Sustainability & diversity initiatives

Working together to #LeadTheChange

At Sibos we’re committed to protecting the environment, caring for the community and promoting diversity, equity and inclusion.

We recognise these issues are also fundamental to the business strategies of Sibos participants and exhibitors. Working closely and collaborating with the Sibos community, our long-term aim is to be one of the most sustainable global events, and lead much-needed change across the industry.

Swift adheres to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), taking the next ambitious step towards a low-carbon future. As part of this worldwide climate action initiative, we’ve set ambitious, science-based emissions reduction targets in line with a 1.5 ºC future.

The carbon footprint of Sibos 2023 Toronto was measured and will be used as our baseline target footprint for future North American Sibos events to ensure we’re always improving. See more details on our results here.

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The Sibos Sustainability Pledge

At Sibos, we aspire to lead meaningful change across the industry. As part of this commitment, in 2023 we launched the Sibos Sustainability Pledge. Exhibitors and attendees pledged their support by agreeing to at least five specific actions to help make a change, ranging from opting for meat-free lunches, to supporting our charity partner, and engaging in sessions addressing workplace diversity, to name a few.


Protecting our environment

Our priority is to reduce CO2 emissions generated from Sibos by working with all stakeholders to lessen the impact of travel and transportation, reduce waste and optimise the use of resources.

THE NATURE CONSERVATION PROJECT

Promoting biodiversity and climate resilience

For many years, Sibos has contributed to nature conservation projects as part of our sustainability efforts.
For 2024, we will be providing support to WWF’s Living Yangtze initiative in China, which works to restore habitats for biodiversity, strengthen their adaption to climate change and fight pollution. The Yangtze is the world’s third longest river and provides water, food and livelihoods for hundreds of millions of people in China. It is also home to incredible biodiversity from giant pandas and snow leopards to over 400 species of fish and the world’s only freshwater porpoise.

REDUCE WASTE AND PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE SOURCING

Reduce, reuse, recycle

Sibos

Sustainability is always at the heart of the design and production of all Sibos and Swift exhibition features. We continuously look to limit the volume of materials used, source items locally to prevent unnecessary transportation, and choose options that can be rented, reused or repurposed.


Exhibitors

We provide sustainability guidelines to all our exhibitors to help them create and manage sustainable stands and ask them to think carefully about any giveaways they provide. We encourage exhibitors to repurpose and recycle any unavoidable waste.

Participants

Our participants also have a vital role to play. We encourage participants to bring a reusable water bottle and use the correct bins for their waste. To help reduce paper waste participants can visit our digital Newscorner for electronic copies of newspapers and magazines and use the QR code on their participant badges to exchange contact details on site.

sustainable food choices

Buying local, catering for all tastes

Our sustainability commitment extends to our catering choices. During the event, we offer a diverse and sustainable menu that celebrates local flavours and seasonal ingredients. By prioritising local and sustainable choices, we aim to nourish both our participants and the planet.

Caring for the community

Sibos is attended by thousands of participants from around the world and it’s important we create a positive impact in our host cities.

Giving something back

Sibos is attended by thousands of participants from around the world and it’s important we create a positive impact in our host cities. Each year we select a local charity partner, in 2023 we supported SickKids Foundation in Toronto, and in 2022 Samen Lachen was our chosen charity in Amsterdam.

Promoting diversity, equity and inclusion

STAR scholarship

Enabling talent to shine

The STAR scholarship fosters the development of women in finance, providing them with opportunities to expand their networks and expertise. Leading banks from around the world are invited to nominate a high potential, ambitious employee to participate.

Diversity on show

Showcasing the Sibos community

Sibos supports the Inclusive Panels Charter and our conference programme is carefully curated to ensure it features speakers from a broad range of regions, cultures and backgrounds, reflecting the inclusivity and diversity of the Sibos community, and championing the importance of these issues in our sessions.

ACCESSIBILITY

An inclusive event

When we select our venues for Sibos we carefully assess their level of accessibility, for example step-free access to the venue, wheelchair accessible bathrooms and the ability to bring guide dogs into the venue. In addition, our digital pass means anyone could join conference sessions and access our networking tools from their home or office, anywhere in the world.

Metro Toronto Convention Centre

The Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC), a certified Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold building, hosted our in-person event for Sibos 2023. The MTCC place sustainability and corporate responsibility at the heart of its operations strategy, developing an approach for events that minimises the impact on the environment and aligns with the long-term strategy of Sibos.

Some of its initiatives include:

  • Diverting 90% of waste from landfill through recycling, repurposing, food bank donations and composting
  • A seven-acre green roof with a public park, culinary garden, and six honey bee hives
  • Clean, renewable power, LED lighting and energy conservation guidelines for all departments to follow
  • Sustainable deep water cooling extracted from Lake Ontario for its South building
  • Conserving water through low flow, high efficiency A/C units

Discover some of the other initiatives being driven by MTCC that made it the ideal environment for Sibos 2023 including food donation programmes and sustainable meeting solutions.