Carbon Factor Methodology for MICE Events

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At Breeze, we’ve developed a robust methodology to calculate and address the carbon footprint of events within the MICE industry. It aligns with best practices from carbon accounting frameworks and incorporates adjustments for the unique characteristics of events.

Why This Matters

The MICE industry plays a significant role in driving tourism and economic growth, but it also comes with a notable environmental impact. From travel to accommodation and event operations, every aspect contributes to carbon emissions. Our methodology enables event organizers to measure their impact accurately and take meaningful action to reduce it.

The Breeze Approach

    1. Define Emission Sources:

    • Identify and categorize main sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for MICE events, including:

      • Travel: Air travel, rail, and local transportation.

      • Accommodation: Hotel stays and rental accommodations.

      • Event Operations: Venue energy use, catering, materials, and waste.

    Attendee Behavior: Impact from attendee travel and consumption patterns.

    1. Collect Activity Data:

    • Gather relevant data from clients or suppliers, such as:

      • Number of attendees, travel distances, and transport modes.

      • Event duration and location.

    Accommodation types and occupancy levels.

    1. Apply Emission Factors:

    • Use emission factors sourced from credible databases (e.g., DEFRA, IPCC) to convert activity data into CO2e.

    Example: Air travel per passenger-km, hotel CO2e per night, electricity use per kWh.

    Breeze will collaborate closely with local tourism boards and other key stakeholders to identify and support meaningful, high-impact projects. These projects will receive an equitable share of the Climate Action Budget each year, ensuring that each initiative contributes significantly to both long-term climate resilience and the improvement of the lives of local communities directly affected by tourism.

    1. Incorporate Event-Specific Adjustments:

    • To simplify the process for organisers and account for incorrect input, we apply an Emission Uplift Factor to account for event-specific impacts like:

      • One-time material use (e.g., banners, promotional items).

      • Higher energy use during peak periods.

      • Increased transport demand in urban areas during events.

    1. Calculate Event Emissions 

      1. Finally we calculate emissions for MICE events by combining the emissions factor total for each element plus the Emission Uplift Factor. This will offer the event organiser a total emission impact for their event.

Built on Credibility

Our methodology is informed by best practices in carbon accounting, drawing on frameworks from leading organizations, including:

  • Travalyst’s Carbon Emissions Framework

  • Net0’s Carbon Accounting Methodologies

  • Normative’s Carbon Accounting Insights

By integrating these trusted sources, we ensure our approach is both credible and aligned with international standards.

Pros & Cons of our Model

    1. Ease of Use:

      • Organizers only need to provide minimal data, such as attendee numbers and broad event details. This removes the complexity of gathering granular activity data.

    2. Incorporates an Uplift Factor:

      • The inclusion of a pre-calculated uplift factor accounts for additional emissions unique to events (e.g., temporary installations, peak energy use). This ensures accurate calculations without burdening organizers with extensive data collection.

    3. Transparency and Credibility:

      • Our model is backed by globally recognized emission factors and methodologies, building trust with users while simplifying the process.

    4. Time-Efficient:

      • Organizers save significant time by avoiding the need to collect and validate detailed emissions data. Our streamlined process ensures quick and reliable results.

    1. Generalized Data Assumptions:

      • By minimizing data input requirements, the model relies on generalized assumptions for some factors, which may not capture specific nuances of every event.

    2. Limited Customization:

      • Organizers seeking highly detailed or bespoke carbon calculations may find our model less precise compared to full lifecycle assessments requiring extensive data.

    3. Focus on Pre-Defined Uplift Factor:

      • While the uplift factor simplifies calculations, it may not fully account for unique emissions scenarios, such as highly energy-intensive or exceptionally low-impact events.

    4. Not a Traditional Carbon Offset Program:

      • Users looking for pure carbon offsetting might initially misunderstand the model's emphasis on contributions rather than offsets.