The Culinary Tourism Alliance and Carbonzero Set the Table for Sustainable Events

Since joining forces in 2022, the Culinary Tourism Alliance (CTA) and Carbonzero have measured and offset the carbon footprint of Feast On®, the CTA’s flagship annual event series. Together, they have successfully calculated and mitigated the carbon footprint of 11 sustainable events, setting a benchmark for eco-conscious culinary tourism and demonstrating that exceptional dining and environmental responsibility can charmingly coexist.

Event Sustainability: Feast On®

The 2024 FeastOn® culinary series highlights sustainable tourism with two unique events: A Taste of Southeastern Ontario, hosted in Kingston, Ontario, and A Taste of Timmins, hosted in Timmins, Ontario. Both events demonstrated a strong commitment to minimizing environmental impact through being held outdoors, attendee carpooling, and prioritizing recycling and organic waste management practices to achieve zero landfill waste.

A Taste of Southeastern Ontario, held on September 28, hosted 169 attendees at an outdoor venue, generating a limited carbon footprint. Notable sustainability practices included 44% of attendees carpooling to save 2.76 tCO₂e from the event’s total carbon footprint, and low energy use at the event’s four chef stations. Similarly, A Taste of Timmins on September 14 welcomed 158 attendees, 48% of whom carpooled to result in an emissions reduction of 1.34 tCO₂e. At the Timmins event, chefs relied on biomass stoves to cook outside, saving emissions from indoor utility use.

Both events also featured sustainable waste practices, with 100% of waste being diverted from landfill. At both events combined, 164 kg of waste was either composted or recycled, resulting in an 83% reduction in emissions compared to a landfill-only waste scenario at the 2024 Feast On® events. The prioritization of zero-waste initiatives at Feast On® highlights the CTA’s dedication to ecological responsibility while offering memorable dining experiences.

"Since partnering with Carbonzero in 2022, we have been measuring the impact of our travel and events, ensuring that our growth aligns with our sustainability goals”, says Rebecca Mackenzie, CEO of Culinary Tourism Alliance. “By offsetting our carbon footprint through verified projects, including improved forest management and avoided deforestation in Ontario's Niagara Escarpment, we are actively reducing our environmental impact and driving meaningful change. We are committed to making responsible travel decisions and encourage our visitors to join us in supporting a more sustainable tourism industry."  

The CTA’s Carbon Footprint Travel Calculator

In addition to measuring the impact of the Feast On® culinary series, Carbonzero also provides the CTA with a custom-designed Carbon Footprint Travel Calculator that enables continuous monitoring of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the organization’s business travel. This intuitive tool, annually updated for use since 2022,allows the CTA to input travel details for employees and board members, including their chosen mode of transportation. The calculator then automatically computes the carbon footprint of the CTA’s business travel, offering a comprehensive summary dashboard for users to view the results. With its user-friendly interface and visually appealing design, the CTA has a personalized resource to gain deeper insights into the environmental impact of its travel activities.

Carbon Footprint Mitigation through the Niagara Escarpment Forest Carbon Project

In 2024, the CTA has chosen to offset its emissions from Feast On® events as well as business travel through supporting the Niagara Escarpment Forest Carbon Project (NEFCP). This project is a conservation initiative managed by the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy (EBC) and verified under ISO-14064-2 standards. Focused on the diverse ecosystems along Ontario's Niagara Escarpment, the project protects and enhances forest cover, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration while mitigating pressures from human activities like logging and mineral extraction.

“It has been our pleasure working with the Culinary Tourism Alliance since 2022. We have been able to see their commitment to sustainability grow across the organization, impacting everything from how they plan their events to how they travel.” – Carbonzero

About The Culinary Tourism Alliance

The Culinary Tourism Alliance works with communities around the world to grow food tourism by leveraging the history, heritage, and culture behind the food and drink that makes each destination unique. Our mission is to ensure food tourism is a meaningful and sustainable contributor to local economies in destinations worldwide.

About Carbonzero

Carbonzero has been helping businesses and organizations measure, manage, and mitigate their climate impacts for over 15years. Trusted by more than one hundred corporate clients, our team of greenhouse gas accounting and carbon offsetting experts has the experience to support your organization on its climate change strategy.