Building a Sustainable NBAA-BACE – 2022 NBAA-BACE

NBAA’s goal is to make NBAA-BACE the most environmentally sustainable trade show in the world. Learn what NBAA’s partners, the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) and Freeman, are doing to make 2022 NBAA-BACE environmentally sustainable.

Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) Sustainability Initiatives

The OCCC has developed one of the most innovative, large-scale sustainability programs in the United States, pioneering pathways for large venues to achieve continuously improving levels of sustainability stewardship.

Energy/Carbon Reduction Efforts

• Reduced lighting and HVAC is used during all non-show hours.
• The OCCC also incorporates natural lighting into its design, so artificial lighting may be reduced.
• The OCCC boasts LEED Gold buildings helping create spaces that are 87% more energy efficient than similar buildings.
• The OCCC works in conjunction with five different solar energy programs to facilitate training, research and demonstration opportunities.

Water Conservation

• OCCC bathrooms use 15% less water than current building codes specify.
• 100% of irrigation water on OCCC’s 400 acre campus is reclaimed.
• Water bottle refilling stations are located throughout the facility to reduce the use of single-use plastic bottles.

Sustainable Food and Beverage

• Center-to-Table Gardens
  New indoor vertical gardens producing fresh, delicious vegetables and herbs from the Westwood Lobby. In partnership with Centerplate, exclusive food service partner for OCCC, OCCC is a leader in innovative urban agriculture.
• Food Donations
  OCCC assists clients who send over 25,000 pounds of food annually to local community organizations like Second Harvest of Central Florida, Christian Service Center and the Ronald McDonald House Charities.
• Composted Food Waste
  Food scraps that can’t be donated are recycled into electricity and fertilizer.

Learn more about OCCC sustainability initiatives.

Freeman Sustainability Initiatives

Freeman, the official service contractor for NBAA-BACE, has announced their commitment to net zero carbon by 2050, and by 2030 to reduce GHG emissions by 50%.

​​Freeman’s Sustainable Standards for events are built into the service offerings provided at every show. These standards ensure that events are designed with sustainability in mind — before, during, and after the show.

Freeman is the first General Services Contractor (GSC) to earn both the ISO 14001 and ISO 20121 certifications, which help to guide and measure their actions and approach to sustainability.

Freeman is certified Gold to the Event Industry Council (EIC) Sustainable Event Standards (SES) Audio Visual & Production certification.

Freeman meets Events Industry Council (EIC) Level 2 APEX/ASTM Environmentally Sustainable Meetings Standards Certification pertaining to the Evaluation and Selection of Exhibits for Environmentally Sustainable Meetings, Events, Trade Shows, and Conferences (E2742) for Supplier (General Service Contractor/Venue). The APEX/ASTM Standard recognizes companies that are helping customers execute sustainable events that not only meet but exceed event industry standards.

Learn more about the Net Zero Carbon Events initiative.

Material Donation Program

NBAA, Freeman and the OCCC are working with local Orlando charities to collect unwanted exhibit and marketing materials that could be useful to those in need.

This reuse program is a great way to support NBAA’s environmental sustainability goals – by preventing functional items from being added to landfills – and instead giving these items a second life within the local community.

Learn more about the NBAA-BACE Material Donation Program.