Industries
Event carbon footprint what is measured and how.
An event's footprint adds up attendee and speaker travel, accommodation, catering, set-up, materials, waste and venue energy. At many events travel is the largest block. Xain calculates it with physical factors and does not present offsetting as a way to reduce or neutralise the footprint.
What is measured
Which blocks go into an event's footprint?
At many events travel is the largest block, so where attendees travel from changes the result more than almost any other decision.
Transport
Of attendees, speakers and goods.
Accommodation
For people who travel.
Catering
Where meat and dairy weigh especially.
Set-up, materials and waste
Stands, signage, carpeting, event waste and their end of life.
Venue energy
And venue services.
Whoever organises trade fairs, congresses or corporate events gets footprint requests from sponsors, public bodies and customers. An event is a one-off service with many participants and suppliers. Real cases measured with Xain: the Noches del Botánico concerts and the AERCE Congress.
Why does transport often weigh so much?
Because many people are moving, sometimes by air. That is why where attendees travel from changes the result more than almost any other organisational decision.
What about offsetting?
Xain starts by measuring. We do not present offsetting as a way to reduce or neutralise the footprint, and the EmpCo Directive prohibits communicating a “climate-neutral event” based on it. What can be communicated is the calculated figure, with its method.
Which method applies?
The same as for a product: a process tree with physical factors, traceability down to each factor and an ISO 14067 methodology verified by LRQA. Events are one of the sectors included in the LRQA verification.
Frequently asked questions
What companies usually ask before getting started.
What data is needed?
Number of attendees and where they travel from, event days, accommodation, menus, set-up and signage materials, waste generated, and the venue's consumption if available.
Can an event be called climate neutral?
Not if that rests on offsetting: the EmpCo Directive prohibits presenting it that way to consumers. The calculated footprint figure can be communicated.
Keep reading
Product footprint
Certify your product’s carbon footprint with an ISO 14067 method verified by LRQA, from your technical documentation, with registration and traceability.
Regulations
What Spain's Royal Decree 214/2025, the CSRD and ESRS and the environmental claims rules require, who they affect and what footprint data you may be asked for.
ISO 14067
ISO 14067 is the standard that sets how to quantify and communicate a product carbon footprint. What it requires, what cradle-to-gate is and how Xain uses it.
Tell us what you want to measure
One product, a catalogue or your purchases. We reply with the next steps.
Contact Xain