PPA Cares: Making Green Strides at Imaging USA 2025

Sustainability is more than a goal—it’s a commitment. And in 2025, that commitment was on full display at Imaging USA in Dallas.

Thanks to our continued partnership with Lockton Affinity, our official PPA Cares sponsor, and support from our incredible venue, vendors, and attendees, we built on the success of last year’s green initiatives and made measurable progress. From carpet reuse to waste reduction, here’s how PPA Cares helped Imaging USA 2025 become our most sustainable show yet.

Big Wins in Carpet Reuse & Recycling

Every year, events like Imaging USA require tons of carpet—and this year, we continued to prioritize reuse and recycling:

• Over 93,000 sq. ft. of carpet from aisles, booths, and show management was recycled at the 2025 show.
• 85% of booth and aisle carpet was returned to inventory for future use—a 10% improvement over 2024!
• 95% of carpet padding was recycled and reused, continuing our high benchmark from last year.

Responsible Signage & Material Choices

We also made smarter choices about signage and printed materials:

• Fabric signage use increased by nearly 150%, showing our commitment to reusables over vinyl and plastics.
• Use of vinyl banners dropped by over 90%, from 7,633 sq. ft. in 2024 to just 700 sq. ft. this year.
• Floor decals and clings were reduced by over 13,000 sq. ft.—a major cut in one-time-use graphics.

These changes helped us drastically lower our single-use signage footprint while still maintaining the vibrant Imaging USA conference you know and love. 

Keeping Plastic Use in Check

• Shrink wrap use decreased by over 30%, dropping from 36,233 sq. ft. in 2024 to 25,000 sq. ft. this year.
• Clear visqueen use was cut by 30%, and we strategically replaced it with reinforced visqueen to reduce waste overall.
• We also reduced tabletop vinyl usage by 25%

Hosting at a LEED-Certified Venue

Imaging USA 2025 took place at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center which is a LEED-certified, meaning it meets strict standards for green building design and operations. Its built-in sustainability practices helped support our food waste reduction, recycling availability, and energy conservation goals. Plus, refillable water stations were available throughout the event—just like last year.

Community Recycling & Donations

In 2025 we partnered with GRACE Grapevine, a local nonprofit that accepts leftover show furniture and materials from vendors. By the end of the show, Shepard collected and donated items that would otherwise go to waste—helping our community while keeping materials out of the landfill.

Thoughts from PPA’s Director of Events, Melissa Thompson

“At the heart of our photography community, we understand it is our commitment to capture the world as it is while working to protect it. Sustainability is an important part of who we are as a community, and at our last convention in Dallas, we took meaningful steps in that direction. From recycling signage, skipping plastic badge holders to responsibly managing food waste, we reduced our environmental impact and set a new standard for future events. These actions not only support our PPA Cares initiative, but it also reflects our ongoing commitment to making our annual gatherings more eco-friendly, one thoughtful choice at a time.”

PPA Cares Mission Statement

As we continue to build on our green initiatives, PPA remains committed to integrating sustainability into every aspect of our events and operations. Our mission reflects this dedication:
“At PPA, our mission is to integrate sustainable practices into our business strategy, driving economic growth while protecting the environment through our membership, industry, and initiatives that promote responsible storytelling.”
Melissa Thompson, PPA's Director of Events

Thank You for Supporting PPA Cares

Every attendee, vendor, volunteer, and team member played a role in making 2025 a major sustainability success. From choosing to recycle your badge to using refillable bottles, it all added up to a greener, cleaner Imaging USA.
We’re proud of the progress we’ve made—and we’re not slowing down. Stay tuned for more updates about our green initiative at Imaging USA 2026 in Nashville!