, communication templates, drafting guides and a one-pager in 14 languages, the guide offers practical support for greater resource efficiency, reuse and circularity in the exhibition industry. 

Study on the sustainability potential of trade fair visits based on surveys of almost 3,000 trade fair participants. The study analysed how efficiently trade fair visitors plan their visits and thus avoid further trips.

A study carried out by the Institute for Sustainable Tourism at the Harz University of Applied Sciences on behalf of AUMA shows that each visitor avoids an average of five separate trips: Each visitor avoids an average of five separate trips per trade fair day - ranging from at least three to almost 14 avoided trips depending on the trade fair. These results emphasise the added value of trade fair visits, which cannot be replaced digitally. At the same time, they highlight the potential for trade fair planning and ecological travel logistics.

A guideline for the standardised calculation of emissions when organising trade fairs is now available. The 60-page guideline was developed by the AUMA Sustainability Working Group, in which experts from the German trade fair industry are represented. The aim is to ensure the reliability, comparability and transparency of emissions accounting at trade fairs in Germany.

Stay up to date and find out more about our latest news from the field of sustainability.