The ESCRS Sustainability Commitment and Vision
ESCRS and I are committed to improving the sustainability of all our activities as a society. As it was with our 2022 Congress in Milan, improving the footprint of the Winter Meeting is a priority, and we are working with our partners to organise a socially and environmentally responsible event. Our vision is to work towards zero waste to landfill, zero net carbon emissions and become a role model for social responsibility.
This means we have to work collaboratively to support the wellness of our event participants, give back to local and global communities, regenerate ecosystems, and inspire sustainability action from our event participants.
We invite you to join us in this journey.

Prof. Oliver Findl
President, ESCRS

We continue to work with international sustainability experts, the Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDS-Movement). To guide us on our journey, we formed a sustainability team consisting of ESCRS members, MCI Geneva, the GDS-Movement, the venue, as well as other key suppliers.
Together, we are collaborating to create a strategy and implement a bold operational action plan that we call “Mission Zero”.


INSPIRE ACTION
INSPIRE ACTION
Partner with ASCRS, APACRS and AAO to promote www.eyesustain.org initiative.
Integrate a sustainability track into the event programme.
Recruit at least four new organisations into the Sustainability Partnership programme.
ZERO WASTE
ZERO WASTE
Eliminate 90% of single-use plastic, polystyrene and PVC.
Decrease waste sent to landfill to less than 20%, and increase recycling to 50+%.
Ensure 70+% of all signage and branding is made from more sustainable materials.
ZERO EMISSIONS
ZERO EMISSIONS
Encourage 20% of delegates to arrive by climate-friendly transport.
Aim for 60+% of food served is vegetarian or vegan.
Make sure 80% of food is locally sourced (less than a 160km-radius).
Non-avoidable carbon emissions will be offset by investing in a portfolio of sequestration projects.
BE A ROLE MODEL FOR SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY
BE A ROLE MODEL FOR SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY
Increase the balance of female speakers to 35%.
Integrate at least 1 community/charity partnership in the event.
Integrate sports activity into the Winter Meeting.
To achieve these goals, we have defined the following design principles for the sustainable organisation of the event:
- Eliminate waste, emissions and pollution
- Recycle materials and products
- Switch to more sustainable materials
- Regenerate natural systems (people, place and planet)
- Design for inclusion and diversity
- Use our sustainability efforts to improve participants’ event experience
To make a sustainable event requires commitment and collective action from participants, exhibitors, sponsors, organisers and suppliers. Our approach is to engage, inspire and catalyse collective action to develop a zero-impact event.

We will calculate the carbon emissions and waste footprint of the Winter Meeting using industry best practice methodologies as well as an advanced measurement tool called TRACE. The emissions from local event production, delegate and team travel, accommodation, food & beverages, venue and online participation will all be measured.
The unavoidable emissions will be compensated through carbon offset projects with Climate Impact Partners. They are one of the global leaders in helping organisations to meet their ambitious climate goals. We will invest in 3 high-quality, certified projects that will provide impact in emissions reductions and social development for developing economies.
We support selected projects that:
- provide clean and safe cooking and water systems to isolated communities
- increase well-being and health by reducing smoke inhalation and air pollution
- provide renewable energy solutions that protect the local environment as well as offer affordable, clean and reliable energy access to communities
Finally, a sustainability report will be produced to identify the strategy, best practices and learnings from the Winter Meeting. In addition, recommendations to improve performance in the Vienna Congress 2023 and other ESCRS events will also be created.
“It takes a village to raise a child” – African Yoruba proverb
Sustainability only works if we are all involved and working together.
It’s on each of us to find ways to take action in our own sphere of control, whilst using our influence, as small as it may be, to encourage, or demand, that those with power do something about it.
We propose key actions below that you can take to create a more sustainable event experience with us. Why not take the ESCRS Mission Zero Pledge and join us on this journey?
ESCRS 2022 Sustainability Measurement Report
In 2022 ESCRS made a commitment and plan to integrate social and environmental sustainability into their community, meetings, events and activities.
With the help of the GDS-Movement and the contribution of key members and partners a two-year sustainability strategy was developed. Download the 2022 report below to view our progress.