We recognise that becoming truly sustainable requires innovation and transformation of conventional practices. At Birmingham Hippodrome, we seek new initiatives which push our sustainability boundaries to exciting new projects.
Health, Safety & Environmental Committee
Our Health, Safety & Environmental Committee is responsible for setting environmental objectives and identifying environmental opportunities within key areas of the business. They are also responsible for monitoring and reviewing performance of current objectives to ensure that we are always striving to improve and better ourselves when it comes to the environment.
Green Team
Our Green Team is made up of staff members from across the organisation who are dedicated to developing initiatives and inspiring change for sustainability. Formalised in 2020, the Green Team meets regularly as an open forum for staff to raise issues and plan new strategies to meet our environmental goals. Anyone is encouraged to join if this is something they are already passionate about or want to learn more about.
So far, the Green Team have achieved:
- Implementing a uniform recycling scheme so none of our old uniform items go to landfill
- Participating in voluntary events like the Commonwealth Games Canal Clean-Up
- Staff training on waste sorting and the implementation of recycling collection in the auditorium and lobbies
- Ensuring all lost property is donated to charity rather than going in bins
We are looking for more projects to take on in the future.
Sustainability Champions
The Sustainability Champions working group was formed in July 2024 to further sustainability efforts across the entire theatre. Formed of representatives from every department, the Champions guide and inform key policies and strategies regarding Birmingham Hippodrome’s long-term environmental plans using their specialised knowledge. All Sustainability Champions are Carbon Literacy Trained and attend extra industry sustainability events as part of their role. The Sustainability Champions also function as our Green Committee for our Theatre Green Book certification efforts.
ISO Certification
Birmingham Hippodrome was the first theatre in the UK to be certificated to ISO 14001, the international standard that specifies requirements for an effective environmental management system. Implementing an effective Environmental Management System (a requirement of achieving ISO 14001:2015) demonstrates that Birmingham Hippodrome is amongst those companies that care enough to reduce their environmental footprint.
Theatre Green Book
Birmingham Hippodrome is currently making steps towards achieving the Theatre Green Book Preliminary certification to recognise our efforts so far and show our commitment to further meaningful change in the future. The Theatre Green Book provides information about how to operate a theatre building and put on shows sustainably which will inform our Five Year Plan capital project and the work of our New Musicals team. We are looking forward to future opportunities to work with the Theatre Green Book standards on specific projects and events.