ICCA Congress Becomes First Global Event to Achieve Zero Food Waste to Landfill Certification

30th January 2025

The 63rd ICCA Congress, held at the ADNEC Centre in Abu Dhabi from October 20-23, 2024, has made history as the first-ever global event to receive The PLEDGE on Food Waste’s Zero Food Waste to Landfill Event Certification.

“Sustainability is no longer a choice – it is a responsibility,” said ICCA CEO Senthil Gopinath. “Achieving the Zero Food Waste to Landfill certification is a proud moment for our community. It not only demonstrates our commitment to innovation but also raises the bar for the global events industry.”

Building on the Bangkok Protocol on Sustainable Gastronomy, introduced at the 2023 ICCA Congress in Bangkok, ICCA set out to turn ambition into action in Abu Dhabi.

With the support of LightBlue Consulting, and in partnership with ADNEC and Capital Catering, the initiative delivered impressive results:

  • 1,115 kilograms of food diverted from landfills
  •  371 kilograms of food saved during the event
  • 928 meals redistributed through Ne’ma, preventing 928 kg of CO2 emissions
  • 200+ staff members trained in food waste prevention
  •  163 grams of food waste per delegate per meal tracked using LightBlue’s FIT Food Waste Tech

“ICCA has demonstrated that sustainability is not just an aspiration but an achievable goal, even for large-scale global events,” said Ben Lephilibert, Co-founder of The PLEDGE on Food Waste. “By transforming ambition into measurable impact, this Congress proves that the MICE industry can take the lead in sustainability. We’re proud to have collaborated with ICCA, ADNEC, and Capital Catering to create a framework that can inspire others to follow.”

While ICCA achieved an 87.5% compliance score, some operational challenges in waste separation and transformation led to minor deductions. However, the achievement remains a landmark moment for the business events industry.

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