FESPA expands sustainability initiatives across events, education, community projects and industry guidance in 2026

FESPA has announced further progress in its sustainability initiatives during 2026, including achieving ISO 20121:2024 certification for Sustainable Event Management and reporting measurable year-on-year CO₂e reductions between its 2024 and 2025 events. The organisation stated that its sustainability efforts extend across global events, community programmes, educational resources and industry support activities.

FESPA has continued to expand its sustainability-focused initiatives in 2026, building on developments implemented across its operations, exhibitions and community programmes over the previous year.

The organisation achieved ISO 20121:2024 certification for Sustainable Event Management in 2026, following its earlier ISO 20121:2012 certification obtained in 2025. FESPA also confirmed measurable reductions in CO₂e emissions between its 2024 and 2025 events.

According to the organisation, sustainability forms part of the broader FESPA Future strategy, which is centred on “Connecting, Inspiring and Supporting” the global print and speciality graphics community. Beyond exhibitions, the strategy includes investment in educational resources, research, industry insights, youth engagement initiatives and community projects.

FESPA continues to provide sustainability-related guidance through the Sustainability Spotlight section on its website. The available resources include sustainability guides released in 2024 covering “Calculating Carbon”, “Sustainable Certification Scheme Guide” and “Glossary of Terms”.

In 2026, the organisation introduced an additional guide titled “Understanding and Avoiding Greenwash”, aimed at helping print businesses ensure sustainability-related communications remain accurate, credible and evidence based.

Graeme Richardson-Locke, Head of Associations and Technical Lead at FESPA

Graeme Richardson-Locke, Head of Associations and Technical Lead at FESPA, comments: “We recognise the importance of helping businesses in our community to adapt as expectations and regulations around sustainability change. Our role is not only to reduce our own impact, but also to provide practical guidance for the wider speciality print industry and its related sectors.”

FESPA also continues activities through its sister organisation, the FESPA Foundation, which operates under the strapline “Print For Good”. Since launching in March 2025, the foundation has supported schools in South Africa and Brazil through donated educational materials produced during FESPA exhibitions, alongside financial support and infrastructure improvements.

In addition, FESPA works with its network of global Associations to run youth engagement programmes designed to introduce young people to careers in print, signage and visual communication. These initiatives are supported through FESPA investment.

Neil Felton, CEO of FESPA, says: “We are proud of the progress we have made, but we also recognise there is more to do. Our ambition is to continue leading by example while supporting members of our community as they navigate regulatory changes, and transition to more responsible print and production.”

FESPA stated that further information about its sustainability initiatives and ISO certification is available on its official platform.