Social Responsibility

At ESGE Days, social responsibility is about more than delivering a scientific congress. We are committed to reducing the environmental impact of our event while creating meaningful and lasting benefits for the communities that welcome us. Through our Social Responsibility programme, we bring together two connected initiatives: Greener Days and the ESGE Legacy Project.

Greener Days: Our steps towards a more sustainable event

Green Governance

The ESGE Green Endoscopy Working Group plays a key role in defining, coordinating, and monitoring all ESGE sustainability initiatives, and are particularly involved in the planning of our annual meeting. The group provides guidance to endoscopy units, industry partners, and policymakers, develops educational activities, and fosters international research collaborations to advance sustainable endoscopy practices. They also empower endoscopists to advocate for climate-conscious care, and ensure 'green' research is supported through grants

One of the Working Group's current projects is a collaboration with our member society SFED (French Society for Digestive Endoscopy) which will see infographics promoting sustainability in endoscopy emailed to our members monthly. Explore the infographics here.

To browse all of the publications from the group please explore their page on esge.com here.

Green Programme

Environmental responsibility is integrated into scientific sessions and live demonstrations, helping to promote sustainable healthcare practices

Transport

We encourage delegates to choose lower-carbon travel options (train travel, public transport, and carpooling) whenever possible and reward environmentally conscious travel through initiatives such as our Green Pin programme.

Carbon Footprint Tracking

For 2026, under the advisory of the ESGE Green Endoscopy Working Group, we collected anonymous travel and operational data to help assess the event's carbon footprint.

As delegate travel typically represents the largest contributor to emissions associated with international congresses, this data provided valuable insight into the environmental impact of our meeting. Additional information was gathered from venue, accommodation, waste management, technical, and logistics partners to support a more comprehensive assessment.

Working alongside MyClimate, ESGE did a comprehensive carbon footprint analysis for ESGE Days, helping establish a baseline from which future improvements can be measured.

As part of this ongoing effort, ESGE also supports projects that contribute to positive environmental outcomes in our host cities through collaborations such as our partnership with Forestami in Milan.

Sustainable Event Operations

Our approach to sustainable event delivery includes:

Responsible Procurement and supplier selection:
Vegetarian catering and food waste reduction initiatives since 2023,
Hybrid event with most scientific sessions available online, alongside our mobile app, e-posters, and online abstractsReducing unnecessary materials and promotional giveaways
Reusable and lower-impact event infrastructure, such as using digital signage, reusable furniture.
Waste reduction, recycling, and water bottle refill stations
Accessibility and inclusion initiatives, including childcare services

Community & Legacy Projects

In 2026, ESGE collaborated with SIED and local partners to deliver health education, community engagement, and colorectal cancer awareness initiatives across Milan as part of the ESGE Legacy Project. The programme also included the second ESGE Days Fun Run & Walk, building on the success of the inaugural event in Barcelona. Details for our 2027 Legacy Project will be released soon!

Highlights From Previous Years

ESGE Days 2026 in Milan

Forestami Partnership: As part of ESGE Days 2026, ESGE partnered with Forestami, an initiative aiming to plant three million trees across the Metropolitan City of Milan. Through this collaboration, ESGE supported local climate action and urban greening efforts, contributing to a positive environmental legacy in the host city.

Scroll down to learn more about our sustainability efforts in 2026.
ESGE Days 2025 in Barcelona

Expanded sustainability measures across event operations, including vegetarian catering, digital signage, waste reduction initiatives, reduced giveaways, sustainable travel incentives, and a hybrid participation model.

Scroll down to learn more about our sustainability efforts in 2026.
ESGE Days 2024 in Berlin

ESGE Days achieved the Sustainable Meetings Supporter status awarded by visitBerlin.
10% of delegates contributed to myclimate climate protection projects, with ESGE matching all donations.
ESGE Day 2023 in Dublin

Green endoscopy pathways were integrated into the scientific programme at ESGE Days.
In collaboration with Grown Forest, 600 indigenous trees were planted in Ireland to offset 12 tonnes of CO₂ generated by ESGE Days 2023.
ESGE Days 2022 in Prague

ESGE and ESGENA published the position statement Reducing the Environmental Footprint of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, providing guidance for healthcare professionals.
Launch of the ESGE Green Endoscopy Working Group.

ESGE's Legacy Project

Click the image to explore the presentation

Our steps towards a more sustainable event

ESGE Days 2026 Milan
ESGE Days 2025 Barcelona

ESGE Days 2026 Milan

Building on the success of Barcelona, ESGE partnered with SIED, regional authorities, and local organisations to promote colorectal cancer prevention and healthy lifestyle awareness through educational programmes, public engagement activities, and innovative learning experiences.

Project Details:

School outreach activities – Engaged approximately 300 secondary school students through interactive educational sessions featuring professional athlete testimonials, discussions on healthy lifestyles, and nutritional education activities involving culinary students and a food blogger.
Public awareness events – Delivered public-facing awareness activities focused on colorectal cancer prevention, screening, nutrition, and healthy lifestyles, with contributions from healthcare experts, screening organisations, patient representatives, and public institutions.
Professional and institutional partnerships – Developed in collaboration with SIED, the Lombardy Region, local authorities, CONI Lombardia, Fondazione Bambini nel Cuore, Osservatorio Metropolitano di Milano, and other healthcare and community stakeholders to strengthen public engagement and prevention efforts.
Augmented reality prevention experience – Introduced an immersive augmented reality journey allowing participants to explore the human colon, and learn about colon cancer.
Programme and reports – Included expert presentations, multidisciplinary discussions on colorectal cancer screening and prevention, and supporting programme materials and project reports documenting the initiative and its outcomes.

ESGE Days 2025 Barcelona

The First ESGE Legacy Project:

ESGE Days 2025 was not only about bringing together the global endoscopy community to exchange knowledge, innovate, and learn. It also marked the launch of the first ever ESGE Legacy Project, a new initiative designed to create a positive and lasting impact in the cities that host ESGE Days.

Developed in collaboration with the Barcelona Convention Bureau and the Association Against Cancer in Barcelona, the project focused on raising awareness of colorectal cancer prevention and promoting healthy lifestyle choices through community engagement and education.

The initiative brought together healthcare professionals, patient advocates, educators, local organisations, and ESGE volunteers to deliver activities across Barcelona during and beyond the congress week. Partners included representatives from the ESGE Young Endoscopists Committee, ESGENA, Dr. Henke Medical Training + Education, the Colorectal Cancer Screening Office of Catalonia, the College of Pharmacists of Barcelona, and a number of ESGE industry partners.

Project highlights included:

Supporting and promoting Catalonia's long-term colorectal cancer awareness and screening efforts.
Delivering an interactive healthy lifestyle session for local high school students.
Supporting community outreach activities at a local market and homeless centre.
Hosting the ESGE Days Fun Run & Walk to engage delegates and the public.
Showcasing scientific data and outcomes from Catalonia's colorectal cancer screening programme within the congress.

Watch the video about the project here.