Pennsylvania Convention Center Releases 2025 Sustainability Report
The report celebrates a year of sustainable growth at the Center, highlighting the facility’s latest certifications and expanded sustainability and social responsibility programming.
PHILADELPHIA – In celebration of Earth Day, the Pennsylvania Convention Center has released its 2025 Sustainability and Impact Report. This year’s theme aligns with the Center’s “We Are 10s” culture of service excellence, and the report highlights major sustainability projects and social responsibility initiatives from the 2025 calendar year.
Some of the Center’s key achievements in 2025 include completing phase one of its digital signage project; achieving LEED®, Events Industry Council (EIC) Sustainable Event Standards, and Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) recertifications and reaccreditations; being the first United States convention center to obtain a Sage Certification for Accessibility; and receiving recognition as a Civic 50 Honoree for efforts as one of Greater Philadelphia’s 50 most community-minded companies.
“The Pennsylvania Convention Center is committed to our community and environment, which is why we prioritize publicly reporting on sustainability goals, visions, and initiatives annually,” said David A. Nasatir, Esq., Chair of the Board, Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority. “As we review another year of the Center’s activities related to sustainability and social responsibility, we are proud of the industry leading work we continue to do.”
During the year, the Center hosted 14 sustainable events, five of which had a 100% waste diversion rate, affirming the Center’s ability to expertly host green events. In total, throughout 2025, the Center achieved a 45% waste diversion rate and reduction of electric and water use by 15% and 17%, respectively. In August, the center’s leadership hosted its annual Operations Training focused on policies, procedures, and best practices for sustainability to ensure all staff and vendor partners remain aligned on environmental impact goals.
“As significant as our progress has been in the past year, this work is always ongoing,” said John J. McNichol, President and CEO of the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority. “In collaboration with our Legends Global team, labor partners, and key vendors, we remain committed to the promise of service excellence while continuously improving sustainability at our venue.”
Impact initiatives in 2025 included partnering with charities, nonprofits, and educational organizations to host or participate in 11 events donating more than 1,400 items back to the community. Team and community engagement blossomed through many investments in local students including educational programming, school tours and master classes, scholarship contributions, and volunteerism. The Center also began renovations to create a new Sensory Room aimed at providing a dedicated space for neurodivergent customers and staff.
“We are prioritizing a reduction to the environmental impact of our operations and services and doing so through use of equipment, technology, and products that are designed to provide healthy, clean, and efficient facility operations,” said Tony Hodgins, Regional General Manager, Legends Global. “Thank you to all the staff and partners who join us in this daily commitment. Together, we are truly making a difference in our region and our industry.”
The report closes with a summary of the Center’s goals for 2026, emphasizing sustainability and social responsibility as a core part of its operations as it works to develop an herb garden, activate a new assisted listening system, support headhouse lighting retrofits, complete phase two of the digital signage project, and more.
For more information on the Pennsylvania Convention Center’s sustainability initiatives and to read the full report, visit paconvention.com.
About the Pennsylvania Convention Center
The Pennsylvania Convention Center is located in Center City Philadelphia at the heart of the city's many cultural offerings and world-class dining and entertainment scene. Managed by Legends Global, the Center is the 14th largest facility in the nation and features one of the largest exhibit spaces and ballrooms in the Northeastern U.S. The meetings, conventions, trade shows, and other events hosted by the Center attract attendees from across the country and around the world to Philadelphia, making the facility the largest economic driver of the region’s hospitality industry. For more information, visit www.paconvention.com.
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