Event intelligence company, event:decision has released its first-half 2025 Sustainability Review Summary, revealing a significant improvement in environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance across the global event sector.
Average total sustainability scores climbed to 19.07/30 in 2025, up from 16.95/30 in 2024, with the most significant gains recorded in social impact and governance channels.
“In just 12 months we’ve seen total scores rise by more than two points on average,” said Matt Grey, director at event:decision. “The data proves that when planners measure, they change embedding locality, wellbeing and community values into every decision.”
Key Findings
| Metric | 2024 | 2025 | Change |
| Average total ESG score | 16.95 | 19.07 | ▲ 12.5 % |
| Regional leaders | – | EMEA | Strongest reporting culture & transparent supply chains |
| Sector standout | – | Finance & Legal | Highest scoring sector data across ESG responsibility channels |
| Event type leader | – | Internal meetings | Highest overall scores reported |
| Opportunity | – | Exhibitions & congress | Widest variability in scores across ESG |
“It’s no surprise that event-types where organisers have the highest control over the most significant factors (supply-chain, partnerships, travel, materials and freight) being internal events and conferences, demonstrate higher relative scores.
“Events with a wider variety of stakeholders, exhibitions and congress can be harder to align, however this presents as an opportunity for all exhibitions, association and congress owners to deliver what delegates and visitors clearly look for.
“Expo owners who commit to publishing responsible and sustainable pathways for their visitors and exhibitor-partners alike can deliver top-quartile results as we’ve seen this year with The BIBA Conference, NHS Confederation and Renewables UK, all significant shows in the UK.”
Travel emissions remain the single largest footprint driver, while social enterprise engagement and pre-event goal setting (still below 25% total adoption) represent untapped opportunities for nearly all organisers.
The data includes events submitted via event:decisions Impact: Responsible Event Review tool related to events from the American, EMEA and APAC regions from 12 sectors and 12 separate event-types since April-24.
A forthcoming corporate portfolio sustainability programme will launch in July 2025, offering campaign led, strategic integration of ESG metrics across corporate event portfolios.
