Sustainability
The AoC Events team is proud to be running the Annual Conference and Exhibition 2026 as a carbon neutral event for the sixth year running.
Our progress so far:
📈 2021
Our carbon footprint measured 125 tonnes CO2 e
📈 2022
Our carbon footprint measured 96 tonnes CO2 e
📈 2023
Our carbon footprint measured 66 tonnes CO2 e, with a per delegate footprint of 47kg CO2 e
📈 2024
Our carbon footprint measured 69 tonnes CO2 e, with a per delegate footprint of 46kg CO2 e
📈 2025
Our carbon footprint measured 51.9 tonnes CO2e, with a per delegate footprint of 33.7kg CO2 e
What we found in 2025:
Since collecting some data onsite, we’ve been able to get a more nuanced picture of behaviour and processes and their impact on carbon emissions. As this picture continues to deepen, it’s encouraging to see our per delegate footprint continue to decrease, as we feel this is a better indicator for positive movement towards a greener conference. For example, in 2024 our total carbon footprint increased by 69 tonnes but our per delegate reduced by 1kg per delegate – we feel this tells us that our onsite data collection has unearthed more emissions (which were already being emitted, we just were unable to capture the data), while our per delegate reduction shows us we’re still moving in the right direction.
How we do this:
- We collect all the necessary data to calculate the events carbon footprint
- Identifying opportunities to reduce emissions and deliver carbon reductions
- We offset to Verified Carbon Standard approved projects in the UK and overseas to balance out the remaining carbon emissions and deliver a net zero carbon event.
What we measure:
- Travel
- Accommodation
- Catering
- Event space
- Promotional material
What have we learnt from previous reports?
Catering is the main area in which we have been able to make our biggest impact. Since producing a mostly vegetarian menu, we have reduced our food and beverage carbon footprint from 25.88 tonnes in 2021 to 7.60 tonnes in 2023, a reduction of 70.63%.
Travel and Accommodation has seen a much-improved carbon footprint, and we can attribute working with Green Tourism Accredited hotels, for example while 63% of rooms were at Green Tourism-certified rooms, emissions from these rooms only accounted for 29% total accommodation emissions- showing prioritising sustainably accredited accommodation has a much bigger impact than any other factor when it comes to accommodation. We continue to encourage and celebrate green travel where possible, such as train to Birmingham New Street and walking to the venue, or where possible car-shares.
We work closely with the ICC (venue) and Carbon Consultancy to identify other areas of improvement that can help with our goals of reduction.
How you can help us:
When you register for the event, as part of your event confirmation, you’ll find a quick survey to complete. Please be as honest and accurate as possible, as the truer information we’re able to gather, the better picture we can paint of our carbon emissions.