A responsible choice for your event

Scotland’s natural beauty, well-developed infrastructure and progressive commitment to sustainability make it the perfect choice for forward-looking business events. Here are a few reasons why:

Green venues and facilities 

• Numerous venues with green certifications and awards.
• Green Tourism awards
• Green initiatives at the Edinburgh Airport
• Comprehensive sustainability programs are implemented at various venues in Scotland.
• Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) 
• Scottish Event Campus (SEC) 
• P&J Live
• Gleneagles
• The Scotch Whisky Experience
• Cameron House on Loch Lomond
• Dynamic Earth

Sustainable conference destination

• Glasgow is the 8th most sustainable conference destination in the world (2023 GDS Index).

Sustainable accommodation

• Hotels and resorts with green certifications and sustainable practices like Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh and voco Grand Central Hotel, Glasgow.
• Green certifications

Local sourcing and sustainable catering

• Scotland’s rich agricultural landscape supports local, organic, and sustainable food sourcing.
• Event caterers prioritise local ingredients, reducing food miles and waste like Hickory.

Waste reduction initiatives

• Robust waste management and recycling programs to minimize landfill impact.
• Scottish venues often donate leftover food and materials to local charities including the Scottish Event Campus (SEC).
• EICC's zero waste to landfill achievement.

Environmental education and awareness

• Opportunities to integrate environmental awareness into events. 
• EICC’s Step Change strategy with peatland restoration.
• SEC support for ‘Trees for Life’.

Community engagement and CSR

• Strong emphasis on community engagement and CSR in business event planning.
• In Scotland you will find many opportunities for volunteering and supporting local sustainability projects.
• CSR activities in Scotland.

Scotland a compelling and sustainable choice for business events, appealing to business events organisers who prioritise human and environmental wellbeing. 

• Scotland established the National Performance Framework in 2007 to localize and implement the UN SDG, formally enshrining it into law in 2015.
• More than 170 languages are spoken in Scotland and these languages reflect a modern and inclusive country.
• In December 2017, Scotland published the Race Equality Action Plan – outlining more than 120 actions we will take to secure better outcomes for ethnic minorities in Scotland.
• UK’s smallest gender pay gap and our 50/50 by 2020 initiative towards gender balance in the boardroom already enjoys the support of nearly 200 organisations – including our current government’s ministerial cabinet.
• The Scotland Pakistan Scholarships for Young Women and Girls funds graduate studies for Pakistani women in any HEC recognized university across Pakistan.
• In December 2016, Scotland published a disability action plan, which as well as including five longer term ambitions, also has 93 practical actions that Scotland will look to deliver.
• In 2023, there was 15.3 GW of renewable electricity capacity in Scotland – a 10% increase from 13.9 GW in 2022.