Sustainable Webinars: How Virtual Events Are Reducing the Carbon Footprint

Nowadays, with everyone more aware of their environmental impact, businesses and individuals are looking for easy ways to go green. One great option? Webinars. Virtual events like these are fantastic because they connect people worldwide while slashing carbon emissions: no flights, no venues, no piles of waste—just online connection and learning. Webinars are helping us reduce our carbon footprint and move toward a more sustainable future, all while keeping things convenient and accessible for everyone.

So, what is a Carbon Footprint?

A carbon footprint measures the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions produced by an individual, organization, product, or activity. It is calculated by aggregating emissions across all stages of a product’s life cycle, including production, use, and disposal. Carbon footprints are typically reported in tonnes of emissions per unit of comparison, such as annually, per kilometer traveled, or per kilogram of protein.

Common greenhouse gases are Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Methane, Nitrous Oxide, water vapor, and Ozone.

The key point of contention is CO2 emissions, which occur naturally through processes like plant respiration and volcanic eruptions. However, human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, are a major contributor to the rise in CO2 levels, driving global warming and exacerbating climate change.

Greenhouse gases are essential for maintaining Earth’s temperature, which would otherwise be about -2°F. However, human activities have increased these gases since the Industrial Revolution, intensifying the greenhouse effect and driving global climate change.

The Hidden Environmental Cost of Traditional Events

When we think of in-person conferences or events, we often envision networking, knowledge sharing, and exciting keynotes. But behind the scenes, there’s a large carbon footprint being generated.

The international events industry is huge, raking in $2.5 trillion and doubling every decade. But there’s a hidden cost—each attendee at an in-person event generates about 3,000 kg of CO2. That adds up fast, contributing to nearly 10% of global carbon emissions. It’s a staggering impact when you think about the environmental toll just to bring people together. We can dramatically reduce this carbon footprint by switching to virtual events, like webinars.

The University of Michigan’s report on virtual event carbon footprints highlights that virtual events generate between 66% to 98% fewer emissions than their in-person counterparts.

Factors Contributing to High Carbon Footprint Level in In-Person Events

Transportation for attendees

The carbon impact of attendee transportation is primarily influenced by travel distance to events; longer distances lead to higher carbon emissions. Transportation often becomes the largest contributor to the event’s carbon footprint when many attendees travel significant distances, especially by air. Studies show that 10-20% of participants can account for 20-70% of total transportation-related emissions. Air travel dramatically increases the overall carbon cost, making transportation a critical sustainability concern for large-scale events. 

In contrast, online events eliminate the need for long-distance travel, significantly reducing their carbon footprint and making virtual gatherings a more accessible and sustainable alternative.

Physical event space

Heating and cooling large event spaces consume substantial energy, resulting in high carbon emissions. Additionally, the IT infrastructure needed for events— including projectors, laptops, advanced audio-visual equipment, lighting, sound systems, and networking gear—further adds to the carbon footprint. 

These factors underscore the environmental cost of traditional physical venues, highlighting the need for more sustainable alternatives like virtual events, which significantly reduce energy consumption and emissions.

Food offered at the event

Food served at events significantly contributes to carbon emissions, particularly when meat is included on the menu. Research indicates that a meat-based meal can represent up to 18% of an event’s total carbon footprint. In contrast, plant-based meals consumed at home during virtual events have a much lower impact, contributing only 1-2% of the total carbon footprint. 

This stark difference emphasizes the environmental benefits of online events, where attendees can opt for more sustainable food choices.

Materials and Waste

Promotional materials like handouts, giveaways, and temporary packaging, along with wasted food and decorative items, significantly increase an event’s carbon footprint. Reducing these materials can help minimize environmental impact and promote more sustainable practices.

A Cleaner Alternative: Webinars and Virtual Events

One of the most immediate benefits of webinars is the sharp reduction in carbon emissions. For example, according to an IEEE report, hosting a virtual event can cut emissions by as much as 94%, saving approximately 36,000 metric tons of CO2 for larger events. That’s the equivalent of burning 1,500 pounds of coal! Webinars eliminate the need for physical travel and accommodations, which account for the bulk of emissions in traditional events.

Webinar hosting platforms not only reduce the carbon footprint but also minimize energy consumption and waste. The energy needed for venue amenities like lighting, heating, and air conditioning is eliminated. Additionally, digital content replaces paper handouts, significantly decreasing event waste and promoting more sustainable practices.

How Webinars Help Us Go Green

• Less travel, fewer emissions: Virtual events eliminate the largest contributor to an event’s carbon footprint—air travel.
• Lower energy consumption: Online events leverage existing infrastructures (homes, offices), cutting energy use significantly compared to large physical venues.
• Waste reduction: No more single-use plastics, food waste, or unnecessary printed materials.

Those choosing webinars for large-scale events can follow these pointers to further enhance the eco-friendly nature of the events:

• Choosing Green Hosting Providers
• Using sustainable webinar platforms

Over 60% of carbon emissions from virtual conferences are associated with network data transfers from uploading and downloading data such as video calls, streaming, presentations, etc.

Therefore you can ask your attendees to take part in the green mission as well:

• Turning off the camera when not needed, reduces the attendee’s carbon footprint by 96%
• Using Standard Definition (SD) instead of High Definition (HD)
• Ask them to compress media files before sharing
• Remind participants to delete unneeded emails and files after the event.

Why Virtual?

Simple! It just makes sense from a business perspective!

Today 90% of business leaders agree on the importance of sustainability. With CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) a big part of all major companies, big businesses need to keep on reinventing new ways to make a social impact and be profitable at the same time.

• Virtual events attract more attendees than traditional events. This provides a greater opportunity for businesses to engage with their audience.
• 78% of businesses agree that virtual events give a positive ROI (Return on Investment) while generating more leads. 
• Sustainability reduces costs and affects operating profits by up to 60%
• Of course, the decreased Carbon Footprint can have a huge advantage in avoiding Carbon Taxes in certain jurisdictions, which can lead to increased profit margins.
• Customers actively seek to buy goods and services from socially responsible companies, who in turn become loyal customers if satisfied with your product or service.

Webinars as a Catalyst for Change

Webinars are more than just a convenient solution—they’re an active part of the movement towards sustainability. Whether you’re hosting a small business seminar or a large international conference, each webinar is a step towards a greener planet. Attendees can engage, learn, and connect from the comfort of their homes, knowing that they’re part of a solution that’s reducing emissions and saving resources.

As we move forward, the use of webinars and virtual events will continue to play a critical role in reducing our collective carbon footprint. By embracing these technologies, we not only make our events more accessible and inclusive but also kinder to the planet.

Incorporating more webinars into your event strategy is a choice that benefits everyone—the planet, your attendees, and future generations. It’s time to rethink how we gather, learn, and grow, all while caring for our shared home.

Frequently asked questions:

1.How do virtual actions create a carbon footprint?

Digital activities contribute to a carbon footprint through energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Data centers storing information, the energy used by devices, and common online tasks like streaming or emailing all require electricity, leading to emissions. The manufacturing and distribution of digital technologies also add to the digital carbon footprint.

2. How does digitalization reduce carbon footprint?

Digitalization helps reduce carbon footprints by optimizing energy use with sensors and data analytics, promoting renewable energy alternatives, and improving industrial efficiency. It also reduces energy waste by enhancing service efficiency and infrastructure. This shift supports lower greenhouse gas emissions and a more sustainable future.

3. What causes a digital carbon footprint?

A digital carbon footprint is the environmental impact of digital activities and technologies. It stems from energy consumption for devices, data centers, and online services. The manufacturing and disposal of electronics, emissions from internet infrastructure, and the growing demand from digitalization and mobile networks also contribute to increased carbon emissions.

4. What are the biggest factors of carbon footprint?

The major contributors to a carbon footprint include transportation, such as driving and flying, and food choices, particularly meat consumption like beef. Heating and cooling homes, waste disposal (especially single-use plastics), and technology production and usage also increase carbon emissions. Additionally, family size significantly impacts emissions, with each child adding an average of 58 tons of CO2 annually.