Sustainable congress for over 14'000 attendees SUISSE

A Sustainable Landmark Edition for ESCRS in Milan

The Annual Congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) brought together over 14,000 participants and 200 exhibitors in Milan, making it one of the largest international events in the field of ophthalmology. But beyond its impressive scale, the 2022 edition marked a turning point thanks to its ambitious commitment to sustainability.

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In partnership with MCI Switzerland, ESCRS implemented a comprehensive strategy under the banner of Mission Zero, aiming to redefine what a responsible large-scale medical congress could look like. This approach focused on four key pillars: reducing emissions, minimizing waste, inspiring action, and reinforcing social responsibility. Together, ESCRS and MCI paved a new path for the future of sustainable meetings.

Originally envisioned as a year of observation and preparation, the 2022 edition saw an acceleration of sustainability objectives, with key goals already implemented. ESCRS and MCI jointly integrated environmental and social dimensions directly into the planning process, setting the stage for long-term transformation.

Under the Zero Emissions ambition, 25% of delegates were encouraged to use climate-friendly transportation. Over 50% of meals served were vegetarian, and more than 70% of all food was sourced within 160 km. Remaining unavoidable emissions were offset through investments in rigorously selected sustainability projects.

The Zero Waste policy led to the elimination of 90% of single-use plastics, polystyrene, and PVC. Waste sent to landfill was reduced to under 20%, while recycling rates exceeded 50%. More than 70% of signage and branding materials were produced using sustainable materials—demonstrating a bold commitment to rethink every aspect of production and operations.

The congress also embraced a strong social responsibility component. Female speaker representation rose to 35%, a charitable or community partnership was included in the program, and attendee well-being was actively promoted through various wellness activities. The “EyeSustain” initiative was further expanded, in partnership with ASCRS and APACRS, and new sustainability collaborators were brought on board.

Taking a 360° approach, all stakeholders—including suppliers, exhibitors, venues, hotels, and attendees—were engaged and mobilized. The strategy spanned logistics, budget planning, revenue generation, marketing, impact measurement, and education. With the support of the GDS-Movement, a two-year sustainability roadmap was formalized and became a cornerstone of future ESCRS efforts.

The results and actions of the ESCRS 2022 Congress were widely shared across the industry, through internal MCI presentations, contributions at events like the IPCAA Annual Members Meeting, SCIB 2023, and the IHG Barcelona Sustainable Events Forum (pre-IBTM). As a signatory of the UN Global Compact for 15 years and a founding member of the Net Zero Carbon Events initiative, ESCRS further solidified its position as a leader in sustainable medical congresses.

ESCRS : A Sustainable Congress For over 14'000 Attendees