Our sustainability pledge
Environmental
– Our carpets are supplied by Rewind, whose products are 100% recyclable.
– We drastically reduce the use of plastic with small efforts, such as providing reusable water bottles at the stands instead of plastic bottles and using real glasses for champagne rather than plastic alternatives.
– Our catering by KTCHN focuses on local, seasonal, and homemade offerings with the aim of minimizing waste.
– We reuse our walls and other construction materials year after year.
– We favor digital invitations, and for our paper invitations, we use 100% recycled paper.
– In collaboration with GOFOREST, we plant one tree per participating gallery each year.
Social
– Students may visit the fair for free on Friday. On other days, people aged 16 to 26 can purchase reduced-fee tickets for €10, and children under 16 enjoy free entry.
– We organize a free Kids Corner by ABC & Combo during the weekend to welcome our youngest visitors.
– Thanks to our collaboration with Article 27, individuals facing social or economic challenges can attend Art Brussels for free.
– From Friday to Sunday, we offer five free guided fair visits daily, made possible by our main partners.
Governance
– We have partnered with KickCancer on The KickCancer Collection, where participating galleries donate postcard-sized artworks sold at a flat rate of €400 to benefit the Belgian KickCancer Foundation.
– We are a member of the GCC (Gallery Climate Coalition), an international community of arts organisations working to reduce our sector’s environmental impacts.
Easyfairs wins the 2024 UFI Sustainable Development Award
On 2 July 2024, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, has named international events organiser Easyfairs as the winner of the 2024 UFI Sustainable Development Award. The topic for this year’s award was “Best example of sustainability integration into business proposals”.
Easyfairs’ submission covered both the intrinsic sustainability of its business model and overall roadmap, which includes initiatives engaging all stakeholders.
Edwin Van der Vennet, Chair of this year’s jury, declared, “Congratulations to Easyfairs for their very comprehensive and inspiring case. Their systematic, data-driven and widespread approach to tackling sustainability establishes a culture of sustainability that can serve as an example to many in the industry”.
Also, Easyfairs has received multiple accolades in recent months. It won this year’s Exhibitions News ESG Award as well as the Best Managed Companies Award for the sixth year running, both of these recognised Easyfairs’ recorded progress on carbon footprint reduction, initiatives on diversity, equality and inclusion as well as how the company is making a positive impact on local and business communities.
The UFI Sustainable Development Awards celebrate excellence in areas ranging from human resources and digital innovation to marketing and sustainable development.
Creating impactful, socially and environmentally responsible events
- reduce our environmental footprint
- support communities in their transition to a sustainable economy
- promote innovation
- embrace diversity and inclusion in all its dimensions
THE 6 MAIN INITIATIVES
to achieve these objectives:
1.
Production & waste
We use all-in stands
We have implemented a strict waste management and waste reduction plan
- We sort all waste
- We put sorting bins at strategic locations
- We are committed to reducing plastic and paper waste
- We use recyclable plastic for our production needs
- We provide digital signage whenever possible
- We reuse printed banners, flags, and signs for future editions of Art Brussels
- We use eco-friendly cleaning products
2.
Energy
We implement energy conservation measures
- We equip our all-in stands with LED lighting
- We limit our energy consumption by not only strictly controlling the heating, but also the lighting and HVAC levels during the buildup and dismantling of Art Brussels
- We turn off electricity at night
- During event setup and teardown, we limit the temperature to 18°C
We use all-in stands
We have implemented a strict waste management and waste reduction plan
- We sort all waste
- We put sorting bins at strategic locations
- We are committed to reducing plastic and paper waste
- We use recyclable plastic for our production needs
- We provide digital signage whenever possible
- We reuse printed banners, flags, and signs for future editions of Art Brussels
- We use eco-friendly cleaning products
We implement energy conservation measures
- We equip our all-in stands with LED lighting
- We limit our energy consumption by not only strictly controlling the heating, but also the lighting and HVAC levels during the buildup and dismantling of Art Brussels
- We turn off electricity at night
- During event setup and teardown, we limit the temperature to 18°C
We’re aiming to reduce travel emissions
- We provide electric vehicle charging stations
- We encourage visitors to come to Art Brussels on foot, by bicycle, or by public transport
- We encourage visitors and galleries to carpool to Art Brussels
5.
Food & food waste
We apply sustainable food sourcing principles at our catering points
- Our self-service restaurant by KTCHN, focuses on nature, local produce and gourmet cuisine, with a maximum of Belgian produce and healthy products (mainly organic and seasonal)
- We provide vegetarian and vegan options at all catering points
We are working to reduce food waste
- We apply portion control
6.
Social responsibility
- We are committed to being an accessible event for everyone
- We curate our committees’ members carefully
- Art Brussels presents a strong and international line up and a unique mix of established artists and emerging talent
- The DISCOVERY prize is awarded each year to the gallery with the best presentation in the DISCOVERY section
- This section includes galleries presenting recent productions by emerging international talents
- We plant a tree via GOFOREST for each participating gallery
- We’re are partners with artpass ID, the innovative 1-Click KYC app for secure and AML compliant buying and selling art
- We’re members of the Gallery Climate Coalition, an international coalition of arts organisations working to reduce the visual art sector’s environmental impacts
- GCC’s primary goal is to facilitate a reduction of the sector’s CO2 emissions by a minimum of 50% by 2030, as well as promoting zero waste practices. They develop and share best practices, provide leadership on sector specific environmental issues, and work to leverage the collective power of our membership to achieve systemic changes. As a registered charity, GCC does not operate for profit and provides tools and resources free of charge.
- We prefer local suppliers and those who practice socially responsible methods
- We contribute to local tourism in the city of Brussels, supporting local businesses, restaurants and hotels
We apply sustainability criteria when selecting our suppliers
We apply sustainable food sourcing principles at our catering points
- Our self-service restaurant by KTCHN, focuses on nature, local produce and gourmet cuisine, with a maximum of Belgian produce and healthy products (mainly organic and seasonal)
- We provide vegetarian and vegan options at all catering points
We are working to reduce food waste
- We apply portion control
- We are committed to being an accessible event for everyone
- We curate our committees’ members carefully
- Art Brussels presents a strong and international line up and a unique mix of established artists and emerging talent
- The DISCOVERY prize is awarded each year to the gallery with the best presentation in the DISCOVERY section
- This section includes galleries presenting recent productions by emerging international talents
- We plant a tree via GOFOREST for each participating gallery
- We’re are partners with artpass ID, the innovative 1-Click KYC app for secure and AML compliant buying and selling art
- We’re members of the Gallery Climate Coalition, an international coalition of arts organisations working to reduce the visual art sector’s environmental impacts
- GCC’s primary goal is to facilitate a reduction of the sector’s CO2 emissions by a minimum of 50% by 2030, as well as promoting zero waste practices. They develop and share best practices, provide leadership on sector specific environmental issues, and work to leverage the collective power of our membership to achieve systemic changes. As a registered charity, GCC does not operate for profit and provides tools and resources free of charge.
- We prefer local suppliers and those who practice socially responsible methods
- We contribute to local tourism in the city of Brussels, supporting local businesses, restaurants and hotels
VISITOR?
Here’s what you can do:
You can contribute to making Art Brussels a sustainable event!
- Come on foot, by bike, or by public transport to Art Brussels. If you still choose to drive, share a ride with your colleagues and/or friends!
- Dispose of your waste in the correct sorting bin.
- Stay in an (eco)hotel within walking distance or come to Art Brussels from the city center using public transport.
GALLERY?
As a gallery, you play a significant role in the creation of a sustainable edition of Art Brussels.
- Choose a reusable all-in stand from Easyfairs or design your own stand that you can reuse.
- Install LED lighting in your stand.
- Use reusable panels (e.g., without a date) made from recyclable materials, and if possible, with environmentally friendly ink.
- Try to use as much recyclable flooring as possible.
- Giving a gift to visitors? Consider whether the gift is useful and will be effectively used.
- Recycle by using our sorting bins.
- Use public transport or carpool with your colleagues if possible.
- Stay in a (eco)hotel within walking distance or overnight in the city center and come to the event using public transportation.
- Choose sustainable and local transport and logistics companies, as well as suppliers.
- Avoid single-use plastics.
- Inspire visitors by introducing them to your sustainable practices and/or products.
