The Business Benefits of Going Green
Climate change is a reality that is already shaping our lives and our cultural experiences. This year’s festival season was a visible, and tragic, example when several events around the world were cancelled and Pukkelpop Festival in Belgium turned into nothing short of a nightmare due to extreme weather damaging event infrastructure. These occurrences are a world apart from “business as usual” for many of us, but a harbinger – albeit a dramatic one – of the new challenges we will all be coming up against as climate change progresses. Every individual and organisation has a place in responding to what a new and adaptable economy will look like, including the creative industries.
If you’re not yet convinced about the benefits of making environmental sustainability a business priority, it’s a good time to re-engage. For subsidised organisations a key driver is that the Arts Council England has added a requirement to all NPO funding agreements that organisations need to have environmental policies and action plans in place by 2013. For commercial and subsidised organisations alike, the proven cost savings that go hand in hand with sound environmental management are a compelling reason to act.
Organisations that worked with Julie’s Bicycle between 2008-2010 collectively saved over £1million through reductions in energy use and efficiencies, and over the next 3 years the music, theatre and visual arts sectors alone could save £35million using the same efficiency measures (and that’s without a rise in energy prices – which have already jumped up this year). For example, Lovebox Festival reduced energy use by 33% in 2010, and three other festivals saved £15,000 between them by reducing their waster to landfill. The Theatre Royal Plymouth also saved £10,000 through water saving initiatives in 2009.
How have they done it? The first thing that’s crucial with saving carbon and cash is to understand what your environmental impacts are by measuring them.
Julie’s Bicycle has developed practical tools and resources to help organisations do this: our online “IG Tools” carbon calculators enable venues, festivals, offices and tours measure their carbon emissions, and our website offers practical guides and top tips for individuals and organisations wanting to take action.
Once you’ve measured, an environmental policy and action plan helps set targets and commitments that your company – and staff – can make to reduce environmental impacts.
Julie’s Bicycle is offering London-based created SME businesses free environmental support in 2011/12 through the Creative Futures programme. We’ll provide a snapshot audit of your carbon emissions using our IG Tools, and work with you to write an environmental policy for your company.
For more information contact: sholeh@juliesbicycle.com
Our Latest Campaign
Better Batteries
Julie’s Bicycle also runs campaigns around specific actions people and organisations can take. Our latest is the Better Batteries campaign, which brings together the music and theatre industries in a drive to switch over to rechargeable battery systems and increase the rate of recycling for both disposable and rechargeable batteries in line with government regulation.
Rechargeable batteries have 32 times less impact on the environment than disposables throughout their lifecycle; they put less pressure on natural resources, create less pollution from the manufacturing process, less waste and less carbon emissions resulting from transport and distribution. Recycling is necessary to reuse finite natural resources and prevent the release of harmful chemicals such as lead, mercury or cadmium.
In practical terms, the most compelling reason to switch is the proven reliability of rechargeable battery systems, and the cost savings that can be made. The company of WICKED on Broadway has been using rechargeables since 2008, and they’re saving around £2,600 per year. WICKED at the Apollo Victoria Theatre, London, has been using rechargeable batteries since June 2011 – they’ve already paid back the cost of the rechargeable system and have made savings of over £500.
Better Batteries aims to get at least 100 venues and individual companies to make the switch in 2012, so get online to find out more and sign up: www.BetterBatteries.info
