Co-funded by the European Union, the fuTOURiSME programme aims to enhance innovation, sustainability and digital transformation for small and medium-sized tourism enterprises (SMEs) in Europe.
Through the implementation of the MICE-VISION project, AFEA Congress is upgrading congress and event management services by integrating sustainable and digital tools. The project focuses on embedding sustainability into operational processes and event workflows, utilising digital solutions to enhance transparency, efficiency and environmental footprint measurement. At the same time, the project supports the alignment of AFEA Congress with the international GSTC-MICE standard, accelerating its progress towards becoming a certified sustainable PCO, verified through a rigorous audit by an independent accredited body.
Within this framework, AFEA Congress conducted a detailed environmental footprint assessment of the 34th Panhellenic Pulmonology Congress, held in December 2025 at the Divani Caravel Hotel in Athens, with support from GREEN EVOLUTION S.A., a specialised carbon accounting consultancy. The assessment quantified the environmental impact of over 1,000 participants and twenty-two exhibition booths:
- Total carbon footprint: 319.44 t CO₂eq
- Average footprint per participant: 289 kg CO₂eq
- Average water consumption per participant: 1,139 litres
- Average waste production per participant: 8.2 kg
The analysis identified the main sources of environmental impact, with participant travel, accommodation and exhibition structures contributing the largest share. These findings provide a baseline for targeted reduction actions in future congresses.
Stelios Loukides, President of the Hellenic Thoracic Society, Professor of Respiratory Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, said: ‘The Hellenic Thoracic Society is deeply committed to environmental protection. In 2026, we are focusing on the prevention of chronic respiratory diseases through various interventions, many of which concern the environment. Scientific congresses are not merely venues for exchanging scientific views; as we have demonstrated in recent years, they are also platforms for raising awareness on broader social issues. Quantifying the environmental impact of our congresses through carbon footprint provides us with the opportunity to implement targeted actions and reduce this impact for our next Panhellenic Pulmonology Congress.’
This initiative marks a substantial step towards the implementation of measurable and documented sustainability within the Greek scientific congress sector, moving the conversation from theory to practice. In line with this philosophy, AFEA Congress invests in practices that not only enhance its own services but also contribute more broadly to the transition of the Greek congress market towards a more sustainable, responsible and competitive congress ecosystem, aligned with European priorities for the green and digital transition.
As Dimitra Lignou, Vice President and CEO of AFEA Congress, points out, the company’s participation in the fuTOURiSME programme and the implementation of the MICE-VISION project ‘further strengthen our strategic commitment to sustainability and innovation. By measuring the environmental footprint of large-scale congresses and adopting international standards for sustainable organiser and event certification, we are consistently working towards a more responsible and competitive congress ecosystem in Greece.’
