PCMA Convening Leaders 2026 earned Platinum Level Certification to EIC’s Sustainable Event Standards for the second consecutive year, reinforcing PCMA’s commitment to embedding sustainability across every stage of the event lifecycle.
Held in Philadelphia, Convening Leaders 2026 welcomed more than 4,200 participants from 43 countries, including more than 1,100 first-time attendees.
“Earning Platinum Level Certification for the second consecutive year is not simply a milestone—it is a marker of where we are headed and how we intend to get there,” said Sherrif Karamat, President and CEO of PCMA. “Sustainability is woven into the architecture of Convening Leaders, not layered on top of it.”
A Deliberate Progression
PCMA’s sustainability journey has evolved over several years.
Convening Leaders 2024 in San Diego earned Silver certification and established a baseline framework. The event eliminated polyfoam signage, removed aisle carpeting, composted or recycled food and beverage service ware, and reduced vinyl banner printing by nearly 4,000 square feet.
Convening Leaders 2025 in Houston advanced directly from Silver to Platinum by incorporating sustainability criteria into planning from the outset.
By 2026, those criteria had become part of how PCMA evaluated destinations, venues and partners, including carbon-reduction infrastructure, public transportation access and sustainable local supply chains.
Sustainability at Scale
The size and global reach of Convening Leaders created both challenges and opportunities.
PCMA calculated the full participant travel footprint and facilitated post-event carbon offsets linked to registration data. Sustainability expectations were also extended to vendors and exhibitors through supplier criteria, reusable booth guidance and pack-in and pack-out requirements.
The Pennsylvania Convention Center provided a strong foundation through its LEED and EIC certifications, existing donation infrastructure and community partnerships. Philadelphia’s walkable hotel cluster, with all but one hotel within four blocks of the venue, also reduced ground transportation needs.
Practical Action Onsite
Key operational practices included:
- Compostable sugarcane serviceware and corn-based cutlery
- A food rescue programme for surplus meals
- Plant-forward menu choices and portion-mindfulness messaging
- Clearly labelled recycling stations
- Elimination of foam core signage
- Greater use of digital signage, schedules and maps
- Water refill stations and removal of single-use plastic bottles
- Donation of exhibit furniture, household goods and activation materials
Honeycomb Strategies supported sustainability planning and carbon measurement, while TerraCycle, SourceOne Events, the Bonneville Environmental Foundation and the Alliance for Audited Media contributed to waste diversion, exhibit practices, environmental action and independent auditing.
Accessibility, Inclusion and Community Impact
PCMA also expanded the social dimensions of sustainability.
A dedicated accessibility guide included complimentary mobility device lending, an Accessibility Help Desk, low-height registration counters, accessible seating, lighted directional signage and a Quiet Zone for sensory decompression.
The only event shuttle was reserved for accessibility needs, reducing emissions while improving mobility support. Menu signage also addressed a wide range of dietary requirements as a standard part of event design.
Community programmes delivered measurable local impact:
- More than 140 volunteers supported Pathways to Housing PA, alongside a $10,000 PCMA Foundation contribution
- More than 100 volunteers assembled 350 care packages for the American Cancer Society
- More than 60 volunteers prepared 350 care packages for Cradles to Crayons
- An onsite blood drive collected 34 units, exceeding its goal and potentially helping 102 patients
Event materials were also redirected to local organisations rather than discarded.
Building for the Future
PCMA views Convening Leaders 2026 as a foundation for continued progress, not a conclusion.
The data, vendor relationships and documented practices developed across three years will now carry forward to Miami in 2027, Las Vegas in 2028 and New Orleans in 2029.
The result is a growing organisational capability that allows PCMA to move beyond asking how to make Convening Leaders sustainable and focus instead on how to improve further.
