Sustainability
How ILA anchors responsibility: on site, in the program and across the industry.
SUSTAINABILITY at ILA Berlin
"Trade fairs contribute to climate protection and sustainability by efficiently bringing together numerous personal contacts and thus reducing the need for additional individual trips.
On average, trade fairs help avoid 5.1 separate trips per day and per visitor."
Quote from the AUMA report: 'The Added Value of Trade Fair Visits: How Individual Business Trips Can Be Avoided'.
Read AUMA-Report
AREAS OF ACTION
Where we are active and making a contribution:
Quality Education
Promoting education and training plays a key role in strengthening the economic dimension of sustainable development – as outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 4, 8, 9).
Jobs
The Talent Hub is directly linked to the economic dimension of sustainability. The aerospace industry not only tackles environmental challenges but also contributes to value creation, employment and innovation.
Shuttle – Arrival, Departure & Mobility
The exhibition grounds in Selchow are located right next to BER Airport and are ideally connected to Berlin.
Exhibition Construction and Temporary Structures
Exhibition construction takes into account, among other things, local partners as well as reusable and recyclable materials.
Giveaways
Since 2019, the ILA team has been producing bags from recycled exhibition materials. After the event, the materials are reused and further processed.
Catering
Catering for participants, exhibitors and staff takes environmental and social aspects into account.
Technology & Energy
Lighting and sound systems for booths and stages, heating or cooling for the exhibition halls – energy is essential for our events.
Waste Management
From packaging to booth materials – waste is inevitable at trade fairs and congresses. With innovative solutions, we aim to continuously minimize waste during our events.
Quality Education
On the STAGES of ILA, intensive scientific exchange takes place. Topics such as economic development, resource efficiency and innovation in aviation are discussed in panels and workshops. On these conference platforms, the aerospace and defense industry segments are examined in depth.
Jobs & Talent
The ILA Talent Hub brings together companies, emerging talent and career perspectives across the aerospace industry, showing how education and the industry's technological transformation connect.
Shuttle – Arrival, Departure & Mobility
Berlin’s and BER Airport’s infrastructure includes:
• Accommodation near the exhibition grounds
• Hotels with recognized environmental or sustainability certifications
• Free shuttle service via public transport during ILA
• Electric golf carts for on-site shuttling at the exhibition grounds
• Charging stations for electric vehicles at chalets and parking areas
Exhibition Construction and Temporary Structures
In exhibition construction, Messe Berlin takes into account, among other things, the reusability and recyclability of materials and flooring. In various areas, carpet and flooring systems are used that are designed for multiple use or can be recovered after use. These include, for example, the reusable Escolita carpet tiles and the Rewind carpets. The use of rental furniture and plants helps reduce resource consumption and waste. Wherever possible, local suppliers from the Berlin region are involved to minimize transport distances. All serviced areas are designed to be accessible to promote inclusion. Local storage facilities also support efficient logistics – enabling exhibition operations in harmony with the environment and society.
About Reduce, Re-Use and Recycle at Messe Berlin
Giveaways
From banner to bag – these are upcycling products made from banners.
Catering
Catering for ILA participants, exhibitors, and staff focuses on:
• Products from organic farming and fair trade, certified organic, as well as seasonal products with optimized transport routes
• Portion planning to reduce food waste
• Vegan and vegetarian catering options
• Water provided by the German Armed Forces and the organizers for self-service refill
To Messe Berlin’s Sustainability Strategy
Technology & Energy
To reduce our energy consumption and related CO₂ emissions, we began developing a comprehensive energy concept more than ten years ago. LED technology is used in lighting systems. Additionally, ILA planning focuses on optimized transport logistics to shorten transport distances.
To Messe Berlin’s Sustainability Strategy
Waste Management
At Messe Berlin we are reusing materials, separating recyclables, and reintegrating them into the recycling loop:
- A collaboration with the Berlin Senate Department for Environment, Mobility, Consumer and Climate Protection (Zero Waste initiative ReUse Berlin) serves to exchange ideas on options for reusing and recovering booth construction materials.
- In various areas, carpet and flooring systems are used that are designed for multiple use or can be recovered after use, for example the reusable Escolita carpet tiles and the Rewind carpets.
