SINGAPORE | FHA HoReCa Singapore has remained committed to its sustainability alliance to produce the best-possible expo in October.
In early 2022, a pivotal meeting between Informa Markets and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) transpired during a prestigious UFI event. It was during this encounter that a harmonious alignment was forged, uniting their shared visions for revolutionising the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) industry. The strategic objective that emerged from this collaboration was the transformation of Singapore into a Sustainable MICE Hub, dovetailing with Informa’s overarching FasterForward initiative.
In pursuit of these ambitious goals, a triumvirate of paramount objectives was meticulously delineated, focusing on Informa’s largest event in the region, FHA-HoReCa, as a kickstart. This has included the conversion of FHA-HoReCa into a zero-waste event and a carbon-neutral event of international distinction. It will also include the delivery of an enduring legacy of knowledge, catalysing the swift assimilation of sustainable event practices throughout the region.
Non-executive Chairman of Informa Markets and Strategic Advisor, Charlie McCurdy said that sustainability has been of growing commercial and personal importance for several years now, but to make the most of these opportunities and address the challenges in the events industry, it will require a collective effort to double down on industry commitments.
“Informa’s approach is called FasterForward, reflecting our commitment to become an ever more sustainable business that not only improves our impacts on the environment and communities but also supports our customer markets and host cities do the same,” said McCurdy.
“We’re proud to be working with the Government of Singapore as well as other supply chain partners, to identify ways that we can all come together to create a leading destination for sustainable events. Many of our events in Singapore have already started on this pathway.”
McCurdy said this would include the flagship FHA-Food & Beverage and HoReCa events, which have been increasing the sorting of waste, powering Informa events with renewable electricity and featuring important content on sustainable solutions such as alternative proteins.
In line with the overarching goal of waste reduction, Informa has conscientiously encouraged its exhibitors to prioritise Better Stands as a means of sustainability advocacy. FHA-Food & Beverage 2023 bore witness to a showcase of innovative booth designs, with accolades bestowed upon exhibitors who displayed exceptional sustainability and innovation.
Additionally, a pioneering upcycled zero waste booth, created in collaboration with STB and MiniWiz, set an industry benchmark, as it was meticulously constructed from upcycled carpeting, exemplifying a paradigm shift towards sustainable booth construction practices.
“Our collaborative stakeholder-friendly model and network of formalised partnerships aim to push this year’s edition of FHA-HoReCa into a new realm of sustainable development. As an established ambassador of sustainable events, Informa aims to draw upon the practices deployed at FHA-HoReCa to continue to develop the sustainability credentials of additional events in the region and beyond.”
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