Sustainability at the Annual Meeting
Small Deeds Add Up
How can 10,000+ IP professionals make a positive impact in just five days? The answer lies in small, deliberate choices, as Erin Pullmann explains.
Creating a sustainable Annual Meeting requires a group effort. The Association approaches this goal holistically, taking into consideration the host city and conference center’s sustainability programs and records, by incorporating educational programming covering corporate social responsibility (CSR) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), and by providing all registrants with opportunities to make sustainable choices throughout their trip and Meeting.
The 2025 Annual Meeting features several activities, educational sessions, and initiatives that align with the goal of working toward a sustainable and inclusive Annual Meeting, creating opportunities for registrants to give back and to play a role in creating a better society through brands.
“As brand protectors and enforcers, we have a unique opportunity to align IP strategies with sustainability goals, reinforcing purpose-led business practices.”
- Juli Hopf | Spoor & Fisher (South Africa)
Small Deeds, Big Difference
Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu famously said, “Great acts are made up of small deeds.”
Brands and Sustainability Committee member Juli Hopf (Spoor & Fisher, South Africa) echoed this sentiment in offering some suggestions for registrants looking to make sustainable choices: “Small, conscious choices can make a big difference. I recommend that registrants decline to use plastic straws, opt for digital materials over printed ones, and support local businesses for meals and transport. These steps help reduce waste and contribute positively to the communities we visit. Oh, and take the stairs!”
There are many individual choices that may seem small but can add up to a big difference. “My best tip is to bring your own refillable water bottle and consider contributing to INTA’s carbon offset program,” said Claudia Stangle (Leydig, Voit & Mayer, USA), a member of the Brands and Sustainability Committee.
Registrants can also purchase an Annual Meeting-branded YETI tumbler online or at INTA’s onsite merchandise store.
The Carbon Offset Program enables everyone travelling to the Annual Meeting to reduce or even fully offset the carbon produced through their travel.
INTA partners with renowned sustainability expert CLIMATE PARTNER, which helps organizations achieve carbon-neutral status. Donations to INTA’s Carbon Offset Program support projects designed to provide cleaner air, land, and water, and help counteract the harmful carbon put into the atmosphere. Registrants can make a donation when registering for the Meeting or at any time by visiting the INTA website.
One way to give back at the 2025 Annual Meeting is to make a donation to the INTA Foundation, a charitable organization working to expand educational and professional development opportunities in IP for diverse, under-represented populations around the world. Donations will be collected at the Welcome Reception (Sunday, May 19, 6:30 pm–8:00 pm) immediately following the Opening Ceremonies (Sunday, May 18, 4:30 pm–6:00 pm).
Another way to give back is by volunteering your time to help small business owners and entrepreneurs facing trademark issues. The Pro Bono Committee is teaming up with the San Diego Volunteer Lawyers Program to host a pro bono walk-in clinic on Monday, May 19, at 1:00 pm, at the San Diego Central Library—just two blocks away from the convention center.
The Committee is actively seeking INTA members to volunteer for the clinic, which is designed to run for no longer than 60 minutes. If you are interested in volunteering, please reach out to Pro Bono Committee Staff Liaison Stacey Sutton.
Karina Carmona (David do Nascimento Advogados Associados, Brazil) points out that making sustainable choices can provide even more opportunities to connect with fellow registrants. “One of the best tips I can give is to utilize ridesharing options whenever possible. This not only reduces our carbon footprint, it also helps us to connect with colleagues—We can contribute to a more sustainable future while enjoying a professional event.”
“Women’s growing involvement in the IP landscape will only strengthen IP and innovative ecosystems and drive economic growth.”
- Dorothy Pasipanodya | Gill, Godlonton & Gerrans, Zimbabwe
Learn Today, Act Tomorrow
CSR is essential for fostering sustainable business practices, enhancing brand value, promoting social equity, and driving economic growth. It equips IP professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to implement effective CSR strategies that benefit the organization, its brands, its communities, and society-at-large.
The Annual Meeting educational program features several dynamic educational sessions focused on advancing the conversation around CSR.
“As brand protectors and enforcers, we have a unique opportunity to align IP strategies with sustainability goals, reinforcing purpose-led business practices. These approaches assist brands in building consumer loyalty, as conscious consumers are opting to support brands who take ESG issues into consideration,” said Ms. Hopf, who intends to build this programming into her Annual Meeting schedule. “I'm particularly looking forward to the discussions around ESG and brand value,” she added.
Registrants are encouraged to attend the session Green Claims and Brand Value: From Talk to Trust (Sunday, May 19, 2:45 pm–3:30 pm). This session will explore the challenges brands face and the best practices they can implement to turn sustainability commitments into genuine consumer trust and tangible results. Experts from the business and law arenas will share insights on building trust and ensuring authenticity in your sustainability messaging, including some of the learnings from the forthcoming 2024 Presidential Task Force Report on the “effects of greenwashing and greenhushing on brand value.”
Turning to the subject of inclusion, the Research Advisory Council and The Women’s LeadershIP Initiative are teaming up to present Shattering Systemic Barriers: How to Advance Gender Equality in the Intellectual Property Profession (Tuesday, May 21, 1:15 pm–2:15 pm). This session will present key findings from INTA’s gender representation study, published in July last year. Panelists will share their perspectives on how gender affects the experience of trademark practitioners in the workplace, with a focus on representation, career progression, and work-life integration.
Urko Ochoa ((Miniño Abogados, Dominican Republic) will participate in the panel and hopes more men will join him: “Nothing would make me prouder than seeing as many men as women attending this session and becoming part of and leading these initiatives.”
Also on Tuesday, Celebrating Women in the African IP Sector: Progress and the Path Forward (2:30 pm–3:30 pm) will examine the progress that has been made by women in Africa’s IP sector, the challenges they encounter, and the opportunities available to further advance their contributions.
In a recent interview with the INTA Bulletin, Dorothy Pasipanodya (Gill, Godlonton & Gerrans, Zimbabwe), who will participate in the discussion, offered these words of encouragement for women looking to enter the IP field: “Women can and should contribute their unique perspectives to the IP landscape by taking part in IP incubators and mentorship programs.”
“Women’s growing involvement in the IP landscape will only strengthen IP and innovative ecosystems and drive economic growth,” she added.
Accessibility is another important aspect of inclusivity. For the second year in a row, INTA is partnering with Wordly, an AI service that provides real-time translations and captions, removing language barriers for registrants. Wordly will be available to all registrants for use during the Opening Ceremonies and all educational sessions. INTA will also provide ASL interpretation for the Opening Ceremonies.
"At the San Diego Convention Center, sustainability is core to how we operate and evolve as a venue.”
- Rip Rippetoe | San Diego Convention Center (USA)
Sustainability and San Diego
Our host city is recognized nationally for its sustainability and resilience. In 2025, San Diego achieved LEED Gold Certification for Cities and Communities from the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), the world's most widely used green building rating system, provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green buildings, which offer environmental, social and governance benefits.
The San Diego Convention Center is at the forefront of the city’s commitment to sustainability. Green approaches are embedded in all areas of operations, with a particular focus on energy resiliency, sustainable sourcing, food waste reduction, and plastic reduction.
“At the San Diego Convention Center, sustainability is core to how we operate and evolve as a venue,” said Rip Rippetoe, President and CEO, San Diego Convention Center (USA). “From energy conservation to innovative waste diversion, our initiatives are designed to reduce environmental impact and support the health and well-being of our communities.
This commitment extends to the Convention Center’s catering operations. “Whether we’re planning meals for 100 people or 5,000, sustainability is always top-of-mind,” said Executive Chef Sufi Karaien of Sodexo Live!, the Convention Center’s hospitality partner.
“We compost all our food scraps, we aim to source everything from within a 150-mile radius of the convention center, and we’re always working with event planners to incorporate more delicious plant-based dishes into the final event menus,” explained Mr. Karaien. “No matter how small the action, every step we take toward more sustainable events makes a meaningful difference.”
“We’re honored to partner with associations like INTA that share our commitment to a more sustainable future,” added Mr. Rippetoe.
