Sustainability

Growing in a more sustainable world

Jaarbeurs believes in a world where we treat each other and our environment with respect. The impact on the planet is reduced by reusing raw materials, controlling and reducing waste and generating our own green energy. We walk, cycle and take the train. We are aware of our differences and we embrace them, without leaving anyone out. We believe in a world that is bigger than the space we provide. With the 2.3 million people we host each year, we can have a positive impact on our environment and the people we touch.

Jaarbeurs has an eye for society. In our work, we always strive for the perfect balance between people, the environment and society. We are socially committed, aware of our surroundings and the impact we have on the future. You can read how we put this into practice on this page. For all these efforts, we have been awarded the golden Green Key certificate for the tenth year in a row; the international quality mark for sustainable businesses in the recreation and leisure sector.

Our objective is clear: we want to be the most sustainable conference and event location in Europe' Marloes van den Berg, Chief Sustainability Officer

‘Our objective is clear: we want to be the most sustainable conference and event location in Europe' Marloes van den Berg, Chief Sustainability Officer

Ambitions and proofpoints

Our goal is zero waste. The waste that we do produce must be recycled fully. Zero waste starts at what you buy. We encourage exhibitors at our trade fairs to do the same; we offer system constructions instead of timber constructions. This already saves almost ten thousand trees per year.
We make it as easy as possible for our visitors to separate their waste properly. In order to recycle properly, waste streams must be as pure as possible.
At events, we use special collection points for small bottles at which visitors can easily donate the bottle deposit to the Princess Máxima Centre. This does not only support the foundation, but a separate collection point also helps to separate the bottles.
We also pay attention to zero waste internally; for example, we organise zero waste workshops for our employees in which they investigate how they can help to achieve the zero waste objective in their department.

In our restaurants Pleyn and Speys we mainly serve vegetarian dishes. Our menus have been developed together with top chefs and Greendish, our partner in making our range more sustainable and healthy.
All our catering operations are coordinated so that we can use fresh products as efficiently as possible and avoid waste. Is there any fresh food left over after an event? Then the Voedselbank (Foodbank) Utrecht will take care of it, or it will be distributed via the app Too Good to Go.
Wherever possible, we purchase from local suppliers in Utrecht. The products that do have to come from far away, such as coffee and oranges, at least have a sustainability label.
Kitchen scraps (swill) will soon go into our own composting machine. We can then use the compost on our own property. The next step: using the compost to grow some of our own vegetables. This way the circle will be complete.
Our food packaging is made of recyclable materials and with the 'cup-for-cup system' we will introduce at our dance events this autumn, 99% of cups will be recycled.
.

Transport accounts for a large part of the environmental impact of an event. Due to the central location of the Jaarbeurs, right next to Utrecht Central Station, public transport is the most logical choice for the majority of visitors. In addition, we have an agreement with NS (Dutch Railways); at our own events, visitors can buy a combination ticket for the train and admission to the fair at a reduced price.
We are responding to the energy transition by drastically increasing the number of electric charging stations in our car parks and parking garages over the coming years. Electric cars are charged with green electricity from our own solar panels.
We have digitalised our parking system. This way, paper parking tickets are no longer needed.
We have developed a new mobility plan for our own employees, making it attractive to use public transport or a (lease) bike.

Brochures and flyers have been replaced by the Jaarbeurs app. In the app you will find all relevant information concerning the event, including a map where you can always see where you are. With app, we can now distribute more information digitally, making paper obsolete

Inclusiveness is not only about an equal gender ratio in our management, about employees with various cultural backgrounds and diversity, but also about people who are less mobile or have disabilities. We believe that you get the best results with a diversified team.
Vitality is a high priority for us. Healthy nutrition, resilience in adversity or sleeping better are examples of themes of workshops and training sessions for all Jaarbeurs employees that our vitality team organises.

Prinses Máxima Centre

Annually, about 600 children in the Netherlands get cancer. Still, one in four children with cancer dies from the disease. All highly complex care and research of paediatric oncology is concentrated in the Princess Máxima Centre. The centre’s mission is to cure every child of cancer whilst granting them an optimal quality of life. A close collaboration between care and research will lead to more cures for children with cancer. With fewer adverse effects later in life. Jaarbeurs supports this mission of the do-gooders from Utrecht with everything we have. Would

Make a donation

Together with these partners we work to realize our sustainability goals

Change.inc

Greendish

Plastic promise

Dutch Green Building Council

Green Deal Duurzame Zorg

Green Business Club Utrecht

Utrecht4GlobalGoals

Zoeken

Sustainability

Growing in a more sustainable world

Ambitions and proofpoints

Prinses Máxima Centre

Together with these partners we work to realize our sustainability goals