Martin FullardEvery year the UK produces millions of tonnes of plastic waste, which take hundreds of years to decompose.
Earlier this year, ExCeL launched a #NoPlastic Campaign, to outline the venue’s commitment to tackling this global issue.
With a remit to cater for over 4m visitors every year, ExCeL has initially focused on the role of the 27 retailers along the venue’s central boulevard.
All plastic straws have been removed from point of sale and suppliers now offer discounts for customers who have a reusable cup.
To reduce the disposal of hundreds of thousands of plastic bottles, permanent water fountains have been installed, providing free, chilled water.
ExCeL is encouraging their guests to get involved and have launched a competition to raise awareness of the steps they are taking.
Simply guess how many bottles will have been refilled using their water fountains, by the end of the year, to be in with chance of winning a trip for two to Venice. We can let you know that they are already at 90,000!
Register your guess here. The winner will be announced at the beginning of January 2020.
Jeremy Rees, CEO of ExCeL London, commented: “Waste from single-use plastic is a critical issue for our industry. We need to take a position on this to significantly reduce the amount of waste that we generate. Plastic is part of everyday life, so removing it completely is complicated and will take time. However, we must start somewhere. ExCeL is absolutely committed to taking steps to reduce the amount of plastic in our venue and working with our customers to deliver more sustainable events. We hope that this campaign encourages everyone to think about the difference we can all make to help tackle this global issue.”
If you’d like to find out more about ExCeL’s No Plastic Campaign please visit the website or tweet the venue @ExCeLLondon using the hashtag #NoPlastic