An indoor exhibition with lots of greenery, trees and plants. A sign says: “Join us in greening the cities of tomorrow.”

Sustainability at NürnbergMesse

Black text: "Sustainability is our compass" with an orange leaf

Sustainability is our compass - it sets the direction for our actions at NürnbergMesse. For example, we are continuously working to make our company and exhibition operations more resource-efficient.

At the same time, our events create important platforms for sustainable innovations in various industries. We know that Sustainability is an ongoing process. We have already achieved many goals along the way and have our sights firmly set on others.

As a trade fair company, we are pioneer in Germany

We set the course for a resource-conserving exhibition center early on: We were one of the first trade fair companies in Germany to install a photovoltaic system with second-life battery storage. We had our new halls certified by the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB) - here, too, we were one of the pioneers in the industry as a German trade fair company. Our ISO-certified energy and environmental management complements these measures and underlines our early commitment.

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with photovoltaic system with second-life battery storage

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with DGNB certified halls

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with ISO-certified energy and environmental management

Our events are global platforms for sustainable innovation.

Peter Ottmann, CEO NürnbergMesse

Sustainability goals

We are joining forces for change and actively helping to shape it - driven by the desire to take responsibility for our planet, our society and future generations. Our major goal: a CO2-neutral energy supply for the exhibition grounds by 2028.

Our ten fields of action

Where and how do we want to live sustainability and carry it into the future? We have identified a total of ten fields of action - with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals serving as a guide.

Fields of action of the NürnbergMesse displayed by the Sustainable Development Goals 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 17 of the United Nations

Responsibility for products and services

We develop services and concepts with vision - for enthusiastic exhibitors and inspired guests.

By 2025, we will be adding even more digital offerings and services for our visitors, exhibitors and partners to this valuable person-to-person exchange.

With our trade fairs and events, we offer platforms for future-oriented products and formats - and sustainable solutions in the economy of tomorrow.

Field of action of the NürnbergMesse displayed by the Sustainable Development Goals 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 17 of the United Nations

Responsibility for employees and society

We support social and ecological initiatives with donations and reward our employees' voluntary work with special leave.

We are the economic engine for the Nuremberg metropolitan region - and generate purchasing power effects of EUR 1.65 billion, tax revenue of over EUR 300 million and secure around 15,000 jobs.

With mentoring and further development programs, we grow beyond ourselves together - and promote female managers, for example.

Field of action of the NürnbergMesse displayed by the Sustainable Development Goals 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13 of the United Nations

Responsibility for structures and processes

With our ISO-certified management systems, we are continuously working to increase our energy efficiency and minimize our environmental impact.

We live and constantly expand data protection in line with the EU GDPR - and train our employees to handle data securely. 

Green electricity, LED lighting, less waste and resources - so that the ecological footprint of our events is as small as possible.

We value honorable conduct - our Code of Legal Compliance is the ethical compass for all employees, including the entire NürnbergMesse Group. 

The standards we set ourselves

In order to make our sustainable actions transparent, we have been producing a combined non-financial statement every year since 2021. We have been listed in the German Sustainability Code since 2022 and, as a member of fairpflichtet, we set an example for ecological, economic and social commitment in the event industry.

Our Annual Report and Code of Conduct

Our sustainability journey

From our ISO-certified environmental and energy management to our own PV system with battery storage and our initiatives to promote young female managers: we have already achieved important milestones. But we know that there is still a lot to do to reduce our ecological footprint, live up to our social responsibility and create a sustainable trade fair industry.

Sustainability successes 2014: First ISO 50001 energy managment certification

Sustainability successes 2014: DGNB "Platinum" certificate for hall 3A. Start of expansion of the charging stations

Sustainability successes 2015: Start of energy campaign

Sustainability successes 2015: Awareness raising campaign for employes on the topic of energy consumption waste

Sustainability successes 2016: Introduction of the JUMP mentoring program to promote young female managers

Sustainability successes 2016: 75% of those participants still employed at Nürnbergmesse now hold a more responsible position. 5 participants in the JUMP program were appointed Senior Manager in 2023 (status at the end of 2023)

Sustainability successes 2019: DGNB "Platinum certificate for hall 3C

Sustainability successes 2020: Purchase of 100% green electricity

Sustainability successes 2021: First vountary sustainability report for fiscal year 2021; Publication of BNK report for fiscal year 2021

Sustainability successes 2021: Development of a sustainability strategy with Prof. Dr. Matthias Fifka; World first "Audi charging hub" at the Exhibtion Centre

Sustainability successes 2022: Member of Fairpflichtet

Sustainability successes 2022: Sustainability code of the German-speaking event industry

Sustainability successes 2023: March: Module installation of the PV system with battery storage

Sustainability successes 2023: December 1st: NürnbergMesse produces its own solar power; December 5th ISO 14001 environmental management

Sustainability successes 2023: 100% LED lighting in our halls; 70-80% energy savings for lighting

Sustainability successes 2023: August: Introduction of a digital exhibtion logistics system

Sustainability successes 2028: CO2-neutral energy supply

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Green trees and other plants in the hall 3C during the trade fair GaLaBau 2022

Sustainable organisation of events

We are continunously improving the footprint of our services. To this end, we invest in our premises and work with service partners who are equally value-orientated in terms of our environment and society. Together, we create offers and align our events wih a responsible experience -from resource- conserving stand construction solutions to catering with local food, reusable crockery and recycling systems. We support sustainable travel with our charging stations for electric cars and discounted rail tickets as well as free use of public transport.

More about our sustainable event services

Our certificates

Unser Engagement lassen wir regelmäßig von unabhängigen Organisationen überprüfen. Die folgenden Zertifikate dokumentieren unsere Fortschritte und geben einen Einblick in unsere Standards.

As part of our energy management, we have reviewed all of NürnbergMesse's energy consumption and set energy-saving targets. In 2014, the management system was certified by DEKRA in accordance with ISO 50001.

A blue octagon with the TÜD Süd lettering in the center. Next to it is the lettering ISO 14001, certified environmental management system

With the environmental management system, we want to understand and reduce the impact of our business activities on the environment. In 2024, the system was certified in accordance with ISO 14001 by TÜV Süd.

Lettering "DGNB" in white letters on an grey ground

Exhibition halls 3A and 3C have been awarded by the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB). Hall 3C received the "superlative of sustainability", the DGNB certificate in "Platinum".

download Certifikates 50001 and 14001 (pdf)

Our memberships

To live up to our responsibility for sustainable development, we are actively involved in various networks and initiatives.

As a member of fairpflichtet, we are committed to taking sustainability into account both in the internal organization of the company and in the staging of events.

Applying the DNK helps us to make our sustainability performance transparent and to continuously improve it.

Through our membership of the Climate Fund, we support meaningful local climate protection projects that are dependent on financial support.

Do you have any questions about sustainability at the Nuremberg trade fair?

Tanja Rätsch

Executive Director Corporate Liaison & Sustainability

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