THE SUSTAINABILITY AWARD
Gold : The Barbican
Conference and international arts venue , The Barbican , was awarded Gold at the 2021 London Venue and Catering Awards for its sustainability efforts . Located in the City of London , The Barbican 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 operations and activities can have on not just the environment , but also people , and it is committed to reducing these impacts by setting and achieving clearly defined objectives and targets to ensure continual improvement .
Due to the nature and scale of The Barbican , the venue states that it has a leadership role to play in both the meetings and arts sectors . Therefore , it has developed its systems with the ambition of being recognised as exemplars of best practice in corporate social responsibility ( CSR ).
“ 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 ,” The Barbican says .
Silver : The Kia Oval
The Kia Oval strives to be a venue with a strong ethos of environmental consciousness and responsibility , which is supported by its EcoSmart Gold Status .
The Kia Oval has implemented various sustainable initiatives such as : serving drinks in reusable and recyclable glasses , installing 14 water fountains around the grounds to allow guests to refill their own bottles , using renewable energy for its electricity , and more .
“ The ground is proud to be playing its part in reducing the capital ’ s carbon footprint , helping to educate event attendees and highlighting the behaviours needed to help reduce the ground ’ s environmental impact ,” says the venue .
Nominees in this category
• Events @ No6
• Royal College of Physicians
Bronze : ExCeL London
ExCeL London states it strives to create a legacy through upholding the values of its community and industry , as well as by tackling the climate crisis in “ meaningful and goal-driven ways ”.
This approach can be found in its CSR strategy , which focuses on reducing waste , increasing energy efficiency , delivering more sustainable food choices , and supporting its local community . As part of its sustainability efforts , ExCeL London launched a number of initiatives around minimising single-use plastic waste and reducing its carbon emissions through switching to renewable energy , as well as building a living wall at its venue . Additionally , the venue has continued to support its charity partners throughout the pandemic .