How can meetings, conferences or congresses be planned in the most environmentally friendly way possible? In Berlin, there are plenty of ways to make events more sustainable. From choosing the right venue to catering and travel: these five tips will help you deliver a successful Green Meeting.
Whether you’re looking for a classic convention centre, a hotel with meeting rooms or a historic industrial venue – Berlin offers a wide range of sustainable venues. Many are centrally located or easily accessible by bus and train.
Plan your event so that all key locations – such as accommodation, meeting venue and evening entertainment – are within walking distance or reachable by public transport. Thanks to Berlin’s high density of event venues, this is easily achievable in many districts – even for multi-venue events.
💡 Tip: Recommend hotels close to your venue and highlight convenient public transport connections.
Say goodbye to paper: send invitations and event information digitally – for example, via an event app. This not only allows you to manage invitations and share the agenda online, but also keeps participants up to date with last-minute changes or news.
It’s an eco-friendly approach that also demonstrates your organisation’s digital credentials.
Travel to and from the event generates the largest share of CO₂ emissions. That’s why it’s especially important to promote sustainable alternatives:
💡 Extra tip for your incentive: City tours by e-bike or Segway combine sightseeing with sustainable mobility.
Locally sourced ingredients, seasonal menus and reusable or compostable tableware are now standard for responsible events. Berlin is home to a wide range of caterers specialising in sustainable cuisine – from organic food to zero-waste concepts.
A great example: plates made from palm leaves or elegant glass straws – not only plastic-free but also reusable.
Not every emission can be avoided. But with the right professional partners, you can offset your event’s environmental impact in a climate-friendly way.
The guiding principle: avoid – reduce – offset. Contact a climate protection organisation or choose service providers that are certified for their sustainable practices – like many of visitBerlin’s partners. Start with your choice of event partners. Many Berlin-based venues and suppliers work to recognised environmental standards and have their sustainability efforts regularly certified. These certifications offer added reassurance when planning your event.
These sustainability certifications build trust:
Green Key
The international eco-label for sustainable hotels, conference centres and event venues. Green Key certification is awarded to venues that meet strict criteria on energy efficiency, waste reduction and sustainable management.
ISO 20121
The international standard for sustainable event management. It focuses on the entire planning and delivery process – considering environmental, social and economic impacts.
EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme)
An EU-certified environmental management system known for its transparency: certified organisations must regularly report and improve their environmental performance.
Sustainable Meetings Berlin
Many Berlin venues, hotels and service providers are part of the Sustainable Meetings Berlin network. This programme evaluates the sustainability of Berlin’s MICE industry players based on clearly defined criteria aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
💡 Tip: Look out for relevant seals and certifications when selecting your partners. They not only provide guidance but also enhance the credibility of your event among participants and sponsors.
Whether it's choosing the venue, organising travel or arranging catering – sustainable event planning starts with conscious decisions. Berlin offers the ideal conditions: short distances, green mobility, climate-friendly service providers and certified partners. Take advantage of this diversity to make your event future-ready – for your participants and for the planet.
💡 Our conclusion: Planning sustainably in Berlin means benefiting not only from the city’s green image, but also from a strong network of experienced partners. That’s how your event becomes a success – with responsibility.