We incorporated The Bulb in 2015, three years after London 2012. That influential project sent my career path in a different direction, bringing together my lifelong passion for the environment with my work. Coincidentally, that year was also one of the most monumental for sustainability, the year the UN Sustainable Development Goals were launched, and 196 countries signed The Paris Agreement, a landmark commitment to limit the worst impacts of climate change.
This had a significant ripple effect on the major events and sports industries, which began to reckon more seriously with their environmental and social footprint. Sustainability conversations moved into the mainstream as an indicator of event success. Major commitments were made and the industry started facing scrutiny for outdated and wasteful practices, under pressure to deliver against commitments and leave lasting legacies.
2030 seemed in the distant future. But it's racing toward us and we're nowhere near the targets that were set. Only 17% of the SDGs are on track, with key indicators showing troubling trends including climate-induced migration and worsening environmental conditions. The Paris Agreement committed us to limiting warming to 1.5°C. Instead, 2024 became the first full year to breach that target. Current projections show we're on track for nearly 3°C of warming, a massive overshoot of our commitments.
If we stay on this path the impact will be devastating. Sea levels will rise, drowning many of our well-known cities including our office in Dubai. This isn't distant science fiction. This is the path we're on right now.
Where We Are Now: Real Progress Despite the Headlines
Despite this sobering global picture, our industry is demonstrating measurable progress through comprehensive data collection. TRACE by isla's latest survey reveals concrete insights from 127 UK events.
The data shows targeted interventions delivering results. Plant-forward catering is gaining traction with 55% of recorded meals now meat-free, capable of reducing emissions by up to 97% per meal. Event planners are prioritising sustainable transport with 50% of staff journeys using public transport and active travel.
However, critical areas require urgent attention. An estimated £2 million worth of timber is used once and discarded across events, while production materials represent 35% of total emissions when audience travel is excluded. With average waste generation of 2.14kg per attendee, the circular economy opportunity is substantial.
This isn't just about doing less harm. It's about doing more good. Major events are emerging as powerful catalysts for sustainable transformation, proving that environmental responsibility and exceptional experiences aren't just compatible, they're mutually reinforcing.
Technology: The Game Changer We've Been Waiting For
Solutions are coming and they're spectacular. YAS Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi is demonstrating the power of integrated sustainable technology. The circuit combines 5,795 square meters of solar panels with a comprehensive LED lighting conversion that achieves 32% energy reduction and 31% carbon reduction. ShowPower is setting new standards for energy-intensive events, with their revolutionary work powering Coldplay's Music of the Spheres World Tour. Their smart battery power grids use 40+ recyclable BMW i3 electric vehicle batteries, achieving a 59% reduction in CO2e emissions compared to traditional diesel-powered shows.
The next wave of innovation is transforming the buildings themselves. Biomimetic venue materials like self-cooling concrete inspired by termite mounds reduce HVAC loads by 40% in hot climate venues, while smart glass technology automatically adjusts transparency based on sunlight, cutting cooling costs by up to 49%. Meanwhile, modular construction systems enable multiple reuse cycles, and blockchain technology provides complete supply chain traceability for all materials.
These aren't just environmental wins. They're operational improvements that prove sustainability makes venues smarter, more efficient, and more profitable. We're witnessing a fundamental shift where the most advanced technology is also the most sustainable, making environmental leadership a competitive advantage rather than a cost burden.
Beyond Building for Building's Sake: Smart Venue Design for the Future
Major event hosts are moving away from simply building new infrastructure without considering long-term value. While Paris 2024 used 95% existing and temporary venues, and LA 2028 will follow suit using only existing buildings while becoming the first "Energy Positive" Games generating more renewable energy than consumed, the reality is that new venues will still be built. The key is building them smarter.
We advocate for 'overlay-first' thinking when designing new venues, asking: 'What events might this venue host in 20 years, and how do we provision for them now?' Smart overlay design creates venues that adapt and evolve across their entire lifecycle, avoiding white elephant scenarios while maximising community benefit.
Expo 2025 Osaka demonstrates this thinking applied to temporary structures. The UAE Pavilion's 90 rachis columns were created from agricultural date palm waste integrated with Japanese woodworking expertise. After the Expo closes, these materials will be disassembled and repurposed for permanent cultural installations across the UAE and Japan, creating lasting architectural exchanges. The entire Expo showcases systematic wood reuse through the world's largest wooden structure, the Grand Ring, built using traditional joinery techniques for modular disassembly. After closure, sections will be permanently installed while remaining materials are dismantled for reuse in future buildings via the dedicated "Expo Circular Market" platform, demonstrating event infrastructure designed for ongoing material circulation. This is about designing event infrastructure that becomes the foundation for ongoing innovation long after the closing ceremony.
For the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, where Trivandi serves as Official Event Delivery Partner, this thinking translates into our approach. We're not building anything new, instead using existing buildings and creating a replicable model for how major events can maximise existing infrastructure. This adaptive reuse approach avoids new construction emissions while proving that sustainability and cost-effectiveness are complementary.
Over the last two years The Bulb has worked with Expo City Dubai, the site used for Expo 2020 Dubai, to implement comprehensive circular economy approaches, minimising plastic and engaging suppliers through intensive workshops to challenge traditional working methods and foster new sustainability partnerships.
The result is a ten-year strategy with performance indicators and detailed playbooks, proving what's possible when major events embrace intelligent reuse and forward-thinking venue design.
Major Events as Catalysts for Change
The most exciting development is seeing major events leave locations better than before. An event can genuinely improve its host destination's long-term sustainability prospects when approached thoughtfully.
Expo Riyadh 2030 is integrating sustainability into core programming, addressing climate change and biodiversity through state-of-the-art solar technology and biotechnology exhibitions. The site's transformation into a permanent "Global Village" for innovation and cultural exchange demonstrates how future events can advance sustainability goals.
Tokyo 2020 showcased hydrogen fuel cell technology throughout the Games, with hydrogen-powered buses, athlete village power systems, and the Olympic flame itself powered by hydrogen. This wasn't just for show. The infrastructure continues operating, with Tokyo's hydrogen bus fleet expanded citywide and hydrogen refuelling stations established across Japan. The Games accelerated Japan's national hydrogen strategy by a decade, proving how mega-events can catalyse nationwide technology adoption.
London 2012's Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park converted 560 acres of contaminated industrial land into Europe's largest new urban parkland while achieving 100% zero waste to landfill. The innovations developed for major events, from renewable energy systems to waste management technologies, are adopted across industries, multiplying environmental benefits far beyond the event itself.
The Attitude Shift We Need
We need to move away from the idea that sustainable options are more expensive or don't work as well. That thinking is not just boring. It's simply not true. AI and IoT technologies are optimising resource consumption across venue operations, with predictive maintenance extending equipment lifespans by 20-40% and smart energy management systems reducing consumption by 30-50%. These aren't experimental technologies. They're proven solutions delivering immediate environmental and operational benefits.
Digital platforms are democratising sustainability measurement. Tools like TRACE by isla and CO2 AI enable real-time carbon tracking with automated emission factor matching, delivering results in minutes rather than weeks. At The Bulb, we've seen how comprehensive measurement systems enhance rather than complicate event management, providing insights that improve both operational and environmental performance.
The Regulatory Push Accelerating Change
Industry transformation is accelerating through supportive policy frameworks that are fundamentally reshaping how events communicate about sustainability. The establishment of ISO 20121 as the global event sustainability standard, updated in 2024 with enhanced focus on social legacies and climate action, provides comprehensive frameworks for implementation. But new legislation is making misleading environmental claims legally and financially risky.
The EU's Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Directive, effective March 2026, specifically targets greenwashing, the practice of making false or unsubstantiated environmental claims. The UK's Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, effective April 2025, gives regulators powers to fine companies up to £300,000 or 10% of global turnover for consumer protection breaches, including greenwashing.
We've witnessed major events that failed to provide data supporting sustainability claims come under intense media scrutiny, losing significant brand value and fan trust. A 2021 European Commission study found 53% of green claims provided vague, misleading or unfounded information.
Both pieces of legislation make greenwashing unviable. Consumers, fans, and media demand concrete evidence, creating fair competition for genuine sustainability leaders. The era of unchecked claims is ending.
What Success Looks Like
Despite remarkable progress, nearly four out of five event planners still cite cost as the biggest sustainability barrier, according to Global DMC Partners' Q3 2024 survey. Knowledge gaps persist across the industry, but industry leaders are starting to see that sustainable alternatives often deliver long-term cost savings through improved efficiency and reduced waste management expenses.
The pathway to achieving 2030 sustainability targets requires systematic integration of proven technologies, collaborative industry approaches and supportive policy frameworks. Current momentum is unprecedented: sports events improving sustainability scores annually, major competitions achieving carbon neutrality, and comprehensive measurement systems enabling continuous improvement.
Success depends on recognising that sustainability and exceptional sporting experiences are complementary rather than competing priorities. Sports events demonstrating this integration, from Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games' carbon neutral model to LA28's energy-positive Olympics, prove that environmental leadership enhances rather than compromises athletic performance and spectator engagement. At The Bulb, our upcoming work on the Invictus Games will showcase how adaptive sports events can set new standards for inclusive, sustainable competition through zero-waste protocols and circular economy approaches for veteran athlete accommodation.
Moving Faster, Smarter
The future isn't just about talk and limited action anymore. We need to move faster and smarter. The technologies, frameworks, and success stories exist. Major events are proving they can be powerful catalysts for sustainable change, creating lasting positive legacies while advancing global environmental goals.
At The Bulb we're seeing first-hand how major events can lead this transformation. When we get it right, we don't just deliver exceptional experiences. We create blueprints for a more sustainable future that extends far beyond the closing ceremony.
2030 is no longer a distant target. It's a rapidly approaching deadline that demands the kind of bold action our industry is uniquely positioned to deliver. The question isn't whether we can make major events sustainable. We're already proving it's possible. The question is how quickly we can scale these proven approaches across the global events ecosystem, ensuring that every gathering contributes to rather than detracts from our collective sustainable future.
The time for incremental change has passed. The future of major events is sustainable, innovative, and more exciting than ever before.