IRE 2021 Commits to Sustainability

A new program focuses on areas for positive change

The International Roofing Expo (IRE) has introduced a new Sustainability Program designed to create a more environmentally responsible event where all parties involved can engage in sustainability efforts. The program will help reach sustainability goals by working to address and learn about areas where positive changes can be implemented.

How is IRE creating a more sustainable event?

Our three aims of delivering a sustainable event are: Economical, Environmental, Social

• Including sustainability in our show content

• Inspiring our suppliers, exhibitors and other participants to help us deliver a sustainable event

• Developing purposeful partnerships

• Reducing our event’s carbon emissions

• Creating less waste

• Considering sustainability credentials of the items sourced for the event

• Doing business safely and ethically

• Considering well-being and accessibility

• Creating a positive impact on our host cities

• Measuring our impacts

How can you help make a sustainably positive impact?

Making IRE 2021 a more sustainable event is a partnership between everyone involved, from show management and event contractors to our attendees and exhibitors.

Tasks everyone can do

• Bring a reusable water bottle, coffee cup and a reusable straw to IRE to help reduce single-use products.

• Consider walking or biking whenever possible or use public transportation for longer distances. If you do use a shared ride service such as Uber, Lyft, or a taxi, try to always carpool.

• During your hotel stay take advantage of the linen/towel reuse programs and turn off lights and televisions when not in the room.

• Take shorter showers to help reduce water consumption.

• Responsibly dispose of waste materials by recycling at the convention center, at your hotel and wherever recycling bins are found throughout the city.

• Download the IRE mobile app. We have opted to not print a Show Guide or Floor Plan in 2021 to help reduce paper consumption and printing waste.

Exhibitor sustainability checklist

• Encourage less printing and provide more information digitally when it comes to company literature.

• If you must print materials, consider using paper that contains recycled materials.

• Request your booth signage is recyclable and/or made from recycled materials.

• Bring your own carpet or flooring, such as puzzle foam flooring, that can be reused at multiple shows.

• Break down all cardboard boxes during setup for recycling.

• When ordering catering, request reusable dishes and utensils to help reduce single-use products. Also, consider including vegetarian/vegan items as an option.

Sustainability initiatives for IRE 2021

Sustainability is about being responsible over the long-term and continuously improving the impacts we make. For IRE 2021 we are working on the following new initiatives:

• Reducing paper consumption – We have opted to not print a Show Guide or Floor Plan in 2021 to help reduce paper consumption and printing waste. By downloading the IRE mobile app, you can access our Digital Show Guide, an interactive floorplan, search for exhibitors, find the complete schedule of events and more.

• Encouraging reusable water bottles – We want to help reduce single-use product waste by encouraging everyone to bring a reusable water bottle to the show.

• Exhibition donation program – We are working on developing a program with a local non-profit where exhibitors can donate booth materials. We hope to have more details on this program early next year.

Learn more about IRE in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory.

Original article source: IRE