Conference Sustainability
Museum of Science and Industry
We have chosen to hold our first annual Stakeholder Conference at the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) in Castlefield, following their recent £7.5m refurbishment to the BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) “very good” standard.
As well as having endorsed Manchester: A Certain Future, MOSI is also registered with the Manchester Environmental Business Pledge.
MOSI are committed to maximising their environmental performance and are working with Manchester City Council and Positive Impact to ensure our conference is as sustainable as possible.
Manchester Sustainable Event Charter
The Manchester Sustainable Event Charter has been developed in partnership between Manchester City Council, Marketing Manchester, to drive change towards achieving sustainable event management in the city.
The Charter commits signatories to core commitments that align with the actions in Manchester: A Certain Future on buildings and energy, transportation, sustainable consumption and production, and people and behaviour change.
It is the first time the Charter has been used to measure and work to reduce the environmental impacts of an event.
We will use information from the conference to calculate its environmental impact and communicate this to delegates after the event in the form of a case study.
MACF Stakeholder Conference Sustainability Plan
This Sustainability Plan’s core commitments align with the Charter and Manchester: A Certain Future actions on building and energy, transportation, sustainable consumption and production, and people and behaviour change.
Buildings and energy
- Following the redevelopment the main building has been rated BREEAM “very good” against a range of criteria including energy, water, materials, waste and pollution.
- MOSI have reduced their carbon footprint by 236 tonnes of CO2, including a reduction in gas usage by 25% since 2008/09 and improved energy ratings in 3 buildings from G to B. They are continuing to look for ways to reduce their emissions further still.
Transportation
- We will endeavour to measure carbon emissions from transportation (delegate and staff travel), and measure food miles from catering on the day.
- The venue is easily accessed by walking, cycling and public transport; train, tram, bus and is within easy walking distance from the city centre details can be found here
- We will encourage delegates to walk, cycle and use public transport wherever possible.
Sustainable Consumption and Production
- All tea and coffee will be Fairtrade
- Catering will be locally sourced from the North West region
- In the planning of the menu, the use of food with a high carbon impact (such as meat and dairy products) has been considered and decisions have been made to focus the menu on vegetarian options and food from sustainable sources
- All food and drink will be labelled accordingly
General office procedures
- All correspondence relating to the conference including invitations and bookings will be electronic to reduce paper consumption.
- To reduce paper use on the day the agenda will be displayed on screens around the venue.
- At the reception desk delegates’ name badges will be coded to display their choice of workshop. Reusable name badge holders will be used and paper inserts recycled.
- A digital camera will be used to record written communications, such as on whiteboards or display boards, so they can be reused for each session / workshop.
- We will endeavour to measure waste streams generated on the day.
Procurement and suppliers
- MOSI has an Environmental Policy.
- Manchester City Council has a Sustainable Procurement Policy
Policies will be communicated to suppliers where appropriate.
Exhibition production
- Exhibition materials such as the exhibition boards should be reusable for future conferences.
People and Behaviour Change
Staff training
- There will be a member of staff designated as sustainability champion to ensure recycling facilities are used appropriately.
- All staff will be briefed on event sustainability on the day.
Delegate awareness
- All event communications will reinforce the sustainable approach to the conference including labelling of food and drink, use of recycling bins and encouraging the use of public transport, walking and cycling.
- Delegates will be asked at Reception how they travelled to the venue and this will be used to measure the carbon footprint from transportation.
- This will be communicated to delegates after the event in the case study.