April 11, 2018
The worldwide business aviation community continually seeks methods to reduce its environmental impact, as demonstrated by the 2009 Business Aviation Commitment on Climate Change (BACCC). This responsibility also extends across several facets of the 2018 European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE2018) taking place 29-31 May in Geneva, Switzerland.
“While the BACCC focuses on aircraft operations, and does not specifically extend to activities beyond that, the agreement does serve as a foundation for continuous environmental improvement throughout other aspects of the industry, including events like EBACE2018,” said Chris Strong, NBAA’s senior vice president, conventions and membership.
For example, longtime EBACE host facility Geneva’s Palexpo convention center is a model for environmental responsibility and sustainable business practices. Atop the Palexpo roof are 15,000 photovoltaic panels that form an expansive solar array capable of producing 4.2 gigawatt-hours per year, enough electricity for 1,350 households.
On the show floor, representatives from EBACE2018 work together with exhibits provider Freeman EMEA to define and achieve several sustainability goals for the event, from optimized show equipment and transportation alternatives to reducing the number of vehicles required on-site. Locally recycled show carpet is used throughout the exhibit hall, and show graphics and displays are intended to be reused or recycled toward a long-term goal of a “zero-landfill” event strategy.
“As a global industry leader in sustainable thinking and practices, we strive to help our clients reach their sustainability goals while also helping the local economy and our planet,” said Jeff Chase, vice president of sustainability for Freeman.
Additionally, Geneva Airport (GVA) – the location for the EBACE2018 static display of aircraft – recently earned the highest level (3+) in the Airport Carbon Accreditation campaign created by Airports Council International Europe. The third busiest business aviation airport in Europe, GVA is the 37th airport in the world to achieve carbon neutrality.
Co-hosted by EBAA and NBAA, EBACE2018 is the premier event showcasing the importance of business aviation throughout Europe, bringing together business leaders, government officials, manufacturers, flight department personnel and others involved in nearly every aspect of the industry.
Source: ebace.aero