It’s been a week since Confex – the event of all events for events –came to an end. Certainly there was a lot going on, from a whole host of venues advertising themselves as the most desirable location for your business meetings to caterers providing delightful tasters, a mini preview of what they could rustle up for your wedding. In addition to a range of interesting displays of all sorts of gadgets, wall hangings and tableware for every imaginable eventuality (no pun intended…), Managing Director of organisers Mash Media, Julian Agostini, blessed the crowds with a wonderful, though less than recognisable, rendition of Nessun Dorma. Twice.

So what was CLT envirolaw doing at Confex, exactly, I hear you asking. We were there thanks to our partner BPA Worldwide, whose division iCompli Sustainability provides assurance to sustainability reports as well as certification for a range of events sustainability standards, including ISO 20121. Unfortunately, the events industry is renowned for its short-termism and wasteful practices. Jointly iCompli Sustainability and CLT envirolaw have embarked upon the mission to promote a responsible events sector – and where better a place to start than Confex.

The level of interest we received was more than encouraging. We were concerned that we would have to chase people, entice them to our stands with calorific bribes. None of that – the visitors came to us and were keen to have a conversation around the issue and what it means for events organisations in practice. Even several of the exhibitors, most of them business development staff, recognised the need for a more sustainability oriented sales pitch and saw it as definite distinguisher in today’s competitive industry.

Going back to initial question: what do Nessun Dorma and Sustainability have in common?
Well, not much, really, but they were both pretty memorable features of this year’s Confex.