Speaking on 12 October, Seth Kursman, vice president for public affairs, sustainability and environment, handed over a certificate for 4,200 tonnes of carbon credit to Reiner Mittelbach, chief executive of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers.

The credits are held at the Chicago Climate Exchange and will account for the event's entire footprint, including aviation oil, dinners and the kit that is on display at the event.

Kursman told PrintWeek: "In the next couple of years, the number one environmental subject is going to become climate change.

"We want to be a crusader in the reduction of carbon reduction and hopefully others will follow. We want to become a zero-emissions company – no company in the world is doing that in the world at the moment and we hope to become the first."

Mittelbach added: "Environmental aspects are becoming increasingly important for the news publishing and media industries.

"Sustainability is what is called for today. Therefore we welcome that fact that, due to our partnership with AbitibiBowater, we are able to counterbalance the CO2 emissions caused by the visitors and exhibitors at Ifra Expo 2009."