Olivia PowellThe Museum of London share their advice on being sustainable.
With the climate and environment taking centre stage in the worldwide media, now is as good a time as any to reflect on and discuss the role venues can take in cutting waste and reducing our carbon footprint. As hives of human activity, we have a big part to play when it comes to sustainability, and for the first time, the Museum of London now has 0% of waste going to landfill. We’ve put together some top tips for those looking to reduce, reuse and recycle!
Have a waste management procedure in place
With large numbers of delegates and visitors passing through event venues and public attractions every day, the potential for waste is huge. Having a set procedure in place that all members of staff are aware of is essential and will drastically minimise waste. Wherever possible, go for bio-degradable or reusable products and ensure proper recycling facilities are available.
Since making a concentrated effort to increase recycling at the Museum of London, we have saved 502 trees, increased our recycling rate by 52% and saved 60 tonnes of CO2. For the first time ever, we also now have 0% of waste going to landfill – anything that can’t be recycled is now used to generate energy.
Go paperless
There are a number of ways to increase sustainability as an events venue, and going paperless makes a huge difference. This could include using digital invites instead of physical ones – consider whether you really need to print an event brochure or whether this can go online. Have as few paper documents as possible – we send our clients electronic contracts that they can sign digitally to reduce waste.
Aim to create sustainable promotional material – at the Museum of London, all material is reusable, including water bottles and cotton tote bags; this is also great from a commercial aspect as it means you can offer something unique that guests will only be able to sample if they choose your venue. When it comes to sustainability, often it’s the small changes that have the biggest impact.
Think outside the box
Our Terrace Gallery, Boardroom and Garden Room all have green roofs, meaning they are all partially covered with planting – this releases oxygen, filters pollutants and helps to insulate the building, as well as creating natural habitats and encouraging biodiversity. We have also installed a rainwater harvesting system, allowing us to filter captured water to be used in several spaces across the museum.
Sustainability doesn’t end at avoiding plastic or reducing food waste, it’s about ensuring the impact on the environment is reduced to an absolute minimum. We actively encourage our partners and clients to avoid needless printing, use energy saving lightbulbs, use accredited, ethical suppliers – it all makes a difference.