Sustainability

The MCH Group’s business activity and company structure have a high economic, ecological and social sustainability value. Its business activity contributes to the business success of numerous companies. It unites significant economic and environmental benefits, since it replaces a large number of individual activities and journeys. It generates major economic impacts from which numerous industries benefit. The public sector’s participation in the holding company and its representation on the Board of Directors safeguards the interests of the Basel and Zurich locations. At the same time, the shareholders and their representatives on the Board of Directors ensure the that the company has a private-sector and success-oriented focus too.

The MCH Group thus endeavours to promote sustainable behaviour at all levels and to constantly improve its economic, ecological and social sustainability indicators. Its corporate strategy and the further development of the products and services it offers are geared to securing the company’s long-term success. It continually invests in ecologically optimising its buildings and systems and the way in which it organises and stages events. It supports its employees in conducting themselves in a legally and ethically correct and responsible manner.

The MCH Group’s value chain divides up into three areas which are mutually conducive but can also function independently of each other. It organises and runs physical and digital community platforms for different ecosystems. It operates its own infrastructure in Basel and Zurich and, at these locations, supervises its own physical events together with numerous third-party events (third-party exhibitions, congresses and other events). It supports a wide range of clients worldwide in the entire experience marketing field, with holistic solutions extending from strategy to creation and right through to implementation.

In 2019, the MCH Group launched a far-reaching transformation process to align itself to future demands in strategic and operational terms, as well as at a structural and organisational level. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, the group has, in the 2020 financial year, created a strong basis for its further transformation and the start of a successful future.

A number of studies show that exhibition companies produce indirect returns that are eight to ten times greater than their own turnover. Only 20 to 25 % of the expenditure incurred by an exhibiting company when it participates in an exhibition goes to the exhibition organisers. Some 75 to 80 % of expenditure goes to different suppliers and service providers.

There are also other effects that cannot be expressed in figures – in particular, the positive impact of successful marketing platforms for the industries and companies involved. At the locations at which live events are staged, these events frequently have a "lighthouse effect" for tourism through their reach and appeal, which are transmitted to the city or country in question.

In the 2020 financial year, the MCH Group secured the continued existence of the company through the successfully conducted capital increases. The group also made intensive progress on key strategic initiatives and acquired a new anchor shareholder in Lupa Systems, which has taken on a long-term commitment, fully supports the corporate strategy and will actively help shape its implementation with a great deal of fresh impetus. And, through its new appointments to the Board of Directors, Lupa Systems is further boosting our industry knowledge, international experience and networking, together with our innovative strength and management competence.

The reporting on ecological sustainability is centred on the MCH’s own two exhibition sites in Basel and Zurich which, as “production locations”, are of major relevance for the environment. The exhibition and event constructions made by LMS Switzerland (Expomobilia) are a further point of focus.

Almost 90 % of the overall energy requirements of the Basel and Zurich exhibition sites are met by renewable energies. All the electricity consumed comes from renewable sources. Photovoltaic systems on the roofs of Messe Basel and Messe Zurich and also at the Expomobilia location in Effretikon produce solar electricity for some 400 single-family homes with four-person households. Hall 1 South at Messe Basel has been awarded the BS-054 Minergie Label.

A long life, multiple use, environmentally-friendly and energy-efficient production, recyclable or biodegradable materials: great importance is also attached to sustainability in stand construction and at partner companies – as well as in the area of logistics.

The MCH Group subscribes to the fundamental values of a democratic state governed by the rule-of-law and a free market economy. The MCH Group regards compliance with the statutory provisions and the application of serious business practices as a matter of course. It assumes its responsibility to society and all its stakeholders.

In 2018, the MCH Group introduced a Code of Conduct which supports employees in adopting a legally and ethically correct and responsible form of behaviour. It sets out guidelines in respect of the local setting, bribery and unfair advantages, gifts and invitations, conflicts of interest, the award of contracts, competition and anti-trust law, inside information and insider trading, data protection and behaviour towards coworkers. It also describes the procedure to be adopted in the event of alleged or actual infringements.

An anti-corruption agreement has been part of the General Terms of Employment of the MCH Group since 1992 and this is signed by all employees as part of their contract of employment. The provisions governing the admission of exhibiting companies provide protection against the risk of passive corruption. These are based on clear-cut criteria that are set out in the Exhibition Regulations.

The MCH Group’s brands constitute a significant enterprise value. Brand protection provides legal security and is a clear indication that the intellectual property rights of the corresponding brand belong to the MCH Group and are also protected by the group. At present, some 250 word and picture brands are registered for the MCH Group at the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IGE) in Bern.

In 2018, Art Basel launched the "Art Basel Art Market Principles and Best Practices" that set out Art Basel’s expectations of its exhibitors in respect of their responsibility towards artists, suppliers of works of art, buyers and their industry. At the same time, a procedure was defined for potentially criminal acts. With these additions to the Exhibitor Regulations, Art Basel is making a contribution towards strengthening the international art market that is based on trust and provides protection and support for the artists.