Going Green Together

ESPGHAN is committed to integrating sustainable meeting practices and initiatives that go beyond slogans and result in useful achievements.

We firmly believe that we all have a part to play in preserving our future for generations to come, both locally and across the globe.
Therefore, we are organising our 2026 Annual Meeting with sustainability in mind – for our planet and environment, as well as for everyone involved with the event: from the organising team and committees, through our partner chain, all the way to the delegates we welcome.
The 2026 Meeting destination city and congress centre are also aligned with our vision of improving our environment and society’s impact.

The ESPGHAN 2026 Annual Meeting and the Sustainable Development Goals

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs, also known as the Global Goals) are 17 goals with 169 targets that all UN Member States have agreed to work towards achieving by the year 2030. They set out a vision for a world free from poverty, hunger and disease.
We at ESPGHAN want to do our part to promote the achievement of these goals in our value chain. The SDGs that we support and work towards are:

Contributions you can make as an ESPGHAN 2026 Delegate:

As individuals, as well as a community, each of us can and should contribute towards maintaining the natural ecological balance in the environment and preserving the planet and its natural systems and resources. Here is what we invite you to do as part of the ESPGHAN 2026 Meeting:
  • Use the mobile app and the virtual platform (instead of printing) to inquire about the programme details.
  • Use more sustainable ways of travelling to and around Lille.
  • Sort your waste in appropriate bins at venues, hotels, and around the city.
  • Keep waste items with you if there are no visible garbage or recycling bins at an event or during your tourism outings.
  • Opt for reusable mugs and bottles and refuse single-use plastic.
  • Do not print booking confirmations and boarding passes; instead, provide digital copies of these documents.
  • Provide an alternative to business cards – QR codes to LinkedIn or e-card.
  • Opt for a vegetarian meal option when available and possible.
  • Recycle your badges/lanyards at the end of the Meeting.
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

Supporting accessible high-quality education for our community is our top priority. Throughout the organisation of ESPGHAN, we strive to constantly improve the scientific programme, introduce more accessible Meeting alternatives and support onsite attendance, eliminate gender disparities in education, and ensure long-term education for our attendees.

Our 2026 Initiatives:

  • High-Quality Scientific Programme– Carefully crafted by an international team of experts in the field of gastrointestinal paediatrics, hepatitis and nutrition. We aim to constantly improve the session formats, introduce new relevant topics, and invite the best international experts.

  • Sessions On Demand– The recorded ESPGHAN sessions will be available to all participants for 6 months after the Meeting dates, allowing attendees to catch up on any learnings they missed during the Meeting, or re-watch important presentations and discussions.
  • Virtual Conference Alternative– Everyone can be part of the conference and watch the lectures on-demand, even if they are not able to travel to Lille in June.
  • Promoting Sustainable Development– We enquire and opt for more sustainable options from our vendors, openly communicate our efforts to do better and encourage our partners and participants to reduce their footprint too.
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Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
  • Offer participants clean tap water throughout the entire duration of the Meeting, no need to use bottled water.
  • Work with the local catering and provide healthy food with more vegetarian options, 1 lunch with no meat / a fully vegetarian meal, also proceed offering a diet corner.
  • Reduce cutlery use and ensure a zero-use policy of single-use plastic for meals.
Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable

Lille and its metropolitan area are recognised for their commitment to responsible tourism and have been awarded the “Innovative and Sustainable Destination” label — a national certification that reflects the collective efforts of the city and local partners to reduce environmental, social, and economic impacts through tourism. The destination supports a wide range of sustainable practices, from eco-certified accommodation and restaurants to events that prioritise soft mobility and inclusive access for all visitors.

As a leading international venue, Lille Grand Palais encourages the use of public transport, walking, and cycling, and supports inclusive access for all visitors. Through its sustainability guidance and collaboration with local partners, the venue contributes to reducing the environmental footprint of events while supporting the city’s broader sustainability goals.

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

We recognise the environmental impact that large-scale events like the ESPAGHAN 2026 Annual Meeting can have, so sustainable production and consumption are one of our top priorities in organising the 2026 Meeting. We are working with our suppliers to ensure maximum positive change.

Our 2026 Initiatives:
  • A mini programme will be printed instead of the full programme, and the rest of the information will be shared digitally via the Meeting App
  • Limited printed promotional materials for ESPAGHAN 2026 in favour of digital alternatives. We are using local partners and less economically damaging product alternatives
  • We encouraged all of our exhibitors to participate in this initiative by reducing single-use giveaways at their booths.
  • Delegate badge collection and recycling at the end of the event.
Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
Run with the Council
Learn more about sustainability in Lille

Sustainability in the city: https://en.lilletourism.com/getting-organized/sustainable-travel/

Sustainability at the venue: https://www.lillegrandpalais.com/en/sustainable-stay-guide/