TSSS 2024: Sustainable Event Planning
The Tokyo Sustainable Seafood Summit 2024 (TSSS) was held at the Tokyo International Forum from October 8 to 10, 2024. This is one of Asia's largest sustainable seafood events featuring keynotes and panel discussions on environmental stability and social responsibility in the seafood industry. This year over 900 participants from 16 countries and regions attended this exciting event.
The Tokyo Sustainable Seafood Summit, established in 2015, strives for sustainable event management such as utilizing certified seafood at their reception and for their tenth-anniversary event, they received support from the Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau's (TCVB) Sustainable Event Support Desk and used TCVB's subsidy for sustainable and environmental initiatives. The event was managed in accordance with the event's overall sustainability policy. Some of the sustainable event initiatives featured at the event are introduced below.
The Sustainability Policy Published on the Conference Website
Sustainable Initiatives
1. Environmental Considerations:
(1)Third-party certified sustainable seafood such as MSC or ASC was used at the receptions
(2)FSC®-certified cardboard panels and furniture etc, were utilized in event planning
(3)Panels were installed to display speaker/program information, and the program was distributed electronically
(4)Lecture materials were distributed electronically
(5)A 10-year report on the event's sustainable initiatives was published electronically
(6)Reduction of single-use plastics/paper materials
・Water dispensers were installed in the venue
・Tumblers made from bamboo were gifted to participants
・No plastic bottles or paper cups were used
・Cardboard name badge holders were used
(7)Food loss reduction
・The amount of food prepared for lunch and the reception was based on the registered number of participants
・Unsold lunches utilized as staff dinners
・Participants were asked to reduce leftover food
(8)The venue was selected based on accessibility by public transport
(9)Participants were asked to dress in warm clothing to save power (Warm Biz)
MSC Certified menu and sign ASC Certified menu and sign
Cardboard panels and decorations (honeycomb structure design) 2D barcodes for event information
Commemorative magazine printed only for browsing Water dispenser Bamboo tumbler for reduction of single-use paper cups
Cardboard name badge (without plastic holders)
2. Diversity
(1)Speakers were selected with consideration of gender and regional diversity
(2)The website and signage were displayed in English and Japanese for ease of use for participants from various countries.
3. PR
(1)The sustainability policy was published on the official website
(2)Sustainable seafood was promoted at the venue and signatures were collected in support of sustainable seafood. By having actions participants could take at the event it became even more memorable.
435 people signed for the 2030 GOAL.
TSSS prepared and published the sustainability policy with the support and advice of the Sustainable Event Support Desk at TCVB. TCVB also provided support in the preparation of environmentally friendly exhibition materials such as FSC®-certified cardboard constructions for a more sustainable event. When planning this event, the organizers encountered sustainable materials that they were previously unaware of, and the event management was more sustainable than previous iterations. They also recognized the importance of up-to-date information on sustainable operations and the essential role of selecting vendors that are aligned with their sustainability goals.
Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau will continue introducing sustainable case studies while offering various support to organizers who want to organize more sustainable business events.
To see all the support available for hosting sustainable events in Tokyo, please click here.