Environmental Sustainability Policy
Our Commitments
- To embed environmental sustainability to the core of our working practice.
- To use recycled or refurbished materials where possible to reduce waste, especially to landfill.
- To set year-on-year carbon reduction targets.
- To inform, train and motivate staff to work in an environmentally responsible manner.
- To report on our progress annually.
- To share our experience and learn from others within the wider Arts sector.
Monitoring and Reporting
This policy will be reviewed annually by our Board and updated as necessary. The policy is supported by our strategy (below), and implementation and performance will be continuously evaluated through our strategy and environmental monitoring.
Strategy
In order to best support our commitments to environmental sustainability, we will aim to implement the following actions, subject to annual review]:
Office:
- Ensure a wide range of recycling is available at the office, for example: paper, can, plastics.
- Reduce paper usage where possible and move to online file sharing (DropBox, GoogleDrive, Microsoft Online)
- Provide staff with recyclable water bottles/cups to reduce single use plastics.
- Ensure kitchen appliances and computers are only turned on when in use.
- Investigate energy saving initiatives, for example, timed sensors for lights in corridors and the office.
- Promote the use of staff car sharing, public transport and bike riding when commuting to office and travelling to meetings.
- Provide adequate bike storage/security at the office for core staff and visitors.
Pre-Production/Design:
- Ensure the Environmental Sustainability Policy is discussed and agreed upon during contracting of Creative, Production & Technical teams This will be led by the Producer & Production Manager. [to ensure a sustainable approach is being taken throughout the design and production process.
- Extend design timelines where possible, to allow Designers to spend more time for recycled materials to be sourced and enough thought is given to the use of the materials
- Utilise set exchanges/borrowing/hiring from other theatre companies.
- Opt for recyclable or recycled set materials & props or reuse previous set elements to reduce commercial waste.
- Opt for using costume from Box of Tricks storage unit or 2nd hand clothing shops rather than one-time use/fast fashion. If necessary, hire a costume assistant to help with the costume sourcing.
- Commit to not using next day delivery services (unless sustainability delivered) and ensuring we can send someone from the production team to go and purchase items on the day when needed. This will offset the carbon footprint of next day deliveries but will be more time consuming and possibly cost more.
Rehearsal Period:
- Opt for digital script distribution where possible for use on e-readers/tablets rather than printing.
- Provide kitchen facilities at the rehearsal room to promote cooking/heating food at work rather than needing to buy food each day.
- Promote food sustainability programmes such as Meat Free Mondays.
- Commit to not using next day delivery services (unless sustainability delivered) and ensuring we can send someone from the production team to go and purchase items on the day when needed. This will offset the carbon footprint of next day deliveries but will be more time consuming and possibly cost more.
- Creative, Production & Technical teams to be as prepared as possible ahead of technical weeks in order to foresee potential technical issues. This might include ordering and testing equipment before they are needed to ensure there are no surprises during tech week.
- Promote the use of cast/crew/staff car sharing, public transport and cycling when attending rehearsals.
Venues & Touring:
- Supply the venue with a Green Rider alongside Technical Rider at the time of programming to find out how we can work together to be environmentally sustainable during our visit.
- Opt for using ethical print solutions for flyers & posters, (such as recycled paper) and critically assess printing orders to reduce possible waste.
- Opt for sustainable pop up banners that can be recycled after use.
- For lighting designs, encourage the use of LED and low energy lighting equipment where possible.
- Invest in re-usable cable ties and reusable bungee hooks to reduce single use plastic waste.
- Encourage use of public transport/car share for company travel to and from venue whilst on tour.
- Opt for environmentally sustainable accommodation where possible, this includes using theatre digs rather than hotels. Company to stay with family and friends where possible.
- Research hiring electric or hybrid vans for touring in light of the future emissions policy for Manchester city centre.
Storage:
- Invest in better storage solutions, such as flight cases or stronger material storage options, to best protect equipment for long term use.
- Create a technical inventory list and a breakages report.