Vienna, Austria – March 12, 2025 — The European Congress of Radiology (ECR) 2025 has concluded with over 20,000 participants gathering in Vienna to share knowledge, innovation, and now more than ever, a shared commitment to a more sustainable and inclusive future. The European Society of Radiology (ESR) is proud to reflect on the environmental and social milestones achieved at this year’s congress and looks forward to building on this foundation in the years ahead.
Environmental Sustainability
ECR 2025 marked a significant step forward in green initiatives, beginning with a special partnership between the ESR and the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB). Thanks to this collaboration, ÖBB offered discounted travel for congress attendees, resulting in the sale of 1,090 special-rate rail tickets. This conscious choice by participants is estimated to have saved approximately 45 tons of CO₂ emissions—an impressive contribution to reducing the environmental footprint of the event. Additionally, more than 1,200 tickets were bought for the City Airport Train (CAT) bringing attendees from Vienna Airport to the city.
Further reinforcing its long-term commitment to sustainability, the ESR has pledged to plant one tree for every ECR 2025 participant. With 20,522 attendees, this means over 20,000 trees will be planted in Tanzania through the Trillion Trees Campaign – a trusted and well-established reforestation programme. The initiative supports climate restoration, local biodiversity, and community development, ensuring that the environmental legacy of ECR 2025 will live on for decades to come. It will also be repeated at future ECR’s.
Sustainability was also embedded in the congress itself, with the introduction of new reusable water bottles made from more environmentally friendly materials than in previous years. This simple yet effective change continues the ESR’s efforts to minimise single-use plastics and promote responsible resource use across all aspects of the event.
ECR is also proud to be officially certified as a Green Meeting under the Austrian Ecolabel, a recognition the congress has held since 2014. Through a combination of renewable energy at the Austria Center Vienna, partnerships with certified eco-caterers, minimised printed materials, reusable exhibitor infrastructure, and expanded digital access via ESR Connect and the ECR App, ECR continues to set a standard for environmentally conscious congress planning on a large scale.
Social Progress
In addition to environmental strides, ECR 2025 also made significant progress in fostering a more inclusive and welcoming atmosphere. A key highlight was the debut of the ECR Lounge—a beautifully designed new congress space dedicated to creating a calm, relaxed environment that encouraged meaningful social interaction, collaboration, and connection among attendees.
Another transformative initiative was the introduction of the ECR childcare center. For the first time in congress history, medical imaging professionals with young children were able to attend knowing that a safe, fun, and well-staffed space was available for their children. Equipped with age-appropriate toys, activities, and qualified carers, the center was a resounding success. Its positive reception signals a powerful shift towards making ECR more accessible to parents and caregivers, and the ESR is committed to expanding this offering in future congresses.
As the ECR continues to grow, so too does its responsibility to lead by example—not only in advancing radiological science but also in shaping a more sustainable, inclusive future. ECR 2025 was a landmark event in this journey, and the ESR remains dedicated to raising the bar even higher in the years to come.