7
Leeds & Hull
Venues have a duty to champion sustainable practices,
and Hull’s popular aquarium does just that
s the events industry
gains greater profile
across the wider
industry, the intensity of
the scrutiny will increase. How the
events industry is working to reduce
its carbon footprint and improve
sustainable practices will become a
core criterion for event organisers
when looking to book.
The Deep is one of Hull’s most
successful attractions. The
aquarium, one of the UK’s largest,
is also a popular venue for events,
ranging from conferences,
receptions, dinners and awards.
The Deep’s fish products are
sustainably sourced via MSC
certified suppliers or MSC certified
sources, and it uses local suppliers
for other food products such as
those based in nearby Trinity
Market.
Being an aquarium, there can be
a fine line to traverse. A
spokesperson for the venue says:
“The Deep is committed to the
long-term health and survival of the
world’s oceans. The chef works
closely with our curatorial team and
along with the Marine Conservation
Bottom: Hull’s popular
aquarium, The Deep
Society we promote and follow
‘Good Fish Guidelines’ when
selecting which fish to include
within our menus. With many fish
stocks in serious decline as a result
of over-fishing, it is important to our
chef that we only select fish from
sustainably managed stocks or
from stock farmed in a way that
causes minimal impact to the
marine environment or other
wildlife.”
The venue’s Two Rivers
restaurant says they are also
passionate about sustainability. A
spokesperson says: “We have
researched and curated a special
selection of wines for you to try,
from producers who share our
beliefs in responsible sourcing and
processes. The wine list is printed
on a special algae paper, made
using damaging blooms removed
from the Venice Lagoon. A
combination of man-made nutrients
and warm water at the end of the
summer causes the algae to
develop in an abnormal way,
making the ecosystem unstable.
Excess algae are removed and
mixed with recycled and
sustainable wood fibres to produce
www.conference-news.co.uk
a high-quality paper made
completely of sustainable resources
and the Lagoon’s ecosystem is
maintained.”
The wine list, too, fits the
sustainable bill, and include vegan
options as standard.
Plastic waste in marine
environments is one of the biggest
issues currently facing the planet,
and venues such as The Deep are
at the forefront of highlighting the
damage it can cause.
If we continue on this current
path, by 2050 there will be more
plastic in the ocean than fish.
For example, the venue’s
Christmas parties includes no
plastic at all, and they provide
sustainable crackers with
sustainable Christmas decorations
inside, paper table confetti, proper
table linen no disposable elements.
On a more day-to-day level, the
venue has also replaced bottled
drinks with cans, and has installed
water fountains.
The Deep also sources its RSPO
certified palm oil from repurposed
land, as opposed to from sources
which involves deforestation of the
rainforests, while used cooking oil is
turned into clean energy which can
be used to provide energy, heating
and biofuel for cars.
The Deep has an 18-point plan to
ensure it is as efficient as possible.
Visit www.thedeep.co.uk