IMHX 2010 will not only showcase the logistics industry's latest offerings, it will allow visitors to experience the industry's first carbon-neutral exhibition.

Ian Field, managing director of materials handling PR agency Adfield Group, tells Forkliftaction.com News show organisers wanted to improve the visitor experience at IMHX.

"With carbon footprint and carbon reduction being such a hot topic in the UK now, the organisers felt this was a way of attracting new visitors while also doing something worthwhile for the environment."

IMHX claims to be the first logistics trade expo to offset the carbon dioxide produced through staging the show and through visitor travel to the venue. An environmental zone, sponsored by Shell Gas, will be available for visitors to record their show travel carbon footprints free.

Field says a special software has been written to enable visitors to fill in their details to offset their carbon footprints for their journey to IMHX. Visitors will get certificates emailed to them when they have completed the offset.

"Visitors simply enter their journey details, including where they've travelled from and by what [mode] and the computer program does the rest. It calculates their carbon footprint for the journey to and from the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) Birmingham so this can be offset." Field says the carbon offset partner is Pure, a UK-based carbon offset charity used by the majority of the world's airlines.

Organisers will offset carbon produced by planting trees in the UK through Pure. The environmental zone will feature green solutions offered by exhibitors that contribute to a cleaner environment, reduced waste and energy efficiency.

Tim Waples, president of the British Industrial Truck Association, says its members are expecting "high quality" visitors from the UK and overseas for the expo at NEC Birmingham on 16 to 19 November.

Visitors who pre-register for IMHX 2010 at www.imhx.biz will receive a passport-style pack containing a delegate name badge, a "little black book" of materials handling industry contacts, a fold-out exhibition floor plan and key details of the show's environmental zone.