Max SteventonArenas across the world have received certification from sustainability consultancy A Greener Future (AGF) for their sustainability efforts in 2025.
Recipients include Ancienne Belgique in Brussels, Co-op Live (pictured) in Manchester, M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, and AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong.
OVG’s Co-op Live and the AAC Liverpool-run M&S Bank Arena were highly commended by AGF for going “above and beyond” in their sustainability efforts. The Scottish Event Campus’ OVO Hydro, in Glasgow, was commended. In 2022, rhe 14,300-capacity arena became the first arena worldwide to be awarded A Greener Arena status.
The New Lawn stadium, used by English football club Forest Green Rovers, was as rated as outstanding, while the temporary, demountable, London venue built by ES Global for ABBA Voyage was rated as an ‘improver’.
The AGF certification assesses venues across 11 categories, including energy, water, waste, travel, local environment, community engagement, EDI and governance.
A certification ceremony will take place on 24 February 2026 in London as part of the Green Events & Innovations (GEI18) Conference. Venues achieving certification are automatically nominated for the International AGF Awards, which include the Greener Festival Award, Greener Power Award, and Greener Arena Award.
Co-op Live sustainability & CSR director Sara Tomkins said, “Sustainability sits at the very heart of the venue, leading industry-wide conversation on reducing the live entertainment industry’s carbon footprint.”
AGF CEO Claire O’Neill said: “Venues are the backbone of the live indoor sector and touring circuit. The more venues that take sustainability seriously, the more artists have a song sheet to sing from that connects with their values and perpetuates a greener event sector for everyone.”