THE SUSTAINABILITY AWARD (VENUE OR CATERING)
Barbican
The Barbican is a world leading conference and international arts venues. Located in the City of London, it is capable of holding meetings from 10-2,000 delegates in its fully equipped concert hall, theatres, conference suites and boardrooms.
The Barbican recognises the impact that our operations and activities can have on not just the environment but also people and we are committed to reducing these impacts by setting and achieving clearly defined objectives and targets to achieve continual improvement.
Due to the nature and scale of the Barbican we recognise that we have a leadership role to play in both the meetings and arts sectors and are therefore develop our systems with the ambition of being recognised as exemplars of best practice in CSR.
The Barbican has an opportunity to demonstrate best practice to millions visiting the centre every year, whether it is for the arts or conferences. We see it as our duty to demonstrate best practice when it comes to sustainability and the environment. Our work is ongoing and all encompassing, allowing us to continually demonstrate success.
BMA House
BMA House is a Grade II listed conference and events venue, just a short walk from major transport links such as Euston and King’s Cross St Pancras, making us one of the most accessible and sustainable venues in the capital We are capable of hosting events up to 320 across 22 spaces As the home of the British Medical Association, BMA House has long recognised the importance of sustainability, the achievement of which has long-term benefits for human health and wellbeing We are committed to seeking every opportunity to ensure we and our partners adhere to sustainable goals on every level Our sustainability practices are therefore measurable and capable of evolution to ensure we are constantly improving We believe it is our job to continually demonstrate sustainable success and best practice to everyone who walks through our doors, which is why we constantly promote sustainability at events such as the Sustainable Events Show, and the launch of the Sustainable Event Buyer’s Guide, which we hosted We have also achieved a Gold accreditation with Green Tourism; and was one of just two venues that went straight to Platinum level in the new ECOsmart Accreditation Ultimately, our team lives, eats and breathes
Eden Caterers
At Eden Caterers we believe in providing fresh, seasonal and delicious food all year round, delivering within Central London and selected areas in Greater London. Founded in 1993, we are regarded as one of the UK’s most sustainable caterers, with multiple 3-star rating awards from the Sustainable Restaurant Association. Our kitchens are based near Waterloo, which is an ideal location close to all of our clients where we can create stunning food for all occasions. We are made up of 50 employees who all share the same passion for quality healthy food, sustainability and strong well-being.
Eden Caterers are committed to following, improving and promoting good sustainability practices throughout all of our everyday operations. We approach corporate social responsibility and sustainability through our energy & emissions, sourcing & purchasing of product and waste management.
ExCeL London
Since opening our doors 21 years ago, ExCeL London has firmly established itself as one of the UK’s leading international exhibition and conference centres.
Yet this success is not just down to providing world-class facilities and services, our owners, staff, event organisers, exhibitors and visitors all value our wider purpose and creating a positive impact on the local community and the world around us. We truly believe in caring for our people and our planet.
2021 was a challenging year for all of us, not least our five charity partners who, more than ever, felt the effects of the pandemic. We are immensely proud of the support we gave them but also our own efforts from recycling 71% or our waste, operating to both ISO20121 and ISO14001 levels, using 100% renewable energy, offsetting our travel or earning the ‘Triple Crown of Sustainability’. In April, we also signed the Net Zero Carbon Events Pledge, committing us to achieve a 50% reduction in emissions by 2030.
More importantly, our aim is to use our platform and the four million people who grace our venue every year, to inform and inspire others to play their part in tackling the climate emergency.
Friends House
As a Quaker venue, sustainability has always been part of our identity. In 2009, we made the choice to be a low carbon operation and reduce our carbon footprint by 30% within the next 10 years. More than ten years on, we are now an ethical and sustainable operation:
• We use 100% green energies, free from fossil fuels
• We source local, seasonal, and organic food produce wherever possible
• We pay all our staff above the London Living Wage
• We are single-use plastic-free
• We follow a strict ethical and sustainable procurement process
• And the list goes on!
Our green initiatives didn’t go unnoticed as we are Green Tourism Gold and ECOsmart platinum accredited.
Our team is part and parcel of our sustainable success. We have a series of company commitments, with a strong emphasis on reducing our environmental impact. They also know about our Sustainability Strategy, which sets green targets for 2030. The strategy includes five UN Sustainable Development Goals we have chosen to focus on and some corresponding green targets. Ultimately, we want to be carbon neutral by 2030.
We also engage with other venues and organised an event to think about ways to tackle food waste within the event industry.
We have many more green ideas for the future. In 2023, we would like to switch to a 100% vegetarian and vegan catering offer. George Fox, the founder of Quakerism said: “Be patterns, be examples” and we think that with our sustainable ethos we’re doing just that.
Olympia London
Olympia London believes operating sustainably is essential for its continued success The team recognise that we, and the industry, are on a significant journey to true sustainability, and therefore continually review the company’s ESG strategy and activities to make positive change, make commitments and support the wider industry. In 2017 Olympia London launched its ESG strategy – The Grand Plan which is core to our operations, decision-making and culture. It is driven by working group, is centrally funded and made up of 20 staff from all areas and levels of the business, including board representation. Its ultimate goal is to leave a positive impact through all that we do, focusing on these areas: • Community • Environment • Engage, Educate, Empower. Olympia London was one of the first UK venues to commit to the global event industry’s net zero pledge during COP26 last year and inputted into the draft pledge. Being able to commit to this early is a result of the years of embedding sustainably at our company’s core through our ‘Grand Plan’ ESG strategy. The commitment is to reach net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 at the latest and reduce GHG emissions by 50%
Palace Public Occasions
Lambeth Palace is the London home of the Archbishop of Canterbury, his family and two religious communities. Lambeth Palace is a historic Palace, and the centre of the Archbishop’s ministry and worship, with a proud heritage of providing hospitality at all levels, from Archbishops setting up soup-kitchens at the Palace gates, to entertaining royalty at garden parties.
Today it is a working Palace with Lambeth Palace and Lambeth Palace Library operating as fantastic venues with spaces to suit all.
Bookings and enquiries for Lambeth Palace Library can be made via hospitality@lambethpalace.org.uk.
RSA House
The RSA has been at the forefront of significant social impact for over 260 years. From championing early smokeless combustion technology to hosting the influential Food, Farming and Countryside Commission. The RSA has a commitment to be carbon neutral by 2050.
In 2020 events spaces were refurbished, to ensure market leading and sustainable facilities for the return to live events. Most spaces feature recycled carpet made from discarded fishing nets from some of the poorest communities overseas. Furniture and equipment is upcycled where possible to reduce unnecessary waste.
By hosting an event at RSA House, clients are contributing towards a better society with all the profits generated from events going towards the RSA charity, to fund the cutting-edge research the RSA undertakes and the practical tools and frameworks the RSA develop, relating to Regenerative Practices. All event bookers are sent a one page ESG document outlining The RSA’s commitment to a greener more equitable future for people, place and planet.
In-house caterers, CH&CO encourage clients to incorporate plant-based options into their menu, or to go entirely plant based. They incentivise clients to select chefs’ choice menus, reducing the price of the menu, to reduce food waste and deliveries.
