Advanced Engineering introduces new sustainability practices
Published: 03 October, 2023
Advanced Engineering Exhibition is taking significant steps to make this year’s show more sustainable, which is taking place between November 1 to 2 at the NEC, Birmingham.
In line with the growing awareness of the environmental challenges we face, such as climate change, resource depletion and waste generation, Advanced Engineering has put in place fresh sustainable practices for the event’s 14th year.
After a successful launch in 2022, the usual paper-based show guides will once again be replaced by a brand new and improved app to provide attendees with details about exhibitors, schedules, speaker programmes and floor plans at the click of a button. Further limiting paper waste, attendees will be guided by digital signposts, while a significantly reduced number of print magazines will also be made available.
In addition, several areas in the venue are made up of recycled materials, such as the flooring which will involve carpet that is latex-free and completely recyclable. The show will also see an increase in the number of vegetarian meals served in the VIP lounges, while water fountains on the show floor will be free to use for exhibitors and visitors, posing as an alternative to bottled water.
Attendees are therefore encouraged to bring their own water bottles — ideally reusable kinds.
“The increasing demand for sustainable practices is driven by a growing awareness of the environmental impacts of large events, as well as the efforts from exhibitors and other stakeholders to reduce these impacts in their operations,” explained Alison Willis, director of Easyfairs. “Trade shows and exhibitions can have significant environmental impact due to the large amounts of energy and resources that are required to set up and run them, so we’ve taken it upon us to play our part in becoming more sustainable.
“In fact, Advanced Engineering will choose a selection of exhibitors to be a part of our sustainability trail. In the run up to the show, exhibitors can apply if they have a specific sustainable product or service, and the chosen companies will be marked on the floor plan and will also have a tile placed in front of their stand for visitors to see.
“While it is essential to decrease the environmental impact of our annual trade show, it is equally important to carry out sustainability initiatives that raise awareness, especially amongst attendees who continually operate in a framework of environmental regulations daily.”
The changes come as Advanced Engineering recently announced a fresh and future-focused rebrand, which has introduced a main stage for the event’s well-attended forums, removing the previous show zones from its exhibition floor.
To ensure more cross-industry collaboration, engineering exhibitors will now be categorised by the services, products and solutions, rather than being divided into several zones. Therefore, attendees can expect to find relevant contacts easily and gain the opportunity to show every sector they work in, further removing layout limitations for exhibitors.
Advanced Engineering will also welcome back a full speaker programme with representatives from some of the leading companies in UK manufacturing. Last year, attendees were treated to talks from leading industry figures from companies like Siemens, Ford, Jaguar Land Rover, Make UK, Rolls-Royce and Airbus. As always, attendees will be able to access all of these talks free of charge, totalling around 50 hours of free CPD accredited learning.
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