Region watch: US & EMEA
Who’s leading on event sustainability in 2025?
As more organisations commit to responsible event delivery, 2025 has become a landmark year for measured progress. At event:decision, our data tools – including Track and Impact Reviews, provide a uniquely detailed view of how event sustainability is evolving across industry sectors, event types, and geographies.
This time, we’re zooming in on the regional picture. Specifically: how do events in the US compare to those in EMEA?
The answer isn’t just a matter of who scores higher. It’s about what’s driving performance, what cultural and structural factors are influencing results and what both sides can learn from each other.
EMEA leads the way, for now
In 2025, EMEA emerged as the highest-performing region overall, driven by stronger results in Environmental and Governance pillars.
Why EMEA events stood out:
- Stronger supply chain transparency, particularly in the UK, Netherlands, and Nordics.
- More established ESG reporting culture, with sustainability metrics often mandated internally at client-board-level.
- Higher event planner awareness, especially among agencies serving European or global clients.
EMEA events scored significantly above average in Governance – with consistent use of certified suppliers, carbon goal setting, and more detailed post-event reporting.
US: Strong intent, but gaps in execution
US-based events demonstrated real commitment to sustainability in 2025 but scores were more variable, particularly in the Social and Governance dimensions.
Key challenges for US events:
- Lower consistency in carbon tracking, especially for travel.
- Less structured supplier vetting, often driven by speed and budget.
- Underuse of measurement tools, leading to lower benchmarking confidence.
That said, there are bright spots. Some corporate event teams in the US are piloting portfolio-wide ESG frameworks, a sign that momentum is building.
We see US-corporates pushing their agencies hard for benchmarks and pathways, especially in CDP &/or Ecovadis products.
The biggest hurdle? A lack of enforced standards. Where EMEA planners often face regulatory or procurement-driven requirements, US teams rely more on voluntary adoption, making measurement and improvement patchier.
Regional takeaways: What we’re seeing
| Factor | EMEA | US |
| Average ESG Score | Higher | Lower (more varied) |
| Governance | Strong – compliance driven | Inconsistent – depends on team maturity |
| Environmental | Strong in travel, waste, sourcing | Variable – hybrid models help, but gaps in tracking remain |
| Social | Improving, esp. around wellbeing & access | Patchy – DEI efforts exist but aren’t always measured |
What EMEA can learn from the US: Greater innovation, especially in hybrid and tech-led formats.
What the US can learn from EMEA: Standardise measurement and make ESG mandatory.
What’s next: Closing the gap
Sustainability isn’t a static factor. What we’re seeing now is a regional maturity curve and with the right tools, both EMEA and US-based planners can keep advancing. The difference? EMEA is starting to treat ESG as a business necessity. The US is still treating it like an opportunity, risking inconsistent delivery.
That’s where event:decision comes in.
- Track your event performance, not just in carbon but in social value and governance process
- Benchmark against regional peers, but also in client-sectors and event-types
- Act with confidence, not guesswork.
- All for less than the price of a single hotel room.
