Driving sustainability forward at our venues
In Belgium, our venues have been at the forefront of our sustainability journey, reducing environmental impact while strengthening ties with the local community.
Alain D’Haese, Head of Venues for Easyfairs Belgium, tells us more.
It’s clear that the Belgian venues have made significant progress on sustainability in the past year. Could you elaborate on your energy plan in more detail?
Since 2025, our venues are entirely powered by green electricity. To reduce our consumption, we’ve fully transitioned to LED lighting in three venues, with the installation at Namur Expo scheduled for 2026.
Our heating systems have also been renewed in most venues, allowing us to reduce our gas consumption.
To optimise energy use, we installed smart devices connected to a platform that measures consumption in real time and regulates HVAC and heating systems.
And we have recently invested €2.2 million in battery storage system. At both Flanders Expo and Antwerp Expo, we’ve improved infrastructure through insulation and rooftop solar panels.
What are you doing in terms of waste management?
We’ve developed new container parks for waste separation and provide waste sorting kits to event organisers to encourage responsible waste management. To minimise the carbon footprint, we’ve expanded our event stock for stands, promoting reuse and reducing transportation needs. This adds an estimated €600,000 in savings and profitability annually, while reducing environmental impact. We invested in digital signage to reduce disposable materials and enhanced wayfinding for visitors, including a QR code system to guide attendees to entrances or parking zones.
Anything else you’d like to mention?
We’ve focused on water management, with new infiltration systems that prevent flooding at Flanders Expo, and a rainwater tank to help save significant water volumes.
Additionally, we increased electric vehicle charging capacity, with over 100 charging stations and added 2,000sqm of greenery at Flanders Expo.
We heard about an interesting initiative at Flanders Expo with the local community…
Yes ! We recently invited over 100 neighbours to Flanders Expo for a social event where we explained the venue’s operations and how events are managed, particularly regarding mobility and noise impacts.
We introduced a WhatsApp group that provides real-time updates about events and potential disruptions. We also have a complaint button on our website to ensure open communication and swift responses with the community. This all builds trust and demonstrates transparency.
What is the vision for sustainability in the Belgian venues?
Our goal is to continuously reduce our environmental footprint while enhancing social value and community trust. We believe that by collaborating with employees, partners and the community, we can create venues that are environmentally responsible and socially inclusive.
Our venue teams in Sweden and Netherlands also recognise the urgency of addressing climate change and strive to reduce carbon impact.
They work hand in hand with Easyfairs events teams (at our own events) and guest organisers (at hosted events) to achieve this.
Learn more about what our venues are doing