Sustainability

Venue

• There’s a water harvesting system in place which collects rainwater to then be used to water the plants and flowers in Faraday Garden at the front of the building.
• All windows in the building are double glazed.
• Digital signage is used to guide guests around the building.
• Whiteboards in some meetings rooms reduce the need for flipcharts and there are interactive boards in members brainstorming rooms.
• Clover Eco cleaning products are used which have the European eco accreditation and are sourced from a UK based supplier.
• Toilet tissue is manufactured from recycled paper from FSC certified forests.
• Clients are provided with water which is bottled inhouse in reusable glass bottles.
• After the refurbishment in 2015, the building received a BREEAM Good Rating (sustainability assessment method).

Waste and recycling

• None of the building’s daily waste goes to landfill, it is either recycled or incinerated then converted into energy.
• We recycle all glass, paper, ink/copier cartridges, batteries, light fittings plastics, cans and food.
• Staff are reminded on a monthly basis to Reduce – Reuse – Recycle
• Clients are responsible for taking away their waste.

Energy

• Toilets are fitted with low water systems and sensory taps are installed in the washrooms.
• All rooms have energy-efficient heating/cooling systems.
• The lifts in the building are energy efficient (powering down to sleep mode when not in use).
• The BEMS System (a building energy management system) is in use - a method to monitor and control the building's energy needs.
• CO2 emissions are limited by optimising the use of gas and electricity and these services are reviewed bi-annually, plus we’re investigating using ecological suppliers.
• LED Lights with motion sensors are installed in non-meeting rooms.
• Equipment (such as photocopiers) is set to automatically standby when not in use.
• Printers are set to automatically print double-sided.
• Duty managers and the sales team use tablets for daily sheets rather than printing paper.

Air Quality

• All rooms feature automatic ventilation - which ventilates the room based on the number of people occupying it.
• The efficiency performance air conditioning equipment is checked on a regular basis.
• Air quality reports are reviewed annually and recommendations are acted on.

Transport

• Our state-of-the-art AV means we can offer effective tele and video-conferencing facilities to reduce the need for all delegates travel to events.
• There is no parking on-site, instead staff, visitors, members and clients are encouraged to use public transport.

Catering

• Edible waste food offered to staff to consume on site (due to health and safety it can’t offer externally).
• Reusable cups are on sale in the Faraday Kitchen and a discount is offered on hot drinks for any reusable cup used.
• Customers can choose a Root to Shoot lunch menu which reduces substantial amounts of food waste and is very cost-effective.
• We offer a reduced price for chefs choice menu in a bid to reduce waste.
• All fish and seafood are MCS approved, only using green light seafood and all chicken, beef, lamb and pork are red tractor approved.
• We only use free-range eggs, nothing from caged hens.
• Single use plastics policy is being introduced:
  • Currently using paper straws but looking into the pasta straws.
  • Boxed sandwich packaging in the members Faraday Kitchen is plastic-free.
• Community sourcing policy i.e. sustainable, responsible local and regional procurement, reducing food miles.
• All new starter kitchen employees receive environmental training as part of the CH&Co discover training programme.
• We’re always looking into future opportunities to reduce waste as new technologies are introduced.