Working together towards Net Zero Carbon Events 

WTM London and ExCeL London

ExCeL London, one of the UK’s top international exhibition centres, hosts over 400 events every year - including RX’s flagship global trade fair, WTM (World Travel Market) London. The venue is powered by 100% renewable electricity, sends zero waste to landfill, and currently recycles 71% of its waste. It is also home to the UK’s largest wormery, turning food waste from its kitchens into fertiliser for surrounding green spaces.

In the past year, ExCeL began transitioning its onsite vehicles and equipment from diesel to electric or hybrid, cutting nearly 79 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually. On top of that, a new partnership with waste specialists Bywaters aims to push recycling rates even higher, targeting 75% by the end of 2025 and reducing waste year on year.

“RX has a long history of partnering with ExCeL to reduce the environmental impact of our events,” said RX UK Operations Director, Jen Phipps. “But the Net Zero Events Pledge has taken that relationship to the next level, putting sustainability at the centre of our planning.”

That commitment was clear at WTM London 2024, where RX and ExCeL launched an ambitious waste strategy that delivered outstanding results. The foundation of the approach was a ‘Polluter Pays’ principle designed to incentivise recycling.

Stand waste, particularly from builds, was identified as the biggest issue. To address it, the team rolled out a practical, long-term waste management plan. For WTM London 2024 exhibitors were required to submit a waste management plan as part of their stand design approval. ExCeL also introduced a new ‘Waste Ambassador’ role—team members who monitor the show floor, help contractors with bin access, and catch contamination or bad practice early.

This effort was closely coordinated with RX’s floor team and official contractors. All staff received online training in waste procedures to ensure a consistent, knowledgeable presence across the event.

The strategy zeroed in on two key waste streams: wood, which creates the most volume, and food waste, the top source of contamination. Behind the scenes, ExCeL also partnered with its new waste management provider to improve offsite sorting and processing.

The speak for themselves. Waste container orders increased by over 400%—from 189 in 2023 to 798 in 2024 and the recycling rate jumped from under 20% to an impressive 61%.

Looking to 2025, the team will roll out a standardised waste management plan template to ease submission for all exhibitors, and update waste service rate cards to reward early planning. The goal is simple: keep building on the momentum and make WTM London one of the most sustainable events in the industry.

Functional Fabric Fair & Javits, New York

Among RX’s biggest venue partners in the US is the New York’s Javits Center which has emerged as one of the leading examples of sustainability in the events industry. Located on the banks of the Hudson River, the venue features a seven acre green roof that serves as a habitat for more than 35 species of birds, as well as bats and honeybees. It also boasts a rooftop farm, innovative waste management strategies which benefit the local community, and Manhattan’s largest rooftop solar farm

“The Javits Center is leading the charge on Net Zero among venues in the USA” said Mike Grant, Senior VP for RX’s Operations Group in the US. “Their recently completed expansion enabled them to build sustainability into the concept and has become a gold standard. As the home to New York Comic Con, ISC East, Vision Expo and  Functional Fabric Fair, among other RX events, this gives us exciting opportunities to work together, particularly on reducing our energy and water consumption and recycling the waste generated by our events.”

Held three times a year in Oregon and New York, Functional Fabric Fair—Powered by PERFORMANCE DAYS®— is the go-to destination for designers, developers, material managers, and brands focused on eco-certified, ethically sourced fabrics and accessories for performance, outdoor, and lifestyle apparel. Combining workshops, expert talks and focus trends with a packed exhibit floor, the event has made sustainability a core part of its mission. Hosting the New York edition at the Javits Center allows its goals to come to life in powerful ways, with sustainability integrated into every aspect of event operations.  

“Choosing sustainable venues is just as crucial as the event itself,” explained Steve McCullough, Event Director. “That’s why we’ve partnered with The Javits Center, one of the most eco-conscious venues on the planet. With their waste-minimizing, energy-efficient operations, they help us push the limits of what’s possible in sustainable event hosting.”

Functional Fabric Fair booths are constructed using recycled fabric made from plastic bottles and metal frames made from infinitely recyclable aluminium, designed for repeated use. LED lighting is used throughout the event to lower its carbon footprint and where carpet is necessary, they choose ALMA carpet—produced from recycled materials and designed to be shredded and reused after the event.

Water is provided in biodegradable cups made from corn-based materials, and exhibitors are prohibited from using foam core signage. All event signage is printed on recyclable materials, and publication bins are made from recycled paperboard and reused until no longer functional.

And they’re not stopping there. Among new initiatives for 2025, the Functional Fabric Fair team are taking sustainability to the next level by organically limiting the exhibitors to sustainable-certified suppliers who have earned ethical approval. They are also implementing Colleqt, a new system that replaces printed business cards and marketing materials by enabling QR code scanning at booths.

“At Functional Fabric Fair, sustainability isn’t a side project—it’s the driving force behind everything we do. From our expert workshops to our event sourcing and setup, we’re rewriting the rules for what it means to be responsible in the textile and event industries.”