Sustainability at IASP Seville

It’s not just the conference programme and speakers who will be focusing on sustainability and green and digital change at IASP Seville: the entire event will be green and digital, living up to the values enshrined in the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement.

At every step we are making choices to be more sustainable, to reduce the conference’s carbon footprint and to create a positive and lasting impact. Read on to find out how!

Sustainable mobility and reducing emissions

We have chosen a venue, the Barceló Sevilla Renacimiento, where the conference sessions and the hotel are in same building, reducing the need for transport once delegates reach Seville – everything you need will be on site without creating any more carbon emissions! We’ve also identified alternative hotels that are as close as possible, and the venue is right on the doorstep of PCT Cartuja, further reducing the need for transportation when exploring the local innovation ecosystem. 

We’re also promoting sustainable mobility around Seville, in line with the eCity Seville project. With PCT Cartuja as a key partner, eCity Seville is leading the Race to Zero with the goal to have the entire Cartuja site declared a low-emission zone by 2025 and initiatives like pedestrianisation, electrifying the public transport network and a priority access plan for clean vehicles. Join the session on “Towards carbon zero: tools and strategies for innovation ecosystems” to learn more about it!

Sustainable materials in a circular economy

Our conference gifts and materials are all locally sourced and sustainable: for example, we’re working with Hilo Doble, a circular economy company based in Andalucia. They re-use and recycle PVC advertising banners, recycled bicycle inner tubes and reused flags as the raw material with which to create bags, backpacks and accessories.

And their mission goes beyond just sustainable products into social innovation: they’re helping disadvantaged people get back into the job market and get their lives on track. In their own words, they are offering “not only a new life for the recycled materials of our products, but also a second chance for the people who create them.”

As well as commissioning sustainably, all the branded posters and banners we use at IASP Seville will be donated back to Hilo Doble to be re-used and start their new life in a great example of a local, sustainable, circular economy!

We’re also significantly reducing our printed material by launching an IASP app where delegates can find a detailed, easy-to-use programme and information about sponsors, exhibitors and fellow delegates. Rather than just an event app that you delete after use the app is also something to keep, a digital tool helping you to stay in touch with international colleagues dthroughout the year.

Reducing food waste  

As well as locally-sourced recycled materials, we’re striving to provide local options for sustainable, kilometre zero food, that will be organic and use seasonal ingredients wherever possible. We’re also working on strategies to reduce food-waste and donate unused food when possible.

Raising awareness

Planting trees is a symbolic gesture towards carbon offsetting that captures public attention and leaves a concrete legacy. So IASP will be planting a tree at our conference venue, the Barceló Sevilla Renacimiento, as well as continuing to grow the IASP forest in Africa too.

And we’re joining forces with local stakeholders working on sustainability initiatives to amplify their voices and reach. We’ll be supporting regional initiatives as they work to change behaviour – as well as concrete initiatives to make infrastructure more sustainable, they are encouraging digitisation, the circular economy, energy efficiency and more! In the conference programme, for example, local company Ciclogreen will be telling our global audience how they use gamification to increase bike use, and University of Seville spinoff Ingelectus that was born in PCT Cartuja will reflect on their innovative and sustainable solutions in the electricity sector – just two highlights from our conference destination and its innovation community.