Designing AV for a Net Zero Future: GPA at the AV Sustainability Summit
At GPA, we do our best for our clients and on projects spanning continents. Still, we want to help shape a better world, which is why we regularly engage in the AV industry and love to speak at important events whenever we get the chance. On October 7, 2026, industry leaders will gather at the AV Sustainability Summit in London to address these exact challenges. Setting the stage for this vital conversation, Marjolein Koens-Schaddelee, Managing Director of AVEX and Board Member of GPA, will deliver the opening keynote address.
Her session, titled ‘Designing AV for a Net Zero Future‘, will explore the practical approaches and immediate opportunities for sustainability across the AV sector. As a leader who has driven innovation and circular AV concepts across Europe, Marjolein brings unparalleled insight into how the industry must evolve to meet multinational organizations’ growing environmental demands.
The New Standards of Global Integration
Are we truly prepared for tomorrow’s environmental expectations? The criteria for successful enterprise technology deployments are fundamentally shifting. A system can no longer function well on its own. It must also align strictly with corporate sustainability goals.
During her keynote, Marjolein will explore how sustainability, evolving regulations, and shifting client expectations are completely reshaping AV design. Procurement strategies across the UK and the broader global market are moving rapidly away from traditional, linear consumption models.
Enterprise buyers now demand technology partners who can deliver robust, sustainable solutions without compromising daily reliability. This shift requires integrators and consultants to rethink how they approach every single phase of a global rollout.
Understanding the Carbon Impact of AV
How do we accurately measure the environmental footprint of our meeting spaces? One of the most complex challenges in sustainable AV is understanding exactly where the carbon impact originates. True sustainability requires looking far beyond the electricity used when a screen is turned on.
To achieve meaningful Net Zero targets, organizations must differentiate between two critical metrics:
Embodied carbon, which accounts for the emissions generated during the manufacturing, transportation, and installation of the hardware.
Operational carbon, which measures the energy consumed by the equipment during its active lifespan in the corporate environment.
By understanding both sides of this equation, AV professionals can make vastly more informed decisions during the specification process. Marjolein will detail how these Net Zero targets are changing AV specifications, pushing integrators to prioritize sustainable lifecycles from the start of a project.
Balancing Performance in Low Carbon Buildings
Can we meet strict environmental targets without sacrificing the high-quality user experience our executives expect? A lingering misconception is that sustainable choices require compromising technological capability. However, the future of enterprise AV proves that efficiency and high performance can coexist beautifully.
Integrating AV into smart, low-carbon buildings is a major opportunity for the industry. Modern collaboration spaces can be designed to minimize power consumption through intelligent automation and efficient hardware, all while delivering the flawless audio and video clarity that global teams demand.
The AV Sustainability Summit promises a full day of expert-led panels and strategic discussions. We highly encourage our peers, partners, and enterprise clients to join the conversation this October. End-user tickets are free, and AV professionals can secure their spots now to hear Marjolein set the agenda for a more sustainable future.
