> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.salvidia.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # How to measure an event footprint > A practical, step-by-step guide to measuring the carbon footprint of events using Salvidia. An **event carbon footprint** measures the greenhouse gas emissions caused by an event over a defined period — typically from **build and bump-in** through to **pack-down and post-event waste**. In practice, that means quantifying emissions from things like: * Venue energy and temporary power * Attendee, exhibitor, and staff travel * Catering (food, drinks, packaging) * Materials, signage, fit-out, and waste * Freight, logistics, and sometimes accommodation This page walks through a **practical process** for measuring an event footprint in Salvidia. *** ## The high-level process At a high level, measuring an event footprint looks like this: Decide what counts as “in” for this event: In the app, create a new Event assessment and name it clearly, e.g. 2025 Expo – Main Event. Gather real-world data from venues, suppliers, ticketing, and internal records (energy, travel, waste, catering, etc.). Add or import your activity data into the event data tables in Salvidia (energy, travel, purchases, waste, etc.). Use Salvidia’s dashboards to check totals, scopes, and category breakdowns. Fill obvious gaps and refine assumptions. Export key tables and charts for sponsors, clients, internal reporting, and to inform future event design. *** ## 1. Define your event scope Before you collect data, be clear on **what you are measuring**. Questions to answer: * **Which dates are included?** * Only live days, or also build, bump-in, and bump-out? * **Which locations are included?** * Main venue only, or also side events, offsite functions, and satellite activations? * **Which participants are included?** * Attendees only, or also exhibitors, performers, crew, volunteers, media? * **Which activities are included?** * Travel, accommodation, freight, catering, materials, waste, digital activity? Write your scope down in a short statement, for example: > “This footprint covers the 2025 Expo held at the Main Convention Centre from 10–14 March, including build and pack-down days. It includes venue energy use, generators, attendee and exhibitor travel, staff travel, catering, freight, and waste.” You can store this in the **notes or methodology** section of your Event assessment. *** ## 2. Create an Event assessment in Salvidia In Salvidia: 1. Go to your workspace home. 2. Click **New assessment**. 3. Choose **Event** as the assessment type. 4. Give it a clear name and select: * The **event dates** (or year) * The **organisation** running the event * Any tags you’ll use (e.g. venue, city, edition) Once created, you’ll see event-specific data tables for: * Venue and energy * Travel and accommodation * Purchases, suppliers, and freight * Catering and F\&B * Waste and materials For a quick overview of what data you’ll need, see **[Event data you’ll need](/platform/event-data-youll-need)**. *** ## 3. Key data categories for events Most event footprints are built from a consistent set of building blocks. Electricity, gas, and on-site energy use attributable to the event, plus any temporary power like generators. Attendee, exhibitor, and staff travel; plus accommodation where appropriate. Emissions from exhibitors, contractors, freight, and major purchased services. Food and drink volumes, menus, and packaging that can add up significantly, especially for multi-day events. Build materials, signage, fit-out, and waste/recycling generated during and after the event. We’ll look at each briefly and how they show up in Salvidia. *** ### Venue energy and temporary power Examples: * Electricity used in the event spaces * Additional heating or cooling required for the event * Diesel or petrol generators for temporary power Data sources: * Venue energy reports or sub-meter readings * Pro-rated energy use based on area or time * Generator fuel logs or supplier data In Salvidia, this lives in **Energy and utilities** under your Event assessment. If the venue cannot give exact figures, you can use reasonable estimates based on floor area, hours of use, or comparison to similar events — but note these assumptions in your methodology. *** ### Attendee, exhibitor, and staff travel For many events, **travel** is the largest single contributor. You may need to estimate based on: * Ticketing/postcode data * Surveys * Mode splits (e.g. % flying vs driving vs public transport) In Salvidia, travel data typically includes: * Flights (by route or distance and class) * Car and taxi trips (by distance or fuel) * Public transport (by distance or spend-based estimates) * Staff and crew travel See **[Estimating attendee travel](/guides/estimating-attendee-travel)** for deeper approaches to travel estimation. *** ### Suppliers, freight, and logistics Events rely on many third parties: * Exhibitors and activations * AV and production companies * Staging, rigging, and event build teams * Freight and logistics providers Data options: * Activity-based (distance, weight, fuel) where available * Spend-based (amount spent per category) when activity data is weak In Salvidia, these usually go into **Purchases and services** or **Freight and logistics** tables for the Event assessment. *** ### Catering and F\&B Food and beverages can have a significant impact, especially: * Meat-heavy menus * High volumes of single-use packaging * Long supply chains Useful data: * Number of meals served by menu type (e.g. beef, chicken, vegetarian, vegan) * Drink volumes (e.g. beer, wine, soft drinks) * Packaging assumptions (e.g. canned vs bottled, reusables vs disposables) In Salvidia, this is captured under **Catering and F\&B** or as part of **Purchases** with specific F\&B categories. *** ### Materials, signage, and waste Consider: * Temporary structures, signage, merchandising, décor * Carpets, flooring, and build materials * Waste and recycling from build, event days, and pack-down Data sources: * Waste contractor reports (tonnes per stream) * Supplier invoices or packing lists * Internal estimates for key material volumes In Salvidia, this appears under **Waste and materials**. *** ## 4. Enter or import data into Salvidia Once you’ve gathered data: 1. Open your Event assessment. 2. Navigate through the **Data** sections: * Energy and utilities * Travel and accommodation * Purchases and services * Catering and F\&B * Waste and materials 3. For each section, either: * Enter data line by line, or * Use CSV import where supported to upload in bulk. You don’t need perfect data for every category to start. Enter what you have, use estimates where necessary, and record assumptions. You can refine in future editions of the event. *** ## 5. Review your event results Once data is in: * Go to the **Results** or **Dashboard** view of your Event assessment. * Check: * Total footprint (tCO₂e) * Breakdown by **scope** (1, 2, 3) * Breakdown by **category** (travel, energy, catering, etc.) * Emissions **per attendee** or **per m²**, if relevant Questions to ask: * Does the split between travel, energy, and other categories look reasonable? * Are there any obvious gaps (e.g. no waste data, no travel for a major exhibitor group)? * Are any numbers unexpectedly high or low compared to what you know about the event? Adjust inputs or assumptions as needed and re-check the results. *** ## 6. Use the footprint to drive decisions An event footprint isn’t just a number — it’s a brief for **what to change next time**. Common uses: Provide a clear, honest picture of the event’s impact and how it’s changing year-on-year. Use the breakdown to target big-ticket items first (e.g. travel patterns, catering choices, energy). Share key stats per attendee or per event, with enough context to avoid greenwashing. You can export tables and charts from Salvidia to: * Slide decks and board papers * Sponsor reports * Websites and sustainability summaries *** ## Quick tips for better event footprints * **Start early** – Ask venues and suppliers about data **before** the event. * **Standardise** – Reuse a similar structure for each event so you can compare editions. * **Be transparent** – Clearly state any major assumptions or exclusions. * **Improve each year** – Add more detail over time rather than aiming for perfection on the first try. Even a “good-enough” first footprint can be incredibly valuable for conversations with venues, sponsors, and suppliers. The key is to repeat and improve. *** ## Where to go next * See the detailed checklist in **[Event data you’ll need](/platform/event-data-youll-need)** * Learn how to **estimate attendee travel** in **[Estimating attendee travel](/guides/estimating-attendee-travel)** * Explore **[Designing low-carbon events](/guides/designing-low-carbon-events)** to turn your footprint into action.