Farnborough International has appointed Green Circle Solutions (GCS) to measure the carbon footprint of its flagship event, the Farnborough International Airshow.
Sarah Lindsay, assistant director of operational experience and sustainability, who has been with Farnborough International for 16 years, shares her insights on the process of the partnership.
“Many potential suppliers didn’t grasp the size of our event. Some offered rough estimations, but we wanted a more granular, evidence-based approach,” said Lindsay.
GCS first mission was to calculate the emissions generated by visitor travel to and from the airshow, and using the GCS Visitor Travel Carbon Calculator, Farnborough International was able to target its audience directly for the first time.
The tool was integrated into the registration process, and attendees were invited to receive a personalised carbon footprint report in exchange for sharing their travel data.
According to Lindsay, GCS’s engagement with key suppliers such as catering and transport has saved both time and resources.
The air show display is also something being factored in as the operation teams have provided fuel data, confirming that all display aircrafts are powered by Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), supplied by the TAG-owned Farnborough Airport.
Additionally, Farnborough International’s Destination Zero campaign aims to achieve net zero emissions by embedding sustainability across four strategic pillars, (1. Energy 2. Reduce, Reuse & Recycle 3. Partnerships, and 4. Wellbeing & Community) to be able to deliver events and experiences for years to come.
The final GCS report is now being analysed to identify further ways to cut emissions ahead of the 2026 event.
While Farnborough International is committed to reducing emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieving Net Zero by 2050, the team is exploring ways to accelerate that timeline.
