Planet Positive Event is hosting the region’s first living event laboratory in Ljubljana

On 21 January 2026, Planet Positive Event will host SWITCH, the first event in the region and among a handful in Europe that not only discusses sustainability but also demonstrates it through every aspect of the event experience. The event will take place at Center Rog in Ljubljana, Slovenia. SWITCH will bring together event clients, organisers, destinations, suppliers, young talents, innovators and experts with a single mission: to reshape event organisation toward regenerative, circular, and measurable impact.

SWITCH is more than a conference, workshop or a networking event. It is a living event laboratory, where every element serves as a best-practice case, evidence and inspiration for designing events that are more responsible, more efficient and more profitable.

The events industry is at a turning point, marked by rising costs, growing ESG expectations and increasing participant demand for responsibility and transparency. Organisers face five pressing challenges:

– Costs are rising, and budgets are not, demanding smarter, more efficient solutions.
– ESG reporting is becoming mandatory, yet clear, measurable reduction solutions are scarce.
– Generations Y and Z expect ethical, transparent and meaningful events.
– Organisers often do not know where to start due to information overload and complex standards.
– Sustainability has become a buzzword with little proof, limited measurement and even fewer verifiable results.

SWITCH responds to these challenges with a programme built on radical transparency, measurable outcomes and hands-on demonstrations. SWITCH will also welcome speakers who bring practical, actionable knowledge to help participants apply sustainable principles in real life. Among them is Roger Lehner, Senior Operations & Sustainability Executive at IMEX Group, one of the leading global voices in sustainable event practice. Roger is known for pioneering measurable, high-impact sustainability across two of the world’s most influential trade shows and contributes to industry-wide progress through roles in the EIC Sustainability & Social Impact Committee, the AEO Sustainability Working Group and the Better Stands initiative.

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Photo: Planet Positive Even

Unique event elements that set SWITCH apart:

Sustainability Lab

The Sustainability Lab will turn sustainability into something tangible. Real-time carbon data, waste maps, material passports, food emissions, packaging comparisons, and AI tools will show exactly how every choice affects impact. The participants won’t take our word for it, but see the proof for themselves.

Planet Positive Event Market

The PPE market will act as a pop-up showroom of circular materials, reusable equipment, sustainable catering, local products, innovations, and start-ups. The aim is to educate, connect, and discover suppliers who already meet Planet Positive standards.

Planet Positive Event Score

Each attendee will receive a small personal sustainability score based on their choices and actions during the event. Their mode of transport to reach the event venue, food preferences, sustainability pledges, completion of interactive tasks and workshop engagement are all included in the calculation. The goal is to introduce a simple “Personal Sustainability KPI” that allows everyone to understand their individual impact.

Youth & Future voices

A dedicated space will be reserved for young voices who will speak frankly about the industry’s pain points, how they imagine the future, why old models no longer work and what organisers can change right now. This space aims to challenge the status quo and inspire organisers to rethink what it means to be truly future-ready.

48-hour implementation commitment

Every participant will develop their own Green Action Plan, make a sustainability pledge and identify one concrete action they will implement within 48 hours after the event. This element will ensure that SWITCH becomes a catalyst for real, measurable change rather than a one-off experience.

Impact Data Wall

The Impact Data Wall will present a real-time overview of SWITCH’s sustainability results. It will display live carbon footprint data, visualise the waste flow, compare participant choices before and after, and show engagement levels, challenge green actions and pledge outcomes. Its purpose is to make sustainability visible, engaging and motivating for everyone involved.

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Photo: Planet Positive Event

SWITCH sets a new benchmark for how events can be conceived and delivered, proving that sustainability can drive creativity, efficiency and business value. By turning principles into practice and engaging participants directly in the process, the event showcases a model where responsible design leads to smarter decisions and stronger outcomes. Planet Positive Event aims to make SWITCH a blueprint and benchmark for the industry, setting the direction for all future events to follow.

The preliminary programme and early fee tickets are available here.