Strategy for sustainability
Climate Action & Energy (Energy, Mobility)
Our overarching goal is to continuously improve climate performance. To achieve this, we are developing a climate strategy and implementing a combination of process adjustments, energy savings, behavioral change, and mindset shifts among our employees. Our key areas of focus are the transition to renewable energy, the promotion of sustainable mobility, and the reduction of our emissions. Through this, we aim to help Berlin reach its goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2045 as quickly as possible.
Reducing Energy Use and CO₂ Emissions – Our Energy Concept
Whether it’s lighting and sound systems for booths and stages or the climate control in exhibition halls—energy is a vital part of our operations. To reduce consumption and emissions, Messe Berlin launched a comprehensive energy concept over ten years ago:
- Berlin’s Largest Solar Rooftop: Our halls feature the capital’s largest rooftop solar. It generates around 7.3 GWh of electricity per year—covering about 25% of our total power needs.
Climate-Friendly Heating & Cooling: We modernized our entire heating and cooling systems with sustainable technologies.
- CO₂-Neutral Heating: A state-of-the-art pellet heating system replaces fossil fuels, covering at least 50% of the venue’s heating needs using renewable energy. Technical upgrades are also bringing our energy centers and networks up to date.
- Efficient Cooling: Four new chillers with resource-saving recooling technology and environmentally friendly refrigerants as well as the use of waste heat in a new absorption system significantly improve efficiency.
- Smaller CO₂ Footprint: These upgrades reduce CO₂ emissions by approximately 5,400 tons per year.
Climate-Friendly Mobility at Messe Berlin
From electric vehicles to public transport—we promote climate-conscious transportation options for guests, exhibitors, and employees to reduce emissions.
- • Job Tickets & Bike Leasing: In partnership with public transport operator Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG), we offer discounted job tickets and bicycle leasing programs for our staff.
- Electromobility: Our fleet will be 100% electric by 2030. Electric rental vehicles and 16 charging stations are already available for employees and guests.
- DB Event Ticket: Guests and exhibitors who use the discounted Deutsche Bahn event ticket travel with 100% green electricity.
- VisiFair Slot Booking System: Our digital logistics tool reduces peak times, shortens wait times, and lowers CO₂ emissions during deliveries.
- Flight Compensation: Via the Lufthansa Group, we offer flight offset options to balance CO₂ emissions.
- STADTRADELN Initiative: Each year, we take part in “City Cycling,” encouraging our team to commute by bike and promote climate-friendly habits.
Circular Economy & Waste
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – Waste Management at Messe Berlin
From packaging and booth construction materials to leftover food—waste is difficult to avoid at trade fairs and congresses. That’s why we are committed to continuously reducing waste during our events through innovative concepts, material reuse, and effective recycling.
- Material Separation & Recycling Loops: We separate recyclable materials and return them to the circular economy.
- Innovation Board: In partnership with ALBA, we are developing new ideas for efficient waste management.
- ReUse Berlin Initiative: In cooperation with the Berlin Senate Administration, we participate in the city’s Zero-Waste initiative to reuse booth construction materials.
- Fighting Food Waste: Events like Grüne Woche and FRUIT LOGISTICA donate surplus food to Berliner Tafel, a local food bank.
On the Path to a Circular Economy
Events generate large amounts of resources—from booth construction to carpeting to catering. That’s why Messe Berlin is committed to reducing waste and using resources efficiently and responsibly. Circularity is a key principle in our sustainability strategy, helping us protect the environment and reduce our ecological footprint.
We are continuously developing sustainable solutions and aim to achieve significant progress by 2030.
Social Responsibility & Diversity
Fair, Diverse, Responsible – Our Social Commitment
As a trade fair company with an international audience, respectful and fair interaction is at the heart of our corporate culture. We actively promote diversity, equal opportunity, and social justice—not only for our guests and employees, but also within the Berlin community.
Our Social Engagement in Berlin and Beyond
Our social initiatives and partnerships promote a just and sustainable society, locally and globally.
- High5forBerlin: Messe Berlin has been organizing a Social Day every year since 2023 - a day on which we swap our desks for an outdoor workshop. Together, we support a charitable project with regional added value. A key criterion: we pay attention to the circular economy and use recycled materials from trade fair construction. At the first Social Day in 2023, 120 colleagues built tiny houses for homeless people. The following year, around 150 employees built a community garden for refugees at the Tegel arrival center - with over 70 pieces of outdoor furniture and 24 raised beds. The garden now serves as a place for people to meet and exchange ideas. In 2025, our employees were again involved in Tegel: this time, outdoor barbecue kitchens were created for another communal area in the arrival center.
- Responsible Tourism at ITB Berlin: ITB Berlin promotes sustainable travel and global social responsibility. As a founding member of the “Roundtable Human Rights in Tourism,” ITB also supports child protection in the tourism sector.
- Food Donations with Berliner Tafel: Through events like Grüne Woche and FRUIT LOGISTICA, we support people in need in Berlin. In 2024, we donated 87 tons of food to Berliner Tafel.
- Fairtrade & Sustainable Consumption: We support fair trade by offering products such as Fairtrade-certified coffee.
Regional Responsibility & Governance
Trade Fairs as Economic Drivers and Innovation Hubs
Messe Berlin brings people from all over the world to the capital and is one of the region’s most important economic and tourism drivers. Whether it's hotel bookings, taxi rides, or restaurant visits—according to a recent study by the Investitionsbank Berlin (IBB), every euro of revenue in the trade fair and event industry generates around six euros of purchasing power for Berlin.
Trade fairs and congresses not only boost spending, but also create jobs. In 2022 alone, 6,300 jobs were created or secured thanks to the event industry.
In addition, Messe Berlin events are powerful innovation platforms. They bring together experts from across the globe to showcase future trends and foster new business relationships.