ICE Kraków Announces its Sustainable Development Policies

Given the ongoing climate crisis and the impact of the meetings industry on the environment, ICE Kraków has announced its “Sustainable development policies”, developed over recent months. The document outlines examples of activities following the concepts of sustainable development aiming to eliminate its negative impact on the environment and local community and increase its positive influence.

The ICE Kraków Congress Centre’s sustainable development policies include examples of the most important solutions implemented since its opening, including the functioning of the venue, administrative and educational activities and the launch of the CSR campaign, including the creation of the world-first Congress Avenue, hosting training courses on environmental issues for the meetings industry and working with the Food Bank.

“We want this document to express our awareness of the changes occurring around the globe and show how much we have achieved since 2014 to care for our planet and the quality of life of future generations. All actions, even the smallest, have a real impact in the long term, and promoting sustainable development is a responsibility of all representatives of the meetings industry,” says Izabela Błaszczyk, says the President of Kraków5020.

As well as outlining examples of activities, the document also explains how ICE Kraków and other representatives of the industry associated in the KRAKÓW NETWORK understand sustainable development. The document also presents aspects of event heritage and digitalisation, hosting green meetings and preparing meetings with the participants’ wellbeing in mind.

“Events held at ICE Kraków and other venues in the city leave behind a mark. Representatives of the meetings industry associated in the KRAKÓW NETWORK are aware of this impact and the need to act in accordance with sustainable development principles. Last year saw the publication of the “KRAKÓW NETWORK Protocol” and the concept to create a bank of legacy projects bringing together CSR concepts and initiatives serving specific communities in the city. The bank, developed by the Kraków Convention Bureau, will be accessible to all organisers of congresses and conferences in Kraków,” says Paula Fanderowska, Vice-President of Kraków5020.

“Just like the Cracovian meetings industry is a unique ecosystem, the hundreds of events held at ICE Kraków each year resonate throughout the city. This is why our sustainable development policies are consistent with the strategy developed by municipal representatives, the ‘Sustainable development of Kraków’s tourism 2021-202’ document adopted last year, and the ‘KRAKÓW Network Protocol’”, adds Izabela Błaszczyk.