European Maritime Day 2025

The European Commission apply greener guidelines at the EMD already since a number of years. However, in 2018, a set of guidelines for the organisation of sustainable meetings and events was formally adopted. This was an important step towards the organisation of events at a reduced environmental impact.

 The European Commission applies measures to ensure that the events it organises or co-organises are as green and sustainable as possible. We continue on the green path in order to both follow the guidelines in the Green Deal (https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_en) and at the same time encourage citizens to learn more on the environmental challenges surrounding us and to take as many environmentally friendly initiatives as you can in your daily life.

 The main target is to have plastic-free, and as much as possible, paperless events and minimise/eliminate the single use goods.

 a/ Venues

 Venues should be accessible for persons with disabilities and well connected to public transport: travel time with public transport to (international) airport/train station: max. 45min. In Cork, the EMD venue (City Council ) is situated in the city centre at the waterfront and is as such very close to most hotels in the city.

 Preference should be given to venues with environmental certification (e.g. Green Key, EU Ecolabel, Nordic Ecolabel).

 b/ Signposting

•  For generic content: use re-usable banners, pop ups and umbrella stands (re-usable frames) is obligatory

• For non-generic content:  use medium size paper/carton posters and panels is obligatory unless technically unfeasible and after validation by DG Mare

 c/ Catering and coffee breaks

•  The organisers are required to provide quality food and beverages, as well as any staff, material or services needed. Single-use items (plastic bottles, plastic cutlery, plastic or paper plates, plastic cups, tetrapack bottles etc.) are not permitted.

• Only sustainable certified catering options will be envisaged by the European Commission and the Irish partners.

• Any catering offer should include an explanation of what actions the organisers will take to avoid food waste. For any unavoidable leftover foods or material the organisers will be required to come up with solutions for disposing them in a sustainable way: for example donating to charity if possible or distributing doggy bags for the participants.

• Unless explicitly requested otherwise, the organisers should offer plant-based, gluten and lactose free options as part of any menu. Red meat (especially beef and pork) and cheese platters should preferably be avoided. Preference should be given to local, seasonal and organic food with emphasis/priority on vegetarian, white meat and fish food. No soft drinks or alcohol, just water and natural juices, tea and coffee (all organic or fair trade).

• Water should be served from drinking water fountains, and in real glasses. Other beverages should be fair trade and/or organic, unless explicitly agreed otherwise between Organisers and EU.

 Exhibitions

• To the extent possible, exhibition elements should be sustainable, made by recycled or recyclable materials, using environmentally friendly processes. Cardboard, cork, wood would be good materials to use.

• Promote e-publications via apps, QR codes and web site.

 Travel and Accommodation, local transportation

•  A detailed guide of public transport to reach the event must be available to all participants.

 Identification/registration materials for the participants

•  Generic Lanyards recycled materials with metallic hook. To favorise reuse after the event.

 Information material/ways

•  Avoidance as much as possible of printing information material etc (all the information should be online).

• Programmes should be online and via a mobile APP.

 Litter

• It is important to have separate bins for the collection of separate waste streams according to the local legislation.

Smoking

The EMD conference is a non-smoking event. A non-smoking space outside the conference building will be made available by the City of Cork.

 Read more:

• 7 steps for greener events | European Commission (europa.eu)

• EMAS – Environment - European Commission (europa.eu)

We count on the participants and exhibitors to help make this happen. The #EMD2025 will be as paperless and as plastic free as possible. In addition, by applying, workshop organisers and exhibitors commit to minimising the environmental impact of their session and/or stand, as well as to respect as much as possible the paperless and plastic-free guidance received from the event organiser.

Event organisers will apply the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle principle with furniture and promotional material, and commit to offsetting the environmental impact of the event. 

Every little step counts, you can be part of it with small actions such as bringing your own reusable water bottle/glass, water fountains will be available in the venue.

The European Commission aims to reduce the CO2 footprint for the European Maritime Day and to encourage participants to offset their climate impact via green projects delivering value for the environment.

We encourage you to also offset your own emissions via available platforms such as https://co2.myclimate.org/en/event_calculators/new, or as approved by the UN:  https://unfccc.int/climate-action/united-nations-carbon-offset-platform, and https://unfccc.int/climate-action/climate-neutral-now