We are committed to reducing our carbon impact and collaborating with partners to create a more sustainable future. This commitment, and the actions we will take to meet it, are set out in our Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy (PDF, 4.3MB)
One part of achieving this commitment is through our sustainable events policy, which applies to all commercial hires booked through the Central Events Team.
Aims
Our sustainability strategy sets out a wide range of aims, including:
- continually seek out sustainable suppliers and partners, prioritising reusable or recyclable materials in our supply chains
- continually improve areas of the operation, reducing the climate and biodiversity impacts across the whole operation
- work with catering and events partners achieving high levels of accreditation in sustainability, reviewing their performance via the Social Value Portal and the contract KPIs.
Waste
We do not use single-use plastics, drinks are served in glasses, coffee/tea in china cups, food is either hand-held canapes or served on crockery, and cutlery is all metal or wooden. Water and cordial are served in glass bottles or kilners. Material table-cloths are used, not disposable ones.
We have a system for recycling, all food waste goes for bio-digestion, and nothing goes to landfill.
Our performance on reducing waste and increasing recycling is measured and reported annually through our annual report and accounts.
Catering
Menus are changed bi-annually to ensure they are diverse, seasonal and climate friendly, incorporating Slow Food and healthy ingredients. Vegetarian and vegan options are always available.
Numbers are confirmed to reduce food waste, and our caterer works with local charities to find uses for surplus, with any remainder being biodigested.
Next steps are re-ordering our menus so that vegetarian / vegan options are shown first, increasing vegan / non-dairy options, and working with our catering partner Graysons on an annual process to measure, reduce, verify and report greenhouse gas emissions from their catering menus.
Transport
We do not offer parking on site, and, with excellent public transport connections, the vast majority of event attendees arrive by public transport.
Our main AV contractor stores equipment on site, to reduce deliveries.
Procurement / partners
In-house catering must be used for events, apart from specific agreed exceptions for festivals.
We work closely with our selected catering and cleaning partners, who operate at the forefront of sustainability and inclusion within the sector. Social value was a key requirement in the tender specification for the contracts and we measure their performance against a range of sustainability KPIs through regular contract meetings:
- Caterers Graysons work with Slow Food UK and have been named ‘the most sustainable caterer in the UK’ for multiple years. They have a commitment to sourcing locally and ethically, for example supporting farmers and small and medium-sized enterprises, using Fairtrade tea, coffee, sugar, bananas and chocolate, and UK-bred meat. Food waste is monitored with the aim of identifying actions to reduce it, with surplus food redistributed through a food waste charity. Packaging is reduced, recycled or composted, with no single-use plastic front of house and back-of-house packaging to be reusable or recyclable.
- Our cleaning contractor Atlas is committed to sustainability and social value. Sustainable initiatives include using chemical-free cleaning solutions, reducing delivery emissions, rechargable vacuum cleaners, and reducing water use through pulse mops. When chemicals are required for periodic cleaning, Atlas utilizes Bio hygiene products to minimize product emissions. Atlas has been awarded an Impact Certificate by Future Plus for positive sustainability actions and achievements.
Next steps are to include sustainability within our standard terms and conditions for all suppliers, to include it in the re-procurement of our AV contractor, and to create a supplier guide for commercial event hirers which sets out sustainable options, e.g. for florists and set-dressers.
Energy
We monitor the use of energy throughout our buildings, and report it annually through our report and accounts, with a target to reduce 4% on average, year on year.
We have solar thermal on the roof of St Pancras, creating hot water from sunshine.
For events, we only light those areas of the building needed for the event and for safety/security.
Temperature is centrally-controlled (not locally adjustable) within agreed parameters to meet the needs of the national collection and to avoid wasting energy on additional heating / cooling.
Policy agreed by Elizabeth Walker, Senior Events Manager, Central Events Team, 18 November 2025.
Next due for review: 18 November 2027