The 9th International Congress on Bone Conduction Hearing and Related Technologies (OSSEO), held in Vienna from 3 to 6 September 2025, achieved a major milestone: it became the first congress in its field to receive the Austrian Ecolabel for Green Meetings, thanks to the comprehensive sustainability strategy implemented by AIM Austria.
A certified green event across all dimensions
The certification required strict compliance with hundreds of criteria and involved every aspect of event management. AIM Austria introduced a wide set of measures to drastically reduce environmental impact, including:
- Use of eco-labelled venue and hotels, all within walking distance or reachable by public transport.
- Recyclable exhibition stands, no plastic giveaways, and eco-friendly congress bags designed for long-term use.
- No single-use plastics: only glass water carafes, no bottled water, and no disposable cups or plates.
- Eco-labelled catering with regional and organic food.
- Local suppliers only, with joint deliveries to reduce emissions.
- Promotion of bike-friendly mobility, with information on bike rental and dedicated parking.
- Digital signage and reusable roll-ups, avoiding any non-recyclable materials.
- No use of outdoor heaters or AC in the exhibition tent.
These actions not only allowed OSSEO to achieve official certification but also positioned it as a benchmark project for AIM Austria in the development of future green meetings.
Innovative meeting design: live surgeries at the core
Beyond sustainability, OSSEO 2025 delivered strong scientific innovation. The programme featured three live surgeries, performed in a partner hospital in another city and transmitted in real time to the congress venue in Vienna. A live Zoom surgical session streamed on the partner association’s website further expanded the educational value of the event.
Meeting objectives successfully achieved
The congress reached and surpassed the key goals set at the outset: attracting a strong international audience, ensuring a seamless on-site experience despite spatial constraints, and delivering a scientifically rich programme enriched with innovative live content.
Participant feedback and the host’s satisfaction confirmed the success of this edition, both in terms of scientific quality and in the exemplary execution of a fully certified Green Meeting.
