Sustainability
Sustainability at the EAN Congress 2026, Geneva
As a leading neurology association, we are not only advancing the frontiers of knowledge but also reimagining how we come together to share it—more sustainably and responsibly.
Environmental challenges call for meaningful action. That’s why we are committed to minimizing our ecological impact by rethinking how we use resources. Through conscious efforts to reduce waste, reuse materials, and recycle wherever possible, we aim to lead by example and inspire lasting change - within our field and beyond.
With Palexpo in Geneva, we have a partner who shares our commitment to sustainability. The congress venue actively pursues environmental goals and has been awarded several certifications, including ISO 20121 for sustainable event management.
You can read more about Palexpo’s sustainability initiatives here.
Join the cause!
Help contributing to our sustainability efforts!
As organisers committed to sustainability, we invite you to join us in fostering environmentally friendly practices throughout our event.
- Embrace Digital Solutions: Access congress materials, including programmes, schedules, and abstracts, through our digital platforms, to minimize paper waste and promote a paperless experience.
- Bring Your Own Reusables: Bring your reusable water bottle as Geneva has great drinkable tab water and use your own headphones for the ePresentations.
- Mindful Transportation: If possible, come by train to the congress destination and opt for eco-friendly transport options such as public transport or walking to the congress venue.
- Choose Eco-Friendly Accommodations: Select accommodations that prioritise sustainability practices, such as energy-efficient lighting, recycling programmes, and water-saving measures.
- Mindful food consumption: Practice mindful consumption during meals and breaks by taking only what you need leads to avoid food waste.
Why No Meat? By offering only vegan and vegetarian food, we’re reducing our environmental impact. A meal with meat generates 3,5 kg CO2 per participant, while a plant-based option only produces 0,8 kg CO2 per participant. Together, we can lower our carbon footprint. Thank you for understanding! - Educate and Advocate: Share your commitment to sustainability with fellow participants and encourage them to spark conversations. Furthermore, the knowledge you have gained through the congress can be shared with other people in your environment.
- Provide Feedback: Help us improve our sustainability efforts! Your input is valuable in shaping our environmental initiatives and advancing our sustainability goals.
Congress Materials
Only a short overview of the actions EAN does, is given in the lines below. If you are interested to know more about sustainability actions of EAN click here.
- Care is taken to ensure that the congress items are produced sustainably and that they are made of sustainable materials.
- Congress Material like Giveaways, Congress Bags, Badges, etc. are no longer produced in excess, but the participants are asked about their demand (our Congress Bag producer is Wörkerei, an employment project of Caritas Wien, which supports people in their progressive entry into working life)
- Green print - The print materials of this congress have been printed on paper that is PEFC approved. PEFC is an organisation that certifies paper manufacturers who keep to sustainable forest management criteria.
- We would like to reuse as many fabrics and carpets as possible. Attention: as long as it makes sense - you always have to question if storage and logistics (i.e. transports) to other countries are really more sustainable than maybe recycling it differently!
- For our booths we use reusable materials like cardboard our partner Papplab is local and innovative
- We reduce the use of plastic or material in general, therefore we ask the participants to bring their own water bottles that can be refilled at our installed drinking fountains or dispense on printed material.
- Reducing print - The printed programme has been replaced with the Pocket Programme available for all onsite congress participants.
- Congress Bags on demand - To reduce unnecessary waste, EAN asks Individual Congress participants and Registration Group Leaders if they want to receive the congress bag(s). This year's congress bags are produced in Vienna by Wörkerei, reusing textiles from our last congress.