In today's era of increasing awareness about the climate emergency, it is essential that every sector of society takes concrete steps to reduce its carbon footprint.
The events industry is no exception. According to a study conducted in 2021 by researchers at Cornell University, the events sector is responsible for 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
But where to start? How to measure the impact of your events? What solutions to implement? You're in the right place to clarify these questions!
In this article, Climeet explains what the carbon impact of an event is, why it is essential to measure it, and how to proceed. Follow the guide!
What is the carbon impact of an event?
No activity escapes carbon impact
Eating a pizza, taking the bus, watching a series, or playing bowling... It is essential to remember that no human action is climate-neutral: each generates greenhouse gas emissions. This is also true for events, whether it’s a concert, a festival, or the Olympic Games. In this article, we will guide you through calculating the carbon footprint of an event.
Understanding the carbon footprint of an event
The carbon footprint of an event varies depending on its size, type, location, and related activities. This means that some events will inevitably have a greater environmental impact than others.
Here are some examples of events and their potential carbon footprints:
- Music festival: The carbon footprint varies depending on participant travel, the use of energy-intensive sound and lighting equipment. The origin of participants and the eco-modularity of the equipment play a key role here.
- Trade show: The carbon footprint can be significant to moderate due to participant travel, booth installation, equipment use, and energy consumption, etc. The size of the show, the nature of booths and setups, and the origin of participants are key factors.
- Online conference: The carbon footprint is generally lower compared to a physical event. Digital events usually eliminate the need for physical travel, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions related to participant transport.
Definition of the carbon impact of an event
The carbon impact of an event refers to the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated by organizing an event, from planning to legacy, including execution. All physical and digital aspects (transportation, technical setup, logistics, catering, communication…) are considered in the calculation.
It also includes emissions for which the organizer is directly responsible, such as staff travel and general setup, as well as emissions for which the organizer is indirectly responsible, such as custom exhibitor booths and the venue’s energy consumption.
Why Measure the Carbon Impact of Your Events?
Environmental Responsibility: Understanding Emission Sources
As mentioned earlier, events often have a significant impact on the climate due to energy consumption, transport, waste production, etc. Measuring the carbon impact allows you to understand the overall real impact of your event and identify the respective weight of different activity areas and emission sources. This enables you to work more effectively on reducing the carbon footprint by prioritizing high-impact actions.
Meeting the Growing Expectations of Investors and Clients
Many investors, within the framework of responsible ratings or portfolios, expect companies to be transparent about their climate impact and their short, medium, and long-term reduction strategies. The climate axis has become crucial in their investment or partnership decisions. A company's engagement in environmental initiatives also improves its public perception, significantly influencing purchasing choices.
Some interesting statistics on this subject:
- 81% of global consumers believe companies should help improve the environment (Nielsen, 2015).
- 74% of consumers have a more positive perception of companies that organize eco-friendly events (Cone Communications, 2015).
Minimizing your costs and environmental footprint
By assessing the carbon footprint of your events, you can identify opportunities to reduce carbon emissions, often linked to energy and transport management. High greenhouse gas emissions are frequently associated with excessive energy use or other inefficiencies.
Adopting an energy and material sobriety approach not only contributes to environmental preservation but also reduces budgetary expenses. Moreover, reusing modular spaces distributes costs over several events, translating into savings for organizers while decreasing the environmental footprint.
Enhancing your reputation and positioning
Disclosure and transparency regarding carbon emissions coupled with ambitious reduction goals currently represent a competitive advantage for most concerned companies. This highlights your commitment to environmental preservation.
However, this dynamic is evolving as environmental engagement becomes a standard expectation rather than a differentiating advantage. The current trend where these practices are seen as a competitive advantage is gradually weakening, reflecting the shift towards a norm where environmental disclosure is naturally expected.
Combating Climate Change
The fight against climate change, being a key element in the long-term survival of the company, should be one of the primary motivations behind measuring the carbon footprint of its events.
By measuring the carbon footprint of its events, a company can identify the most significant emission sources and develop a reduction and adaptation strategy to make its events more responsible and resilient. This proactive approach aims to significantly contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating the adverse effects of climate change.
Raising awareness and attracting talent
Did you know:
- 52% of employees say a company's commitment to sustainability influences their decision to stay with the employer (Cone Communications, 2016).
- 79% of employees prefer to work for a company that organizes sustainable events (Sustainable Brands, 2016).
By measuring the carbon footprint of your events, you inspire others to do the same and demonstrate that reduction measures can be implemented. Acting for the climate also proves to be a way to attract new talents, as the new generation places great importance on these issues and favors companies based on their environmental commitments.
Thus, engaging in ecological initiatives becomes an attractive element to draw professionals eager to contribute to sustainable practices.
Regulatory requirement
The CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) is reshaping the European regulatory landscape regarding climate reporting. It is part of the European Green Deal, aiming for carbon neutrality on the continent by 2050. It requires companies to publish detailed information on impacts related to social, environmental, and governance issues.
Since January 1, 2024, it extends the number of companies targeted and sets new standards and obligations for non-financial reporting. It concerns large companies and SMEs listed on the stock exchange. Specifically, it applies to companies meeting two of the following criteria: more than 500 employees, more than €40 million in turnover, more than €20 million in total assets. In total, this represents about 50,000 companies.
What are the consequences of this directive? The CSRD includes the mandate to consider double materiality: how a company impacts and is impacted by climate change, but also to report indirect emissions of scope 3 (such as events).
Scope 3 emissions refer to all indirect emissions associated with a company's activities generated by sources not directly controlled or owned by the company. This generally includes emissions from the company's value chain, such as those from its suppliers (purchases of services), emissions related to the use of products sold by the company, as well as other indirect activities like employee travel (outside the company's vehicles) or generated waste.
In short, scope 3 emissions encompass the climate impacts of all activities related to a company, including its events, beyond its own operations and direct consumption.
Improving participant experience
Promoting and reducing the carbon footprint can enhance an immersive and interactive experience. By offering stimulating challenges, from waste reduction to carpooling, the event becomes a stage for active engagement. Additionally, adopting sustainable practices such as eco-friendly booths and scenography creates a positive and memorable atmosphere. Thus, the event transcends its simple function of gathering to become a collective adventure where awareness and engagement materialize for the benefit of the participants.
How to measure the carbon impact of your events?
Identifying emission sources
The first step is to identify all sources of greenhouse gas emissions from your event.
The amount of greenhouse gas emissions generated during an event depends on various factors. The main elements to consider when developing and hosting an event include:
- Staff transportation
- Participant transportation
- Energy
- Freight
- Waste management
- Catering
- Accommodation
- Setup and materials
- Goodies
- Digital
- Others
Data collection
Once the emission sources are identified, collect data on all aspects of your event likely to generate carbon emissions, to quantify these emissions.
Emissions calculation
Once the data is collected, use appropriate methodologies to calculate the carbon emissions associated with each aspect of the event. Add up the greenhouse gas emissions related to energy, participant travel, material transport, catering, accommodation, and waste management, following the rules of a standard Carbon Footprint!
Note: Without appropriate tools, calculating emissions can be very time-consuming and complex, as it requires compiling all CO2e-emitting activity data, finding databases, sources, or reliable and recognized studies (sometimes paid) that provide a CO2e weight to an activity unit, formulating hypotheses, and calculating each emission source and the overall impact according to a recognized methodology (Carbon Footprint, GHG Protocol, etc.). A real headache!
Using a solution like Climeet allows you to easily calculate the carbon footprint of your events. No need to be an expert in emission factors and carbon footprint! You just enter your data, and the tool takes care of the rest.
Analyzing collected data
Once all emissions have been calculated and converted to CO2 equivalent, compile the results into a detailed report, then assess the environmental impact of each aspect of the event to identify the most emitting sources.
Emission reduction
Identify areas where emission reductions are possible, such as using renewable energy, waste management, promoting carpooling, etc.
Here are some examples of how you can reduce the carbon footprint of your event:
- Man-hours: This emission source is hard to reduce, but you can ask three questions to try to reduce it. Can you reduce the number of preparation days for the event? Can you reduce the number of people involved in organizing the event? Can you reduce the complexity of the event?
- Catering: Is a meal without meat or fish feasible? Are your products seasonal? Opt for reusable rather than disposable cutlery.
- Accommodation: Book or encourage participants to book accommodations accessible by foot, bike, or public transport from your event. Prefer accommodations with eco-responsible commitments (energy and water management, sustainable catering, waste management, etc.).
- Materials: Organize an event around the "5 Rs". Encourage the implementation of practices to Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Return to Earth the elements used during the event. Prefer renting your material over purchasing.
Contributing to carbon neutrality
Once (and only once) your GHG reduction strategy is in place, you can contribute to global carbon neutrality by participating in projects that promote the reduction or sequestration of greenhouse gas emissions, such as reforestation or transitioning agricultural practices.
Climeet: your partner for sustainable event management
Used by event professionals, Climeet is one of the most reliable and simple carbon calculators currently available on the market. It offers the ability to quantify all emissions associated with organizing events.
Collecting and measuring greenhouse gas emissions
Climeet assists you in collecting and measuring the greenhouse gas emissions of your event. Its solution also allows you to integrate data calculated by your service providers, if available, to engage your clients and partners in your sustainability approach.
Carbon footprint reduction scenarios
Climeet allows you to easily identify the most emitting areas and activities and test different reduction scenarios in just a few clicks. What can you improve? How to optimize your organization, content, logistics? The tool answers all these questions!
About Climeet
As a true partner in your low-carbon strategy, Climeet supports you in analyzing your carbon footprint. It helps you identify and prioritize the most significant emission sources, enabling you to establish a concrete, measurable, and achievable reduction plan. The goal? To design truly eco-responsible events! Have a question? Need a demo? Contact our experts!
