Sustainability at ISHA
In keeping with its Vision, Mission, Purpose and Strategic Goals as a Society, ISHA has made a commitment to continually strive towards both environmental and social sustainability in the planning and implementation of its activities, meetings and events. The below provides a brief overview of what ISHA is currently doing to work towards a more sustainable future, in the knowledge that this is a continual process of improvement.
ISHA's commitment
In recognition of its commitment to sustainability, ISHA has signed up to the Net Zero Carbon Events Pledge developed as part of the COP26 Meeting in Glasgow, UK in 2022.
The Net Zero Carbon Events Pledge encourages organisations to strive towards Net Zero by 2050 through taking practical steps to:
- Measure direct, indirect and supply chain greenhouse gas emissions
- Evaluate measured impacts and take steps to mitigate them
- Establish reporting mechanisms for the purposes of continual improvement
- Collaborate with others and share best practice throughout the events industry to ensure a coherent approach
What sustainability initiatives might you notice at the ISHA Annual Scientific Meeting?
Environmental and social responsibility form a core consideration in the planning and implementation of the ISHA Annual Scientific Meeting, from careful venue selection during the bid phase, to minimisation of waste during the meeting, to carbon offset after the event.
Venue Selection
ISHA opts for meeting venues that hold eco-friendly certifications and can demonstrate that they have energy-efficient facilities and a strong commitment to responsible resource management, helping to minimise environmental impact from lighting, water use and waste. Location also plays a key role, with well-situated venues reducing the need for on-site transport.
Transport Options
ISHA encourages delegates to use more sustainable forms of transport, such as public transport, car sharing and walking, wherever possible and provides useful information on its meeting website and in the event app to allow delegates to stay informed. Environmental certifications are a key consideration when selecting suppliers such as delivery firms and transport providers.
Catering Choices
In planning its meetings, ISHA prioritises locally sourced, seasonal and sustainably produced food options to reduce the environmental impact associated with catering. Going forward, delegates will be surveyed on their preferences relating to plant-based options. During the event, the organisers work with the venue to ensure that leftover food is donated to local food poverty programmes.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
ISHA has a wide range of initiatives in place to reduce waste, and where not possible, reuse or recycle materials. For example, glass bottles are used to avoid single-use plastics. New badge types are being explored to decrease plastic wallet use. Exhibitors are offered modular booths that are reused again at other events. Carpeted venues are favoured to prevent unnecessary flooring waste. Digital signage is widely used; where printed signage cannot be reused, it is sent off for recycling into other products.
Use of Technology
ISHA is making efforts to keep printing to a minimum by utilising digital technologies such as QR codes, mobile apps, paperless tickets and ePoster screens. Technology can also be leveraged to increase accessibility of content to those that are unable to travel, with the expertise shared at ISHA meetings being captured and made available online as open access content post-event, providing a complement to the Virtual Education Programme content available throughout the year.
Responsible Procurement
Responsible procurement lies at the core of the logistical planning process. Where possible, ISHA prioritises locally based small and medium-sized businesses and non-profit organisations that provide maximum benefit to the local community, as well as reducing long-distance transport of goods.
Carbon Offset
ISHA has partnered with Trees4Travel, a ‘Tech for Good’ company, to measure and neutralise carbon generation that cannot be avoided. Delegates will be given the opportunity to offset the carbon created by their attendance at ISHA meetings and make a positive environmental impact by contributing towards the purchase of trees. The tree planting projects funded aim to additionally create a positive social impact by focusing on developing regions and supporting local communities. The planting projects are carried out on government or community-owned land using indigenous saplings. They promote biodiversity and help to provide jobs and education for local people.
Details of the planting projects supported by ISHA will be available in due course.
Long-term legacy and impact
As an illustrative example, the video above explains the longer-term effects of ISHA holding its 2023 Annual Scientific Meeting in Cape Town, South Africa.
While striving for sustainability in operational terms is extremely important, a further way in which ISHA can balance out the negative aspects of in-person meetings is by leaving a genuine long-term positive imprint in the host destination.
The long-range planning process for ISHA’s Annual Scientific Meetings has impact and legacy at its heart. The rotational pattern of moving the meeting between North America, Europe and the rest of the world intends to strike a balance between staying close to our main membership centres while creating opportunities to bring knowledge of hip preservation to locations that can benefit most.
Once a location is chosen, the organisers work closely with the hosts and partner organisations to identify the needs and interests of the local audience, and plans are put in place to ensure that this audience is aware of and able to access the meeting.
Bringing new healthcare practitioners into the “ISHA Family” to share in the Society’s expertise and fellowship naturally has an immeasurable positive knock-on effect for patient outcomes. However, in addition to this, the ISHA Annual Scientific Meeting can act as a springboard for further projects and initiatives that provide direct benefit to the public. Look out on our website and social media for further details of these exciting undertakings as they develop.