NCW is committed to reducing our environmental impact, increasing our sustainability, and creating a forum for discussion to bring environmental concerns and the climate crisis conversation to a wider public.
We monitor our carbon footprint through Arts Council England’s Julie’s Bicycle platform, and the Investment Principles framework. We report annually on both to our board, via the work of our Greener Organisation Group.
We are currently working to improve our environmental performance, to ensure that our monitoring procedures are robust, and to undergo an appropriate accreditation – Norfolk & Suffolk Carbon Charter for instance – which recognises our environmental efforts and holds us to account.
Greener Organisation Group
Our ‘Greener Organisation Group’ is a cross-departmental team of staff who champion sustainability throughout the year, attending workshops, liaising with sector peers, communicating issues and the latest thinking across the organisation. The Greener Organisation Group ensures that environmental matters are considered at every stage of activity to help identify where changes can be made, however small, to reduce our impact.
If you have any questions or suggestions relating to our green initiatives, please contact our Greener Organisation Group via: [email protected].
Key green actions to date
Reducing waste
- We continue to monitor and reduce waste where we can, and adjust our eg print volumes to reduce surplus and waste
- Our caterers use compostable packaging, plates, cups, glasses and cutlery in all cafes and bars on site and don’t sell drinks in plastic bottles.
- We encourage our staff to use keep cups instead of single use
- We separate 100% of recyclable waste (including food waste) in our office and at all our events
- Where possible, we encourage our team to reduce printing paper, and to use laptops and tablets instead
- We retain digital records where possible, to save paper and postage by enabling electronic applications, communications, and contracts for all staff
- Where possible, art materials used in craft activities on site are recycled, non-toxic and biodegradable.
- Staff uniforms use fairly-traded and, where available, biodegradable materials
- We introduced e-tickets as a more sustainable alternative to printed tickets
Utilities
- We have switched to a green gas supplier, and plan to do the same for electricity when our current contract comes to an end
- We ensure the heating / air conditioning in the building is judiciously used ie only on when in use, and only in the spaces that need to be heated
- We choose environmentally conscious products, such as paper, stationery, cleaning products and detergents
- We make environmentally conscious choices when it comes to acquiring eg fixtures and fittings for the office and venue
Transport
- We successfully lobbied the Beryl Bikes system for a bike station in our area and encourage staff and visitors to use it
- NCW is part of the Bike to Work Scheme
- We ensure we’re investigating the greenest modes of travel for our artists, eg encouraging the use of public transport instead of car travel, and trains instead of planes for domestic travel
- Our staff car share to events when possible
Advocacy and joined up thinking
- We take seriously our responsibility to creating events and programmes that inform and challenge audiences on topics relating to the environment and the climate crisis
- Environmental sustainability is embedded in all staff training and employee handbooks, and we welcome suggestions on how to improve our practices from all members of staff, as well as via the Greener Organisation Group
- We participate where and when we can in local joined-up initiatives such as Norwich BID’s ‘Upcycle Your Waste’ programme
- We use Upcycle and Freegle when we need to refurbish or repurpose our spaces
