The report by ICCA and Destination Canada – The State of Sustainability in Associations Report – has revealed that while global associations increasingly value sustainability, many still struggle to turn commitment into measurable action.
According to the study, 66 per cent of international associations now rate sustainability as very or extremely important, up from 60 per cent in 2023. But consistent implementation of sustainability measures are remaining elusive.
Nearly a quarter (24 per cent) still do not calculate their carbon footprint, and 19 per cent outsource measurement rather than building internal expertise.
The report also highlights a “cost paradox”: 63 per cent cite cost as the top barrier to sustainable event planning, yet 46 per cent are willing to pay five to 24 per cent more for sustainable options—suggesting perception, not price, is the true obstacle.
CEO of ICCA, Dr Senthil Gopinath, said the study demonstrates that the business events industry, and particularly the association sector, has moved beyond debating whether sustainability matters.
“The challenge now is transforming aspiration into accountability,” he said.
“This report provides the insight and evidence our community needs to act with purpose and precision.”
The report made four critical findings:
- The Measurement Gap Persists: Organisations have integrated sustainability into event planning procedures (62 per cent) and/or business and strategic planning (50 per cent), but accountability mechanisms lag far behind. Only 33 per cent include sustainability in their event codes of conduct, and formal reporting structures show minimal integration. This pattern mirrors 2023 exactly, when event planning and strategic planning also ranked as the top two most integrated areas, revealing that organisations remain comfortable with high-level commitment, but are reluctant to embed sustainability into accountability frameworks.
- Cost Dominates Every Conversation: Some 63 per cent cite cost as the primary barrier to sustainable events, yet 46 per cent express a willingness to pay a little bit more for sustainable options. This suggests that the challenge isn’t price sensitivity alone—it is value perception and the positioning of sustainability as premium rather than standard.
- The Demand Signal Is Mixed: Only 15 per cent of associations report significant increases in participant requests for sustainable options, while 34 per cent see no change. The sustainability push comes from organisational leadership, not member pressure—presenting both opportunities and risks.
- UN SDGs See Selective Adoption: While 36 per cent of associations commit to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), implementation clusters around comfortable social goals, such as Gender Equality (46 per cent) and Quality Education (45 per cent), while environmental goals lag behind (Climate Action: 27 per cent).
The full report is available for download on iccaworld.org.