Social enterprise and charitable trust BH Live has partnered with Green Mark to boost its green activity and credentials across Dorset, Hampshire and London.
Green Mark, a sustainability accreditation, helps leading brands and organisations such as Laurent-Perrier UK, Samsonite and The British Academy to identify and implement environmentally focused and sustainable business processes that are both user-friendly and effective. This forms part of a robust environmental strategy to reduce the overall impact of operations in areas including waste and energy usage and helps establish a sustainable business culture through increased employee and stakeholder engagement.
BH Live operates venues, leisure centres, cafés and bars across Dorset, Hampshire and in London, including Bournemouth International Centre and Fairfield Halls in Croydon. Placing sustainability at the heart of its culture, BH Live is using the Green Mark framework to better understand its environmental impact, with the aim of reducing resource usage and driving operational efficiency.
“As a social enterprise, sustainability is a fundamental part of our community and culture. Our target is to be net zero carbon by 2030 and carbon neutral by 2035 investing in initiatives to remove the same amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as we emit.
“While we are already making a positive impact across our estates to be more sustainable, working with Green Mark helps us get even closer to where we need to be.
We are constantly looking for ways to reduce, reuse, recycle, reclaim and remove waste from our sites, minimising the impact on landfill. Our waste management process monitors and reports on all the waste materials removed from our venues and tracks how these materials are recycled or converted to energy.
“We use renewable energy where possible and a number of Solar PV rooftop installations are already operating across our venues and centres. With our local authority partners LED lighting and sensors have been installed to cut energy consumption in conference spaces, gyms, pools, catering outlets and main public areas while maintaining comfort and safety for our visitors.
“We work with companies and partners who have a clear sustainability strategy and are as passionate as we are about meeting their social, environmental and economic responsibilities. This applies to all food, drink and event services that we offer organisers, promoters and visitors. To combat the impact of single use plastics, we promote and sell affordable reusable cups in our Terrace Cafés. We do not use plastic straws or cutlery and we remove as much waste as possible from our food packaging.
“A move to digital tickets for events has already reduced the amount of print and paper we produce. And prominently placed recycling bins across venues and centres encourages responsible waste disposal. We encourage clients to take part in corporate social responsibility initiatives too such as beach cleans and food banks. We also encourage visitors and employees to walk, cycle or use public transport where possible.
“We have committed to making sure our centres and venues are compliant with the Green Mark framework. And with the help of their team we will be leading the charge within our industry to be greener.
“We’ll be implementing technology and using data to enable us to continue making measurable, meaningful change. Instilling a culture of sustainability across our teams through the introduction of a green team to identify and roll out green initiatives will further.”
Dave Price, Director for Green Mark adds,
“It is clear to the Green Mark team that BH Live is already doing fantastic work in the communities they serve and we are proud to be partnering with them. We will be able to help them implement behavioral change from a grassroots level up on their journey and make sure that they achieve their goal of being a more sustainable and environmentally friendly company.”
“Our simple belief is that everyone can be sustainable, and we are here for our community and anyone that needs our help every step of the way.”
-ENDS-
Notes to Editors:
For more information about BH Live please contact:
Elizabeth Symmons, PR, Communications and Marketing Manager
E: press.office@bhlive.org.uk
T: (01202) 055562
About BH Live
BH Live is a leading operator of leisure and event venues; a social enterprise that designs and builds engaging experiences to inspire people and enrich lives.
For more visit bhlive.org.uk.
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