Sustainability Efforts at MD&M Midwest
#MDMMidwest
Shaping the Design and Manufacturing Industry for a Sustainable Future
Sustainability is increasingly important to our attendees and exhibitors, as well as to our community as a whole. Operating MD&M Midwest gives us many opportunities to improve our impacts environmentally, socially, and economically in Minnesota. Our team is driven to make our event more responsible and to also play a key role in helping our market improve its own sustainability. Our parent company, Manufacturing by Informa, is committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for our entire community, reducing our environmental impact at every level, and embedding those values in all of our business practices.
MD&M Midwest Proudly Supports These Local Organizations:
Feature area MD&M Park includes forestry and crafted seating from Tree Trust. After the event, the seating — which is being built by Tree Trust’s Career Pathways program participants — will be delivered to the Normandale Elementary School in Bloomington, MN, for use in their outdoor classroom. In addition, the forestry will then be planted in the Minneapolis metro area as part of the program’s community impact.
Tree Trust is a Minnesota-based forestry group that organizes efforts to increase the urban tree canopy through community and school-based volunteer plantings, municipal tree distributions, and other special forestry initiatives. Tree Trust offers two Career Pathways programs—the Summer Youth Employment Program and Branches — which aim to introduce young people from underrepresented communities to sustainable careers while also creating and enhancing local green spaces for community enjoyment. Many of the trainees secure jobs directly after the program, helping to build a pipeline of trained workers for local employers.
In partnership with Healing Hearts Rescue, MD&M Park will also feature on-site pet adoption opportunities for attendees looking to give a dog a forever home. Guests can also contribute through donation initiatives, directly supporting Healing Hearts’ mission to rescue and rehome dogs in need. Healing Hearts Rescue is a volunteer-based non-profit dog rescue in Minnesota dedicated to changing the lives of animals whom humans have failed by finding them safe and loving homes. It is 100% funded through adoption fees and donations. The organization believes that every dog deserves to be loved as true members of a family and is committed to fulfilling that dream one dog at a time!
Our Three Pledges
1. Inspiring Sustainable Development
Our first aim is for our events to inspire sustainable development. This is about the sustainability of the industry that our event serves. With focus on our content and partnerships, we inspire our attendees, exhibitors, and event teams to deliver a sustainable event.
2. Running an Environmentally Responsible Event
Our second aim is to run our events in an environmentally responsible manner. The key is considering how we can reduce our carbon footprint through energy efficiency, consideration of our energy use, waste reduction and our procurement choices.
3. Running a Socially Responsible Event
Our third aim is to run our events in a socially responsible manner. This requires us to think about the impact we have on the local community and whether we are being a good neighbor. It also includes how we consider the welfare of everyone at our events, how we do business in an ethical and safe manner and how we promote equality and accessibility.
MD&M Midwest is Powered by
Renewable Energy
- We are pleased to announce that as a part of our continued commitment to the sustainability of our event, we made the switch to 100% renewable electricity for our event. This resulted in our electricity use being carbon neutral, preventing the additional creation of CO2, and therefore significantly reducing our carbon impact.
- We also recognize that it’s not just about the way we produce our events, but recognizing that we have a role to play in providing a space to work in partnership together with our markets to inspire the sustainable development of the industries we serve. This is an ongoing process for us and we’re looking for ideas of how we can improve.
- More information about our work so far can be found on the www.informa.com/sustainability including our latest sustainability reports.
FasterForward
FasterForward is our approach to sustainability, moving faster to become a zero waste and net zero carbon business. A series of activities and commitments carried out between 2020-2025 will ensure our events become ever more sustainable, delivering a truly positive impact to the markets we serve. We will also actively help our partners, customers, and wider markets to achieve the same.
Our FasterForward commitments include:
- Become carbon neutral across our events by 2025
- Halve the waste generated through our events by 2025
- Become zero waste and net zero carbon by 2030 or earlier
- Embed sustainability inside 100% of our events by 2025
See the full list of commitments and find out more.
The Steps MD&M Midwest is Taking
Re-Using Aisle Carpet
At Manufacturing by Informa, we roll out the green carpet—literally! We repurpose all aisle carpets from our shows, turning waste into a win for the environment.
Reducing and Reusing Printed Materials
Say goodbye to bulky printed event guides! We’ve gone digital with the Smart Event digital resource and mobile app, making it easier and greener for you to navigate the event.
Badge & Lanyard Recycling
Good news, your new favorite necklace is recyclable. We’ve implemented badge and lanyard recycling initiatives to reduce paper and plastic waste.
Recycling Printed Signage
Our printed signage and stages are designed to be reused year after year, making sustainability a timeless trend at our events.
Utilizing Digital Signage
We've swapped traditionally printed signage for sleek digital options wherever we can, making our events more eco-friendly and tech-savvy.
Surveying Exhibitors and Attendees
We research exhibitor and attendee views on our progress and survey audience travel patterns for participation.
Reduced & Efficient Lighting
By using 50% work lights during move-in and move-out, we’ve cut down on energy consumption in a big way. Thanks to our partners, Freeman and venue management, we’ve also switched to LEDs for our installations, making energy efficiency the new spotlight at our events!
Diverse Speaker Group of Races, Ethnicities, and Genders
We’re all about diversity! Our speaker lineup is a vibrant mix of races, ethnicities, and genders, bringing a kaleidoscope of perspectives to the stage. At our show, every voice counts, and every background shines.
Commitment to Making Sure Minnesotans Have the Nourishment They Need
In 2024, we proudly raised $2,400 for Second Harvest Heartland, providing 7,200 meals to help stop food insecurity.
What Steps You Can Take
Water Conservation
- Get Rewarded for Reusing: Participate in your hotel’s Linen ReUse Program and earn those hotel rewards points!
- Quick Showers, Big Impact: Take shorter showers to save water and time—more time to enjoy the event and what Anaheim has to offer!
Waste
Reduction
- Sip Sustainably: Use a refillable water bottle and coffee cup at the event—save the planet, one sip at a time.
- Food Fun: Take only what you need at food functions. Taste it all, waste nothing!
- Go Digital: Download the official mobile app and refer to the digital event guide. Bye-bye, paper!
- Recycle Like a Pro: Ask for a recycling bag for your hotel room if one isn’t already there.
Energy Conservation
- Lights Out: Turn off lights and the thermostat when leaving your hotel room. Save energy and feel good about it!
Air Quality/CO2 Impact
- Share the Ride: Carpool to the event or take public transport to/from the airport and to/from hotel
- Veggie Challenge: Eat vegetarian or vegan at least one meal per day, or go meat-free all week. Your taste buds and the planet will thank you!
Join us in making MD&M Midwest a green and great experience!
What Steps Exhibitors Can Do
Reduce Signage Waste
- Encourage less printing and provide more information digitally when it comes to booth literature, fulfilling requests via email and website referrals
- If you must print, create reusable non-dated signs that can be used year after year
- Avoid foam core signs and request recyclable material such as cardboard signag
Reduce Booth Waste
- Request sustainable options from Freeman
- BYOF!- Avoid carpet and bring your own flooring, like puzzle foam flooring that can be reused at all your shows
- Break down ALL cardboard boxes and put in the correct recycling bin
- Request additional booth bins for recycling and compost collection
- Use only compostable or recyclable service ware for samples and give-a-ways
- Use the stickers provided at the Exhibitor Services desk to mark your materials for recycling or donation
- Set a goal to leave no trace behind by shipping out all booth properties and packing materials and donating extra giveaways
Contact and Share Your Story
Would you like to work with us on the sustainability of our event? Would you like to share your own story and efforts?
Contact the event team or reach out to Informa’s sustainability team for more information: [email protected].