28th - 30th September 2025  |  NEC, Birmingham
Exhibitions generate a huge amount of waste. Working with our contractors, the venue and you, our exhibitors, we want to make sure that we are doing as much as possible to reduce our impact on the environment and limiting the waste we send to landfill. 
  • To attempt to offset our carbon footprint we have paid the Woodland Trust to plant 100 native UK trees, which in their lifetime will remove 25tonnes of CO2.
     
  • We have switched from giving visitors plastic carrier bags to recyclable paper bags.
     
  • We will continue to provide all exhibitors with free tea and coffee from our organisers’ office. And are delighted to tell you that we now only offer fully recyclable cups. We will only use recyclable spoons and stirrers in the PATS organisers office.
     
  • We provide water dispensers and water points with recyclable paper cones, or you can bring your own reusable water bottle.
     
  • The venue now has bins that separate waste categories.
     
  • Visitor and exhibitor badge holders (and lanyards) are made from plastic – we can avoid dumping these by encouraging everyone to hand them back as they exit PATS – we will then use them again. Simply use the recycling dump bin located by the show exits.
     
  • Exhibitors – we urge you to remove and recycle your own packaging. Take a look at the NEC's Environmental Policy Statement
     
  • Shell scheme and electrics - of course all of the electrical equipment is re-used, as is the shell scheme.
     
  • Carpet -

    Showlite has signed the “Net Zero Carbon Events” pledge, and is committed to reducing the overall carbon footprint of events. As part of this pledge, we are continually improving methods and products and are pleased to announce that we have attained Tier 4 ESSA Member Sustainability Accreditation.

    In line with this commitment, we have introduced Rewind Carpet as a more sustainable option for shell scheme stands and gangways. Here’s why;

    Green Production Process (compared to traditional event carpet):

  • 55% Less CO2
  • 85% Less Energy
  • 100% Less Water
  • 100% Less Latex
  • 100% Recyclable into a Mono-Recyclate
    Showlite

This list is certainly not exhaustive, and we appreciate that there is a lot more we can and need to do. We will strive to do so at every venue we stage an event.

We are thrilled with the incredible response from our very first exhibition at PATS! The three days were absolutely brilliant, giving us the opportunity to connect with many new and existing customers. PATS proved to be the perfect platform for launching our new catalogue and introducing over 350 brand-new SKUs. We can't wait to be a part of next year's event at the NEC!

Tom Gwilliam
Sales & Marketing Director |  HugglePets

I think it’s a great idea to add a third day to PATS. We’re here for all three days, giving us enough time to meet everyone and make informed decisions about stocking new products. We also like PATS because of all the networking opportunities.

Tina Quest
Redpaw Pet Supplies, Devon

At PATS 2024 it was lovely to reconnect with our existing customers while also having the opportunity to meet potential new ones. We were thrilled to launch three new ranges during the show, Canagan Petite, Canagan Raw (Freeze Dried Treats and Toppers) and Symply Little, all of which have sold amazingly well, further highlighting the value of this event for showcasing our innovations. Looking ahead, we believe that the Birmingham NEC could offer significant advantages, including improved transport links and a larger venue to accommodate a growing number of exhibitors and visitors, both will enhance the overall experience.

Charlie Williams
Joint Managing Director |  Canagan Group

We’ve been rushed off our feet on all three days. It has been an excellent show and I love the fact you can spend more time with visitors. I will definitely need a larger stand in 2025

Cyril Geoffray
UK & Ireland national Sales Manager |  Zoo Med
We’ve missed going to Aqua so we’re really happy to be visiting the Aquatics Zone at PATS. We’ve come to see the new products, find out about deals on offer and meet people face to face. It’s also a great opportunity for networking with other shops and companies and building new relationships – something we have missed out on during the Covid years
Mark Warren
Partner |  West Dorset Aquatics
We’ve come to PATS for the whole three days because you just can’t do it justice in only two. For us, as we deal with the whole spectrum of the pet industry, we spend day one wandering through the halls to see what catches our eye and day two doing our buying – but we’ve found that by the end of the second day we haven’t always got round to everyone. So the third day is a real bonus. There is less of a rush to get it all done and we can spend more time building relationships and ensuring we’ve caught all the deals and found all the new products we might want to stock. PATS is an important highlight of the year and we wouldn’t want to miss any of it!
Toni Thornton
Managing Director |  Four Oaks Pet Supplies, Scarborough

It was great to see the Aquatics Zone sold out and full of exhibitors. For us at J&K it was a pleasure, as always, to catch up with a good number of our longstanding customers as well as meet with and introduce our brands and product ranges to potential new ones. Hopefully the new format for 2025, moving into a larger venue, capable of accommodating even more exhibitors, and with better air, road and rail access, will encourage even more visitors, allowing the show to grow in the years to come.

Ben Windeatt
Sales & Marketing |  J&K Aquatics
I’m a big advocate of having three show days because it gives you more time to spend with clients. PATS keeps growing in a good way because it gives more companies – big and small, old and new – the platform to make their mark. I had a look at the New Starter Zone and loved the buzz that these new companies were creating. PATS is great for the UK pet industry
Greg Van Praagh
Head of UK |  RPFC Group

Supporting Partners