EAIE Glasgow 2026
Our commitment to a sustainable conference
Our overarching goal is to achieve a net-zero EAIE Conference and Exhibition. To achieve this, we are committed to leading by example in the sector and taking concrete steps to reduce our carbon footprint, inspiring responsible actions, and providing a comprehensive community event that helps reduce the need for additional business travel.
Our sustainability goals
Reducing our carbon footprint and openly sharing our progress
Encouraging climate action by inspiring and involving all partners and participants
Participating in circular economy and reducing waste
What are our concrete actions?
Based on these three goals we have been building a solid foundations of initiatives and actions for a decade and expanding and adding new actions every year.
🌳 Reducing our carbon footprint and openly sharing our progress
- Provide free travel cards to all participants: Encourage green travel by offering free public transport passes within the city
- Plant trees to offset carbon emissions: We plant trees to balance the environmental impact of conference travel
- Choose biodegradable and recyclable materials: We use lanyards made from recycled PET and serve drinks in biodegradable coffee cups
- Serve a 100% vegetarian, locally sourced menu: Our lunches are entirely vegetarian and locally sourced—cutting overall emissions by 25%
- Say no to single-use plastics with porcelain and bamboo tableware: We use reusable tableware to reduce waste and avoid single-use plastic
- Reduce paper use by going digital: We downsized the conference notebook into a booklet and encourage use of the new conference app
- Remove unnecessary carpeting: We eliminated carpet from exhibition hall aisles to lower waste and emissions
🌱 Encourage and inspire climate action
- Support fair trade with ethically made conference bags: We collaborate with Township, a women-led cooperative in Cape Town, South Africa, to produce our bags
- Guide exhibitors with sustainable practices: Our sustainable exhibiting guide shares tips on eco-friendly materials, stand design and responsible behaviour
- Promote green travel in partnership with CANIE: Together with CANIE, we encourage low-emission travel and help participants track their travel impact
- Offer a free course on sustainable event management: Student volunteers gain access to a free training
♻️ Participate in circular economy and reduce waste
- Provide reusable water bottles and refill stations: We encourage hydration without waste by offering bottles and setting up water stations throughout the venue
- Use simple, eco-certified paper badges: Our conference badges are made from FSC-certified paper—minimalist and environmentally responsible
- Recycle coffee grounds in partnership with venues: We work with venues to collect and recycle used coffee grounds instead of sending them to landfill
- Remove energy-intensive water coolers: We eliminated water coolers in favour of water stations, a more sustainable solution
- Partner with a sustainble carpet company: We work with a company that recycles up to 85% of used venue carpet
- Print student shirts with reusable designs: Logos are fixed so shirts can be washed and reused at future conferences
- Eliminate individually wrapped coffee bar items: We removed single-use sugar packets and milk containers to cut down on packaging waste
#TravelwithCANIE to Glasgow
This year, we are collaborating again with the Travel with CANIE initiative to highlight sustainable travel options in the international education sector. If you are participating in this movement, feel free to use #TravelwithCANIE and share your journey. Don’t forget to pick up an ‘I travelled green’ pin at the EAIE Sustainability Hub in the Exhibition Hall.