Hynes Convention Center,
Boston, MA
CHAMPIONING SUSTAINABILITY AT CELL & GENE THERAPY MANUFACTURING & COMMERICALIZATION US
At CGT US, we are committed to running events which are both environmentally sustainable and socially responsible. From the innovative ways we interact onsite to the radical changes in the way we build our exhibition - here is a breakdown of how we are embedding sustainability in everything we do.
Sustainability Initiatives
We are proud to deliver you a sustainable event by launching several new initiatives noted below.
Digital Agenda
Our event guide will be delivered in a 100% digital format through our ConnectMe app this year, significantly reducing our usage of paper products during the live experience.
Food & Beverage
During the event, you will find biodegradable food packaging as well as corn-based fully compostable cups and utensils. Look out for the various receptacles to recycle paper, plastic and glass waste. Also don’t miss our entirely vegetarian lunch on Wednesday in the exhibit hall and more healthy and vegetarian options throughout the food services at the event!
Food Donation
We will be working local volunteers every day during the event to make sure any accepted food remaining from the day can be brought to local nonprofits providing meals to the food insecure.
Global Learning Scholarship Program
CGT US is proud to participate in the Global Learning Scholarship Program (GLSP), providing opportunities for scientists, researchers, pharmaceutical, and medical device professionals from low- and middle-income countries to access the latest ideas, science, technology and partnerships to make a positive impact on fighting global disease.
Our ‘Better Stands’ approach
Through our commitment to the evolution of the exhibitions industry, we aim to ensure that we are delivering the best possible experience for our customers. We believe that by moving away from the use of disposable exhibition booths we will improve the ease, quality, safety and sustainability of the exhibitor experience at our events. We aim to further minimize exhibition waste by ensuring any carpet use in our aisles is recyclable, using digital signage options as much as possible or using eco cardboard. Finally encouraging our exhibitors to minimize handouts by utilizing our digital download QR code technology at their booths.
Renewable Energy
In addition to ensuring our venue is using energy efficient lighting, this year our event will also be fully powered by Renewable Energy
Going Carbon Neutral
Going carbon neutral means that we will continue to reduce as many greenhouse gas emissions as possible and compensate for the remaining carbon emissions our show emits (from travel, hotel stays, energy-use, waste, etc.) through the purchase of high-quality carbon offsets.
LEED Certified
In 2016, the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC) was certified LEED Silver by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED, which stands for “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design”, is an internationally adopted “green building” rating system, which evaluates a building’s environmental footprint in terms of its resource consumption, waste management practices, and overall operational efficiency.
Energy Efficiency
Both the BCEC and the Hynes have state-of-the-art Lutron Lighting Systems installed throughout the facilities and sensor-controlled lighting in all meeting rooms. To improve building efficiency, lighting and HVAC are reduced during show move-in and move out. In a year alone, 1,300,000 kwH were saved due to LED lighting upgrades at the BCEC.
Recycling
The BCEC and the Hynes recycle over 800 combined tons of material, including cardboard, plastic, paper, glass, and food waste with an average waste diversion rate of 47% at the BCEC. Annually, over 600,000 lbs of food waste are sent to be used for anaerobic digestion with any residuals being pelletized and land applied. In 2019, the MCCA also started an office organics collection program, currently available in four locations at the BCEC and one at the Hynes.
Hydration Stations – Bring your own water bottle!
Don’t forget to pack your reusable water bottle to stay hydrated. Hydration stations will be provided outside of session rooms and inside the exhibit halls of all our events.
Recycle your Badge & Lanyard
After the event concludes, turn your badge and lanyard back into the bins provided so that we may recycle it! Thanks to our Terracycle Zero Waste boxes, all lanyards and badges will be recycled.
e-Poster Hall
New for this year - a digital poster hall where posters are viewed on screen monitors (instead of printed) in the Exhibit Hall

CarbonNeutral® Event Certification
CarbonNeutral® Event Certification is a designation that demonstrates our event has achieved carbon neutrality in line with the CarbonNeutral Protocol. This certification is administered by Climate Impact Partners, and is a global standard managed for over 20 years to deliver clean, conclusive, and transparent carbon neutral programs. The carbon footprint of our events are verified by a third-party company, Bureau Veritas. This initiative is part of the FasterForward - Faster to Zero commitment to becoming completely carbon neutral as a business by 2025 by our parent company, Informa.
HOW ARE WE BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE EVENT?
We believe a sustainable event focuses on three main aims...
Social responsibility
We want CGT US to be run in a socially responsible manner. To do so, we are focusing on:
- Doing business safely and ethically
- Considering wellbeing and accessibility
- Creating a positive impact on our host cities and measuring our impacts
- Supporting sponsors and partners in donating to local and industry-related charities
Environmental responsibility
CGT US will be run in an increasingly environmentally responsible manner, focusing on:
- Reducing carbon emissions
- Designing our events to eliminate waste
- Considering sustainability credentials for every item sourced for the event
Sustainable development
Our aim is for CGT US to promote long-term sustainable development - in the way that we run the event but also in how it's implemented in the market as a whole. We are committing to:
- Using our content to support the sustainability of the cell, gene and immunotherapy market
- Developing close partnerships with relevant charities, companies and associations and giving them a platform to promote their work in the field
- Facilitating discussions on pertinent topics including diversity & inclusion, gender balance, sustainability trends, the impact on the environment & more..
Hynes Convention Center,
Boston, MA
DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION AT CGT US
FASTERFORWARD TO ZERO
FasterForward is CGT US' 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:
- Enable one million disconnected people to access networks and knowledge by 2025
- Become carbon neutral across our events by 2025
- Halve the waste generated through our events by 2025
- Embed sustainability inside 100% of our events by 2025
See the full list of commitments and find out more >>
