The International Association of Professional Congress Organisers has launched a new Sustainability Handbook designed to help PCOs move from broad commitments to measurable action.
Developed by the IAPCO Sustainability Committee with support from Business Events Australia and the Gulf Organisation for Research & Development, the resource addresses sustainability on two fronts: how congress organisers run their own businesses and how they deliver events for clients.
The handbook encourages organisers to integrate environmental and social considerations into everyday decisions, from partnerships and procurement to supply chains and event planning. Its guidance, frameworks and practical examples are intended to support IAPCO members at different stages of their sustainability journey.
Ajay Bhojwani, Chair of the IAPCO Sustainability Committee, said: “The challenge is often knowing where to begin, what questions to ask and how to translate good intentions into practical actions.”
The handbook forms part of IAPCO’s wider sustainability strategy, which includes monitoring the association’s own carbon footprint, aligning activities with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and supporting the Net Zero Carbon Events initiative.
IAPCO President Sissi Lignou highlighted the influence PCOs can exercise throughout the event lifecycle. “Our ambition is not perfection overnight, but sustained and measurable progress achieved collectively across our global community,”she said.