27-29 May 2024
CCIB - International Barcelona Convention Center
Barcelona, Spain
27-29 May 2024
CCIB - International Barcelona Convention Center
Barcelona, Spain
SLAS is dedicated to fostering a greener and more sustainable future, exemplified by its commitment to implementing sustainability efforts at all in-person events. Recognizing the urgent need for environmental responsibility, the Society aims to reduce its ecological footprint, minimize waste and promote eco-friendly practices, ensuring that the conference advances scientific knowledge and contributes positively to the planet.
SLAS relies heavily on our city, venue and service partners to ensure that SLAS Europe 2024 is presented as sustainably as possible.
Here are actions we’re prioritizing this year to make progress toward our goals:
CCIB and Sustainable Events: The CCIB's origins are based on environmental management and a corporate responsibility model that aims to respond to the sustainable development of our activity through economic transparency, environmental conservation, and social environment improvement. Currently, the CCIB is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and we set clear objectives to achieve our commitments.
Vendor Procurement and Sustainability Guides: CCIB catering maintains a Food Safety System Certification ISO 22000. Catering services at the CCIB implement several sustainable solutions, including:
Reusables: Look for water refill stations throughout the convention center for easy water refill. You will not find plastic bottled water anywhere within SLAS’s offerings.
Accessibility: Our team is working to create an accessible environment by considering aisle space in the meeting rooms and eliminating carpet or rough surfaces when applicable. All venues are accessible.
Offset Our Impact: For every post-conference evaluation completed by an attendee or exhibitor, SLAS will donate €1 to Friends of the Earth International. Friends of the Earth International is the world’s largest grassroots environmental federation with 70 national member groups and millions of members and supporters around the world. FOEI ember groups are organised in four regions: Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America and The Caribbean, as well as in the USA and Canada.
You won’t need to go out of your way to be sustainable at SLAS2024. Learn about the easy ways you can make an individual impact on the show’s sustainability efforts.
This is according to the CO2-Calculator | Organizations made available by Climate Neutral Group. Climate Neutral Group is not a partner of SLAS and their calculation services are publicly available.
To offset your participation, please consider a donation to Friends of the Earth International. Friends of the Earth International is the world’s largest grassroots environmental federation with 70 national member groups and millions of members and supporters around the world. FOEI ember groups are organised in four regions: Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America and The Caribbean, as well as in the USA and Canada. SLAS will donate €1 for every post-event evaluation received; so be sure to watch your email post-event.
Sort Your Waste: The CCIB has recycling and compost programs to reduce waste in landfills. Make it matter by using the correct bin when discarding items.
Moderate Consumption and Plant-Based Foods: Take only what you need at food functions and choose to eat vegetarian at least one meal per day. This will help reduce carbon emissions associated with food production.
Reuse and Reduce: Bring your favorite reusable water bottle or coffee mug to reduce waste and resource footprint.
Be Energy Smart: Remember to turn off lights when leaving your hotel room and participate in your hotel’s linen reuse program, which will conserve water. Close your curtains or shades when leaving your room for the day.
Carbon Emissions and Offsets: Travel is an integral aspect of SLAS shows and constitutes our events' primary source of carbon emissions. The calculated average carbon offset including travel AND facility expenditure for this event is:
Public Transportation: Use the TMB! You can reach almost anywhere in Barcelona by bus, metro or tram. The CCIB is accessible using all three!
Mobile App: We’ve loaded all the helpful information for the conference, including schedules, maps and emergency information, onto our mobile app. The app increases convenience and access to essential materials and decreases the impact of printed materials on the show floor.
Create an Inclusive Community: When filling up your schedule with unique activities, consider seeing a speaker whose background differs from yours.
Complete the Post-Event Evaluation: SLAS will donate €1 to Friends of the Earth International for every evaluation completed. Friends of the Earth International is the world’s largest grassroots environmental federation with 70 national member groups and millions of members and supporters around the world. FOEI ember groups are organised in four regions: Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America and The Caribbean, as well as in the USA and Canada. You can also donate directly.
Exhibitors are encouraged to showcase their sustainability efforts and initiatives and to educate SLAS Europe 2024 Conference participants on their company’s efforts.
We encourage all exhibitors to limit paper waste. Providing information digitally to collect customer contact information for future follow-up is good for business and the environment. Every 8,300 sheets you don’t print saves one tree!
Booth and business materials should be reusable at best or at least recyclable. Recycling one aluminum can save enough energy to run a 100-watt light bulb for 20 hours, a computer for three hours and a TV for two hours (US Environmental Protection Agency). Talk to the CCIB early about options for rental furniture and other sustainable materials for your booth build including carpet.
Remember to pack in/pack out all materials. You are responsible for disposing of your waste correctly during move-in and move-out and during your time at the event. Consider donating any goods that you do not intend to reuse.
If your exhibit provides samples, encourage attendees to forego packaging or accommodate a reusable bag or cup provided by your patron.
Follow procurement guidelines from show management – for sustainable, reusable and recyclable items:
Booth and business materials should be reusable at best or at least recyclable. Recycling one aluminum can save enough energy to run a 100-watt light bulb for 20 hours, a computer for three hours and a TV for two hours (Environmental Protection Agency). Talk to Heritage early about options for renting furniture and other sustainable materials for your booth build.
See how some of our exhibitors practice sustainability:
Accessibility: Our team is working to create an accessible environment by considering aisle space in the meeting rooms and other activation spaces. Additionally, the exhibit hall floor will not have carpet.
Mobility Assistance: Should you require a wheelchair, scooter, or walker, the following vendors can assist with information and reservations:
Special Meals: We are working with the catering team to accommodate dietary restrictions as submitted via the registration page. All food items with common allergies will be listed. For guests needing additional dietary accommodations, emails will be sent out before the conference confirming the location and availability of specialty meals for each meal function included for SLAS Europe 2024.
Auditory: Closed captioning services will be available in the general session room.
Visual and Sensory: In an effort to ensure presentations at SLAS are accessible to the attendees, SLAS is recommending speakers consider the checklist below when creating their presentations:
We can’t make change without the support of attendees, exhibitors, and key partners like the Centre de Convencions Internacional de Barcelona (CCIB), the Hilton Diagonal and Marriott AC.
As a participant at SLAS Europe 2024, please contribute by becoming aware of our partner venues: