Sustainability
Think green, act green
In line with its motto "Driving the maritime transition", SMM is committed to pushing forward technological change and sharing scientific knowledge. As the world's leading trade fair for the maritime industry, it offers players from all sectors an excellently networked platform for professional exchange as well as for solutions and ideas that make important contributions to achieving industry-internal and global climate protection goals.
In doing so, SMM helps to ensure that sustainable progress can be made – in areas such as hydrogen technology or research into alternative fuels and innovative technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the defossilisation of shipping.
In addition, we ourselves take a number of measures to make visiting SMM and our other exhibitions and events an increasingly sustainable experience. In the following, we would like to present some of these sustainability aspects to you.
Travel free of charge with public transport
For a fast, convenient and environmentally friendly journey, every SMM visitor ticket purchased via the online ticket shop in 2024 includes travel to and from the event by public transport within the hvv network. This will not only make travelling cheaper for all visitors, but using public transport instead of private cars will also make a significant contribution to reducing CO2 emissions.
The included hvv tickets make travelling by public transport more attractive, which leads to a lower impact on the environment and a reduction in the volume of traffic in the city. This supports SMM's sustainability strategy and improves air quality.
Carbon neutrality by 2040
SMM benefits from the green agenda of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, which envisages that the city's public companies will become climate-neutral in balance sheet terms by 2040. This politically declared goal thus also applies to the city's subsidiary Hamburg Messe und Congress (HMC), which organises SMM.
Sustainability as part of tenders
Taking into account the Green Procurement Guidelines, sustainability is increasingly anchored as an award criterion for HMC. In other words: green light for suppliers who think environmentally friendly.
100% green electricity
Since 2011, HMC has been sourcing 100% of its electricity from renewable energy sources, so SMM not only presents innovative, green energy concepts for shipping, but also acts accordingly itself.
Recycling in booth construction
Exhibitors can book high-quality reusable solutions in our online service booking shop. Step by step, other reusable or recyclable materials will follow alongside existing resource- and environmentally-friendly solutions such as LED lighting, system stands or carpet tiles.
Conservation of resources
At both SMM and WindEnergy Hamburg, we’ve refrained from using aisle carpets in the hall furnishings since 2024, as these cannot be fed into a recycling system due to their required specification.
The avoidance of approx. 24,000 m² of carpet at SMM and 21,000 m² of carpet at WindEnergy Hamburg means a reduction in environmental impact of 15 tonnes of waste and a corresponding conservation of resources.
Waste separation
Participants at SMM are encouraged to avoid waste and use resources carefully. Exhibiting companies can collect their waste separately and the waste generated at the event will be professionally and properly separated, recycled or disposed of.
Water protection
All year round, we also focus on the sustainable protection of our waters. For example, HMC uses biodegradable cleaning agents at all time and largely dispenses with the use of road salt in winter to clear ice and snow.
Logistics
Efficient route planning isn’t only important at sea: our logistics traffic close to the exhibition is controlled and continuously improved by an intelligent slot system. The logistics fleet at the exhibition centre already consists entirely of e-trolleys and HMC's logistics partner naturally demonstrates a sustainability strategy.
Recycled lanyards
The lanyards we offer SMM participants at the entrances are made from recycled PET bottles; the carabiner and safety clasp are made from recycled plastic. On departure, the lanyards can be returned at the exits to go into recycling again.
Catering
Conscious enjoyment is not possible without detailed quality management and processes that take sustainability and environmental protection seriously. Our catering partner Käfer therefore focuses on regional, seasonal and organic food and has an ambitious sustainability strategy.
Avoiding food waste
With a pilot project at SMM, our catering service provider Käfer Service Hamburg GmbH is pursuing the goal of avoiding food waste after trade fairs and events.
For this purpose, all perishable food will be offered at half price from 14:00 on the last day of the fair, depending on availability. The offer is aimed at all visitors, exhibitors and employees who have access to the event.
More information
You can find out more about sustainability at Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH here.
