In a pioneering move for sustainable events, Koelnmesse has introduced CHEQ, an innovative web-based app that enables trade fair visitors to calculate the carbon savings associated with attending an event. The tool highlights the positive climate impact of consolidated trade fair visits, which often replace multiple individual business trips.
© Koelnmesse
"With CHEQ, we make the ecological effect of trade fair participation measurable and transparent," says Christian Glasmacher, Vice President Corporate Development and Sustainability at Koelnmesse. The app allows visitors to log their journey to the fair, select the exhibitors they visited, and compare the emissions of their trip with the avoided emissions from the trips that did not take place. The result is a personalised carbon footprint balance sheet, anonymous and free of charge.
CHEQ's launch coincides with Anuga 2025, the world's leading food and beverage trade fair, where approximately 140,000 visitors, including a high proportion of international attendees, will test the app. According to a study by AUMA, each B2B trade fair visit replaces an average of five business trips, rising to eight for international participants, underlining the environmental efficiency of concentrated networking events.
The initiative is part of Koelnmesse's broader sustainability strategy, which includes transitioning to fully fossil-free energy by 2028, expanding e-charging infrastructure, promoting public transport, and implementing smart logistics through the award-winning eSlot and NUNAV routing systems. By integrating CHEQ into its operations, Koelnmesse emphasises the importance of considering both direct and indirect emissions in assessing the environmental impact of large-scale events.
CHEQ represents a significant step toward making sustainable event participation tangible. Beyond measuring emissions, it demonstrates how trade fairs can serve as a climate-positive platform, consolidating networking opportunities while reducing travel-related emissions. As the industry faces growing environmental scrutiny, tools like CHEQ provide concrete evidence of the efficiency and sustainability potential inherent in large-scale B2B gatherings.
For media inquiries, Dr. Jasmin Fischer at Koelnmesse is available for interviews and further details. The app is accessible online, allowing visitors to experience firsthand how a single trade fair visit can reduce carbon emissions, reinforcing Koelnmesse's role as a leader in sustainable trade fair management.
More information:
Koelnmesse
www.koelnmesse.com
