Contents
Key points
- Travel, accommodation and catering can account for nearly 80% of an event’s emissions.
- The first lever is transport: a venue accessible by train, grouped transfers.
- ADEME offers a free self-assessment tool: ADERE.
Where the impact lies
According to the green growth commitment for the events industry (engagement pour la croissance verte), signed by the French State and UNIMEV, the French events industry union, the share of participants’ travel in greenhouse gas emissions ranges from 35% (or even less) for a local event to 55–70% for a very large or international event. Together with accommodation and catering, these three items can account for nearly 80% of emissions. These estimates are based on UNIMEV’s Cleo calculator, which draws on the Base Carbone of ADEME, the French agency for ecological transition.
The levers that matter
Transport
- Choose a venue accessible by train: in Provence, near Aix-en-Provence TGV, Avignon TGV, Marseille or Les Arcs-Draguignan stations.
- Organise grouped transfers from the station rather than individual journeys.
- For a regional team, favour a venue close by rather than a distant destination.
Accommodation and venue
- A venue sized for your group, with no unused rooms or bedrooms.
- Ask the venue about its commitments: energy, water, waste, local purchasing.
Catering
- Seasonal menus and local produce, of which Provence has plenty.
- Numbers confirmed early to limit waste.
- Water in jugs, reusable tableware.
Materials and communication
- Digital documents, no disposable giveaways.
- Reusable signage.
A CSR corporate retreat, beyond the carbon footprint
- Choose a committed venue: ask the venue about its action on energy, water, waste and local purchasing.
- Put the topic on the agenda: a Climate Fresk (Fresque du climat) workshop, a litter pick with a local association (see team building ideas).
- Promote inclusion: venues and activities accessible to everyone, dietary requirements anticipated.
- Report back: measure the corporate retreat’s footprint and share it with your teams.
Assessing your corporate retreat
ADEME provides ADERE, an environmental self-assessment tool for organisers of cultural, sporting or business events. It helps identify priority actions before the event and measure progress.
State your sustainability expectations in your request: we pass them on to the venues.
Sources and method
Information checked on 11 November 2026.
- Engagement pour la croissance verte relatif à la transition de l’industrie événementielle — Ministère de la Transition écologique et UNIMEV : share of travel, accommodation and catering in emissions
- ADERE, autodiagnostic environnemental — ADEME : tool for event organisers
- Organiser mon évènement éco-responsable — ADEME : action guide
Frequently asked questions
What is the largest source of emissions for a corporate retreat?
Participants’ travel. According to the green growth commitment signed by the French State and UNIMEV, the French events industry union, it accounts for 35% (or even less) of emissions for a local event, rising to 55–70% for a very large or international event.
Is there a tool to assess your event?
Yes: ADERE, the environmental self-assessment tool from ADEME, the French agency for ecological transition, designed for event organisers, including organisers of business events.
