Sustainability will be top of mind at The PPAI Expo 2024 in Las Vegas.

Both the Association and MGM Resorts International, parent company of the Mandalay Bay Convention Center – which is hosting the longest-running and largest promotional products trade show for the 21st year – are committed to providing an eco-friendly experience for attendees.

  • For example, PPAI is minimizing single-use plastic, replacing most printed material with scannable QR codes and supporting MGM in ensuring as much as possible is recycled and diverted from landfill.

Furthermore, PPAI and MGM Resorts will be supporting several of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at The PPAI Expo 2024.

Knowledge Is Power

During The PPAI Expo Conference on January 15, there will be several education sessions covering corporate social responsibility (CSR) and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI):

  • How To Market To – Sell To – And Service People Not Like You

When working with diverse customers and prospects, you need to be able to break through barriers to connect in a meaningful way, build trust and tap into values. You need tactics that are crafted specifically for diverse groups of people and their cultural preferences. Using consumer insights and real-world examples, Kelly McDonald, speaker, author and owner of McDonald Marketing shows you how to grow your business with simple, effective and proven tactics that don’t cost a dime or take weeks to get off the ground.

  • Greenprint For Success: Lessons From Sustainable Corporate Pioneers

Sustainability-related practices aren’t just product-focused; they also involve internal processes and policies, all of which will affect your bottom line. Find out what you need to focus on and how it gets the sale. Hear how the pioneers built their roadmaps to reach sustainable sales success. Elizabeth Wimbush, PPAI’s director of corporate responsibility and sustainability, will moderate a discussion with Denise Taschereau, CEO and co-founder of Fairware and a PPAI board member, and Teresa Fudenberg, CEO of Storm Creek.

  • Growing Your Diverse Supplier Programs

There is a strong business case for building your diverse supplier programs. As consumer demand of utilizing diverse suppliers grows, so does the need for your knowledge. Jamie Crump, president of The Richwell Group, will moderate a discussion with Johanna Gottlieb, vice president of business development at Genumark; Kathy Cheng, president of Redwood Classics Apparel; and Jarid Taylor, founder of Brandigenous.

  • Starting Your (Realistic) Sustainability Journey

Companies want to be sustainable, but getting from points A to Z can be overwhelming. What steps do you take to get started and what do you look for? Wimbush will moderate a discussion with Brianna Mazze, vice president of compliance and sustainability at St Regis; Mel Hubner, director of social impact and sustainability at Brand Fuel; and Kate Nash, director of promotional sales and marketing at Raining Rose.

“With Expo being our biggest event, it’s important to us that we minimize the environmental impact we have while also providing educational content and networking opportunities that prioritize sustainability for our members,” Wimbush says. “Working with a partner like MGM is an important part of bringing the most sustainable large-scale event we can to the industry.”

PPAI’s Responsible Partner

Sustainability and responsibility are woven throughout Mandalay Bay’s operations. In fact, the company was given 5 Keys, the highest possible rating in the Green Key Eco-Rating Program, which evaluates properties based on their green processes.

In terms of food and drink, nonperishable food items from The PPAI Expo 2024 are donated to Three Square, a food bank that provides more than 24 million pounds of food to 650 program partners throughout Southern Nevada. Plus, coffee grounds from any coffee provided at Expo are diverted from the waste stream to composting.

  • Additionally, food waste is sorted to a special bin that goes to the Las Vegas Livestock Farm, which is repurposed to feed animals. In 2022, more than 600 tons of food were diverted from landfill through this program.
  • Cork from all wines is consolidated and shipped to ReCORK, where cork products such as yoga blocks and shoe inserts are made.
  • Oyster shells are reclaimed and returned to Chesapeake Bay to rebuild the oyster reefs.


By The Numbers: MGM Resorts Mega Solar Array

Thanks to the MGM Resorts Mega Solar Array, located 30 miles from the Las Vegas Strip in the Dry Lake Solar Energy Zone and covering 640 acres, all MGM properties on the Strip are powered by renewable energy during peak generation times (sunny days).

  • In terms of energy conservation, the Mandalay Bay Convention Center deactivates the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) in all unoccupied meeting rooms from 9 pm until 4:30 am and in the public foyer areas from 10 pm until 4:30 am daily.
  • All fax machines and copiers enter an energy-saving mode when not in use, and double-sided printing is the standard setting on all printers.

Mandalay Bay has also teamed up with the Teacher Superstore, a reuse resource center for all Southern Nevada public school teachers. Donations of new and reusable materials, office supplies, surplus materials, computers, foam boards, equipment and furniture are collected from community businesses and individuals and provided at no charge to teachers to support classroom instruction.

  • Following The PPAI Expo 2023, the Association donated 720 pounds of furniture, 60 pounds of plants, 300 pounds of foam boards and 45 pounds of pens.


RELATED: The PPAI Expo 2023 Commodity Report

Doing Your Part

Wimbush suggests several ways that attendees can limit their environmental impact during The PPAI Expo 2024:

  • Only take samples that you will bring home with you to limit what gets left behind or thrown out.
  • Use refillable water bottles – there are refill stations throughout the show floor.
  • Not spending much time in your hotel room? Keep your lights turned off or low and set the air conditioner to 75 degrees or higher to limit the amount of energy used.
  • If you’re attending an event off site, share a ride and try to select the green option whenever presented. “It helps positively reinforce drivers using fossil fuel-free vehicles in ride share programs,” Wimbush says.
  • When booking your flights to and from Las Vegas, consider the emissions for each option. Google allows you to prioritize the lowest emissions flights in your search criteria.


Register Now For The PPAI Expo

Register early for discounts on select hotel accommodations. For more information on The PPAI Expo 2024, visit expo.ppai.org.

To register, click here.