ProDemos Certification: The " ESG " Certification for Large-Scale Events

Trade shows, conferences, exhibitions, major sporting or cultural events: ProDemos Certification evaluates the “ ESG ” approach of large-scale events, their organizers, the venues that host them, and the service providers who set them up. ESTRADS Certification awards each level based on verified evidence and following an on-site audit.

What We Expect Today
from a Major Event

A large-scale event brings together thousands of visitors, hundreds of exhibitors, and a network of service providers over the course of just a few days. Its exhibitors, sponsors, staff, and the host community all ask the same questions. ProDemos Certification answers these questions with third-party-verified evidence.

Exhibitors and partners who demand accountability

The major corporations exhibiting at the event have their own commitments— ESG —and their own reporting requirements. They want to know how the event manages its waste, energy, service providers, and the reception of their teams. The certificate provides them with a third-party verification, rather than a statement from the organizer.

Funders and sponsors who want proof

Banks, investors, and sponsors review an event’s non-financial profile before partnering with it. The analysis report provided along with the certification offers them a verified ESG assessment. For financial institutions evaluating a portfolio, ESTRADS Certification also offers an ESG rating.

Jobs with a High Demand for Workers

Setup and takedown, logistics, hospitality, security, catering: the events industry is hiring for challenging roles, often with irregular schedules and a high proportion of temporary workers. The certification evaluates your hiring policies, working conditions, risk prevention on setup sites, and training. This provides you with a verified selling point for candidates.

Local governments and residents to be informed

A major event involves the transportation, public works, public safety, and city services departments. The host municipality must report on it to its elected officials and residents. The certificate and its communication kit (logo, plaque, diploma, messaging guidelines) help you present your environmental and social initiatives to elected officials, prefectures, and local residents.

Two major trade shows that are already ProDemos-certified

Eurosatory, the defense and security trade show

Eurosatory brings together approximately 2,000 exhibitors from the land and air-land defense and security sectors every two years in Paris-Nord Villepinte. Organized by COGES Events, it is the first trade show to have obtained the ProD&S Certification, in 2022 and again in 2024. It also holds ProDemos Certification, which evaluates the event itself—including its organization, service providers, and management of visitor flow and waste. Thanks to the partnership with COGES Events, Eurosatory exhibitors receive support in their own certification processes.

SFMA, the Aviation Training and Careers Fair

Held at the Air and Space Museum in Le Bourget, the SFMA brings together schools, training organizations, and employers in the aerospace industry to connect with young people seeking career guidance. It has earned a 2-star rating under the ProDemos Certification and the ProTarmac Certification. Exhibitors can also participate in the program through a partnership with ESTRADS Certification.

These two trade shows illustrate a common practice: the ProDemos Certification evaluates the event, while the industry certification evaluates the organizer or exhibitors. Details on the partnerships can be found on the page Our Partners.

Certification for the entire event chain

ProDemos Certification covers all types of large-scale events: trade shows and consumer fairs, conferences and conventions, exhibitions, festivals, sports competitions and gatherings, and institutional events. The questionnaire is tailored to the organization’s role in the event, its size, and its status.

Trade Show and Event Organizers

You are putting your name and the event’s name on the line. Certification provides you with a comprehensive assessment, a report that serves as a roadmap from one edition to the next, and proof to present to your exhibitors, sponsors, and government authorities.

Exhibition centers, convention centers, and event venues

Your venues host dozens of events each year. Your choices regarding energy, water, waste sorting, accessibility, and public transportation access impact the environmental footprint of each event. Certification evaluates these factors and highlights them to event organizers who are selecting a venue.

Service Providers and Subcontractors

Exhibition stand builders, event agencies, caterers, security firms, cleaning companies, logistics providers, and audiovisual companies: your client organizers will send you their questionnaires at ESG. The certification assesses your practices and provides you with a single, verified response. For an organizer who wants to map all of their service providers based on their certifications: ATLAS

Associations and Federations

A sports federation or association that organizes a championship, a celebration, or a festival is accountable to its members, its partners, and the local governments that provide it with funding. The associations questionnaire is tailored to its operations and resources.

Local Governments and Public Institutions

A city, department, region, or public institution that organizes or hosts a major event must demonstrate the appropriate use of public funds and the event’s impact on the local area. ProDemos Certification provides an independent assessment, using criteria tailored to public organizations, along with a report to guide future editions.

What the ProDemos Certification Measures

More than 500 criteria, grouped into eight categories. The questionnaire varies depending on the profile: organizer, host venue, service provider, nonprofit, public institution, or startup. Multiple managers can share responsibility for completing it (management, production, procurement, human resources, security, ESG).

Regulations and Ethics: Applicable Laws and Regulations, Anti-Corruption Measures, Permits, and Filings.
Governance: decision-making, transparency regarding shareholders and beneficial owners.
Employees and contractors: hiring, working conditions during setup and takedown, use of temporary workers, harassment prevention, training.
Service Providers and Subcontractors: Shared Ethical Standards, Oversight of Multi-Tiered Subcontracting, and Combating Illegal Employment.
Environment: energy, water, transportation of visitors and goods, booth materials, reuse.
Waste: sorting, reduction, reuse of carpets and structures, recycling.
Visitor Services: Safety, Accessibility for People with Disabilities, Health, and Crowd Management.
Cybersecurity: Ticketing, Protection of Visitor and Exhibitor Data.

Where do these criteria come from? From the documents listed on the page Our Certifications page (Sustainable Development Goals, ISO 26000, CSRD, duty of care, the Sapin II Act, the Labor Code, the Environmental Code), along with standards specific to the events industry, including ISO 20121 on responsible event management. These standards are reviewed annually.

Data protected by a sovereign entity

Some events host official delegations, defense industry representatives, or visitors whose identities are sensitive. The information shared during a certification process (organization, sites, service providers, security measures) is therefore confidential. ESTRADS Certification is 100% French-owned and is not subject to the Cloud Act: your data remains with a French provider. Details are available on the “Our Sovereignty” page.

As an independent, trusted third party, ESTRADS Certification is an organization that provides verification, ESG ratings, CSR certification, and sovereignty assessments. It has issued 650 certifications, none of which have been rejected by a client or contracting entity. It is certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 and holds the status of a mission-driven company. Any stakeholder can report a violation on the page Alert Us.

Three certifications round out ProDemos:

the ProD&S Certification, for defense and security trade shows and service providers;
the ProTarmac Certification, for aviation and airport events;
the FranceRSE Certification, for service providers for whom event management is only one part of their business.

Letter of Recognition from the DGA

ESTRADS Certification received an official letter of recognition from the DGA highlighting the relevance of his work. As this excerpt states:

“The Defense Industry Directorate (DGA/DID) has taken note of the work conducted by ESTRADS Certification in the field of ethical, social, environmental, and sovereignty certification as applied to complex and sensitive industrial sectors, and more specifically to strategic sectors related to defense and security. This letter serves as explicit recognition of the value of the approach developed by ESTRADS Certification as an independent private initiative aimed at supporting industrial stakeholders in a proactive effort to advance and structure their practices.”

Let's talk about your event

A quick conversation is all it takes to determine which questionnaire applies to you, which level to aim for, and which fee applies. The fee depends on your revenue, with special terms available for startups and members of partner organizations. The best time to get started is several months before the event: this will allow you to highlight your level in your communications and to your exhibitors. A certified organization that recommends ESTRADS Certification is eligible for the referral program.