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In the event world, conversations around sustainability often stall at the same place: cost. There is an assumption that a truly sustainable event comes at a much higher cost, which makes sustainability feel like a luxury add-on rather than a mission-critical, bottom-line consideration.
But what if that assumption is outdated? What if a smart sustainability plan could save money or even generate revenue that offsets costs elsewhere, all while reducing your environmental impact and impressing your attendees, exhibitors, and sponsors?
At Shepard, we partnered with Honeycomb Strategies, a leading sustainability consultant to the event industry, to help our clients make meaningful strides toward more sustainable events without breaking the budget.
Key takeaways:
- Sustainability doesn’t have to be expensive — practical strategies like waste diversion and smarter printing can significantly reduce environmental impact at little or no added cost.
- Target easy wins like waste management and post-event print audits to improve sustainability without overwhelming your planning process.
- Material donation programs are a low-effort, high-impact way to reduce landfill waste and support community organizations.
- Shepard + Honeycomb offer easy-to-implement solutions grounded in LEED and WELL standards.
Rethinking the “green premium” cost equation for sustainable events
Thanks to BizBash’s always timely reporting on event venue news (shout out to Claire Hoffman!), we know that in 2025 sustainability continues to be a top priority for organizers in selecting venues and destinations for their events. The piece draws on the latest Energy & Environment Alliance report, noting that environmental and social commitments are influencing corporate travel and brand strategies, but its unclear whether consumers are willing to “pay a premium for sustainability.”
While it’s true that some consumers are more willing than others to pay a premium for, say, organic produce at the grocery store, it’s not always the case that the greener option is more expensive. Particularly with regard to energy and operational systems, the more sustainable and efficient option can be less, not more, costly.
For planners new to event sustainability, the goal isn’t to transform your event overnight into a carbon-neutral showcase or completely overhaul your existing practices. A successful sustainability plan could start with easy wins that could make the case for further investment.
Honeycomb Strategies asks planners to think about areas where they’re already spending money, such as waste removal, where funds can be redirected toward more efficient and sustainable alternatives than landfill hauling. A successful sustainability program starts with easy wins that requires nothing more than enhanced coordination, planning, and knowing how to tap into existing resources.
Easy win #1: waste removal
By making strategic choices about materials and waste streams during the planning phase, your event could be diverting 50% or more of your waste from landfills without increasing your waste management costs.
The key here is understanding your venue’s waste removal policies. Most venues have incentives for recycling and composting. The Colorado Convention Center, for example, charges regular rates for landfill disposal while offering recycling and composting services at no cost.
While Western venues like the LEED Platinum Moscone Center in SF and the Oregon Convention Center in Portland have undeniably paved the way for sustainabile venues, the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh was actually the first convention center in the U.S. to achieve LEED Platinum certification in May 2012. You might also be surprised to learn that the following venues all have strong sustainability policies in place, including recycling programs:
- Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans – LEED Gold
- Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta – LEED Gold
- Huntington Place in Detroit, Michigan – LEED Gold
- Miami Beach Convention Center – LEED Silver
- Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia – LEED Gold
- Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City – LEED Gold and WELL Certified
Related Content: The Shepard guide to LEED certified trade show venues in the U.S.
Map of all LEED Certified event venues in the United States
Click on a placemarker to learn more about the venue’s LEED Certification and other sustainability initiatives.
Colorado Convention Center
Denver, CO
2.3 M sq ft - Was largest LEED Certified convention center in 2010
LEED Gold
Salt Palace Convention Center
Salt Lake City, UT
The only convention center in the world to achieve both LEED Gold and WELL certification
LEED Gold
David L. Lawrence Convention Center
Pittsburgh, PA
First existing convention center to achieve LEED Platinum - May 2012
LEED Platinum
Pennsylvania Convention Center
Philadelphia, PA
Historic Reading Terminal location with modern sustainability features
LEED Gold
Javits Center
New York, NY
2021 expansion achieved LEED Gold certification
LEED Gold
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center
Boston, MA
Energy, water and waste conservation are at the core of its daily operating strategy
LEED Silver
Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Washington, D.C.
Located in the nation's capital with extensive green initiatives
LEED Platinum
McCormick Place West
Chicago, IL
Part of the largest convention center campus in North America with 2.6M sq ft of exhibit space
LEED Gold
Huntingdon Place
Detroit, MI
Largest LEED certified venue in Michigan, 2.4M sq ft
LEED Gold
Moscone Center
San Francisco, CA
504,000 sq ft campus with largest rooftop solar array in San Francisco
LEED Platinum
Seattle Convention Center
Seattle, WA
Summit building - 1.5M sq ft with reclaimed wood and rainwater capture
LEED Platinum
Oregon Convention Center
Portland, OR
First convention center to earn LEED certification, comprehensive waste diversion
LEED Platinum
Los Angeles Convention Center
Los Angeles, CA
Maintained LEED Gold certification since 2010, comprehensive sustainability programs
LEED Gold
San Diego Convention Center
San Diego, CA
Bayfront location with extensive sustainability initiatives
LEED Gold
Anaheim Convention Center
Anaheim, CA
Major renovation with sustainable features
LEED Gold
Caesars Forum
Las Vegas, NV
Modern Las Vegas venue with comprehensive sustainability programs
LEED Gold
Phoenix Convention Center
Phoenix, AZ
LEED Silver certified facility with West Building featuring 157,000 square feet of space
LEED Silver
Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center
San Antonio, TX
Achieved LEED Silver certification in 2017 following extensive renovation and expansion
LEED Silver
Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
New Orleans, LA
Riverfront location with sustainable operations
LEED Gold
Music City Center
Nashville, TN
Features the largest green roof in the southeastern United States at 4 acres
LEED Gold
Georgia World Congress Center
Atlanta, GA
Large multi-building complex with silver certification
LEED Gold
Charlotte Convention Center
Charlotte, NC
Modern facility with comprehensive environmental programs
LEED Gold
Orange County Convention Center
Orlando, FL
One of largest convention centers in the US with LEED Gold certification
LEED Gold
Miami Beach Convention Center
Miami Beach, FL
Coastal venue with environmental sustainability focus
LEED Silver
Mandalay Bay Convention Center
Las Vegas, NV
2.1M sq ft - America's largest rooftop solar array produces 20% of resort's power
LEED Gold
Aria Convention Center
Las Vegas, NV
LEED Gold certified with smart room technology that auto-adjusts temperature and lighting
LEED Gold
LEED Certification Levels
Easy win #2: post-event printing audit
Some of the most effective sustainability initiatives emerge from leveraging event data to make smarter operational decisions.
Take printing. Despite ongoing industry-wide efforts to shift to digital signage, printed materials remain a staple of events, and for good reason. But here’s where many organizers miss an opportunity: they’re printing based on guesswork rather than data.
A simple post-event audit can reveal surprising insights. When Honeycomb Strategies conducted a print audit for one client, they discovered that 30% of all printed materials went unused—banners, brochures, signage, the works. The solution? They printed 30% less next time, reducing both their printing costs and their waste removal fees the next time around.
Easy win #3: material donation program
A material donation program is a great way to save money on waste removal and have a positive effect on the local communities who will make use of the donated materials. But many event organizers opt out of a material donation program because the logistics can be complicated.
This is another area where Honeycomb Strategies can help. They coordinate directly with venues, GSCs like Shepard, and individual exhibitors to create clear processes for picking up donated materials and delivering them to nonprofits in their network.
They also help exhibitors understand what materials nonprofits will accept and how to prepare items for donation. Many venues have union labor requirements for material handling, requiring specialized coordination during the hectic breakdown of an event. Nonprofit partners may also have their own trucks and crews. Again, Honeycomb Strategies and Shepard can advise on venue-specific requirements.
With the logistics nailed down, event organizers can take this easy win to the bank, and have a nice story to share on social media about giving back to communities and supporting the nascent circular economy.
Sustainable Event Planning 101
Sustainable event planning terms and FAQ
What is WELL Certification and how does it differ from LEED Certification?
WELL Certification focuses on human health and wellbeing – air quality, lighting, nutrition, fitness, and mental wellness for participants. The framework was developed by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) to create spaces that enhance human health through features related to air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, and mind.
LEED Certification focuses on environmental sustainability – energy efficiency, operational systems, water conservation, and reducing the carbon footprint of buildings. LEED certification is issued by the Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) , which was established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to manage the certification and professional credentialing processes for the LEED rating system.
See our comprehensive Shepard guide to LEED certified trade show venues in the U.S.
What is a carbon-neutral event?
A carbon neutral event balances its total carbon emissions with an equal amount of carbon reduction or offsetting. Event planners achieve this by first measuring their carbon footprint (transportation, energy, catering, materials) and then reducing emissions where possible, or purchasing verified carbon credits to offset the remainder through programs like reforestation or renewable energy projects.
What is the circular economy?
The circular economy describes a shift to a model of production and consumption that aims to extend the life of materials as long as possible through reuse and repurposing. The net effect is a reduction of waste and increased energy efficiency.
How does the circular economy differ from the traditional economy?
The traditional linear economy is characterized by reliance on the extraction of virgin raw materials, short product lifespans designed for single use, and materials that are typically landfilled at the end of their short lifespan.
A more circular approach minimizes the use of raw materials by keeping existing products in circulation. This entails designing systems and products for longevity, repair, repurposing, and creative reuse.
What are the EIC Sustainable Event Standards?
A collection of sustainable event standards developed by the Events Industry Council to assess events and industry suppliers on sustainability criteria supporting environmental and social responsibility. They were created with input from over 300 subject matter experts across the events industry.
Who can get certified?
- Event organizers
- Venues and convention centers
- Industry suppliers (hotels, F&B providers, AV companies, etc.)
- Exhibitions and trade shows
What areas do the standards cover?
The standards specify performance criteria in nine key areas:- Organizational management
- Marketing, communications and engagement
- Climate action
- Water management
- Materials and circularity
- Supply chain management
- Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI)
- Accessibility
- Social impact
What is daylighting / daylight harvesting?
These are both terms that describe lighting systems that automatically detect the amount of daylight avilable and turn off or dim artificial overhead lighting accordingly.
What is an ENERGY STAR rating and how does it differ from LEED Certification?
ENERGY STAR is a federal EPA program narrowly focused on energy efficiency. You may be familiar with the standard as it is applied to household appliances like refridgerators. The EPA program benchmarks a building’s energy consumption against comparable facilities of the same type and size. For example, a building with an ENERGY STAR score of 84 means it outperforms 84% of comparable convention centers on energy use. It’s a single-metric performance score.
LEED is a more comprehensive green building rating system that treats energy efficiency as just one of several categories. It also evaluates water conservation, waste management, indoor air quality, materials selection, site sustainability, and transportation connectivity. A building can be highly energy efficient but still fall short on LEED if its waste diversion is poor or its site has no transit access.
Generating revenue through environmental and social responsibility sponsors
Remember that question we started with? Can sustainable events actually generate revenue? Here’s where things get a little interesting.
A strong sustainability program can actually open up entirely new sponsorship categories, making it a direct revenue driver. Forward-thinking brands these days are actively seeking partnerships that align with their environmental and social commitments, creating revenue opportunities that simply didn’t exist five to ten years ago.
Consider these emerging sponsorship opportunities:
- Sustainable material sponsors who provide eco-friendly alternatives to traditional booth construction
- Waste diversion programs sponsored by companies with circular economy goals
- Carbon offset sponsorships that fund travel emission reductions
- Social impact partnerships that support local community organizations
These aren’t sponsorships competing with existing packages—they’re entirely new revenue streams that appeal to sponsors’ values while advancing sustainability goals.
Ready to take the next step toward a more sustainable event?
Every sustainable choice you make creates ripple effects that extend far beyond your event footprint. When attendees see your commitment to the environment, when local nonprofits benefit from donated materials, when sponsors align their values with your vision, you’re helping to shift your industry toward a more sustainable future.
So whether you’re looking to cut costs, reduce waste, or simply do right by the communities you visit, start the sustainability conversation with Honeycomb Strategies today. Going green may just be the smartest business decision you make this year.
Appendix A: Complete list of LEED-Certified venues in the United States
Last updated: September 2025
LEED Platinum:
- David L. Lawrence Convention Center – Pittsburgh, PA
- Moscone Center – San Francisco, CA
- Oregon Convention Center – Portland, OR
- Seattle Convention Center Summit Building – Seattle, WA
- Walter E. Washington Convention Center – Washington, D.C.
LEED Gold:
- Anaheim Convention Center – Anaheim, CA
- Charlotte Convention Center – Charlotte, NC
- Colorado Convention Center – Denver, CO
- Ernest N. Morial Convention Center – New Orleans, LA
- Georgia World Congress Center – Atlanta, GA
- Huntington Place – Detroit, MI
- Javits Center – New York, NY
- Los Angeles Convention Center – Los Angeles, CA
- McCormick Place West – Chicago, IL
- Music City Center – Nashville, TN
- Orange County Convention Center – Orlando, FL
- Pennsylvania Convention Center – Philadelphia, PA
- Salt Palace Convention Center – Salt Lake City, UT
- San Diego Convention Center – San Diego, CA
- Caesars Forum – Las Vegas, NV
LEED Silver:
- Boston Convention & Exhibition Center – Boston, MA
- Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center – San Antonio, TX
- Miami Beach Convention Center – Miami Beach, FL
- Phoenix Convention Center – Phoenix, AZ
