Sustainability

Image courtesy of BHLive
Thinking green?

Green Credentials

Sustainability and green credentials are now very much mainstream, with governments, businesses and individuals all involved. 

Business Events Bournemouth recognises that the conference and events industry can impact on the local and global environment. In order to show continued commitment wherever possible, Business Events Bournemouth works with venues with green credentials and recommends local suppliers that have a good record of using recyclable materials, sustainable products and putting environmental policies in place.

Our Neighbours In Hampshire, the county next door, is the New Forest National Park, sustained by a 900 year-old regime that no-one’s yet managed to better — and where most of the maintenance is left to commoners and their ponies, cattle and pigs.

Just a few miles west is the famous World Heritage Site, the Jurassic Coast, covering 95 miles of coastline from East Devon to Dorset and charting 185 million years of Earth’s history.

2019 saw the introduction of a BCP Council partnership with Beryl to deliver an innovative bike share scheme across Bournemouth and Poole. Beryl’s distinctive emerald green bikes, and e-scooters are now available for instant hire via the Beryl App

In 2020, transport in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area was responsible for 33 percent of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and by encouraging and enabling the transition to Electric vehicles (EVs) BCP Council will be able to improve air quality and meet the target within their Climate and Ecological emergency action plan.

Keen to encourage the installation of more EV charging infrastructure across the conurbation, particularly as we move towards the Government’s target of stopping the sale of petrol and diesel powered vehicles by 2030. The provision of EV charging infrastructure is a strategic issue and we have looked at how best we meet the future needs Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and how we can speed up the installation of new charging facilities across the area.

This will include working with private sector providers so as to ensure there are sufficient numbers of charging points available as the number of EVs on our roads grow.

The origins of Morebus can be traced back to 1916, when a bus company called Bournemouth & District Motor Services was founded.  The More brand, with its distinctive blue livery was first seen on the Poole to Bournemouth routes in 2004 when an investment of £4 million was made in a fleet of 30 new Volvo single-deck buses, and has subsequently been rolled out across the network.  Contactless payments have been introduced and new methods of buying tickets such as the mobile app, which makes it quick and convenient for all as well as Tap On Tap Off introduced in November 2021.

Green House Hotel  Recognised as one of the world’s top eco-hotels. From the furnishings and food suppliers to energy use and their place in the community.

Hotel CollingwoodWith the recent addition of EV charging points in their car park this hotel is embracing the changes to become one of the greenest hotels in Bournemouth. 

Connaught HotelAir source heat pumps have been installed throughout the hotel. This project was part-funded by Low Carbon Dorset as part of the European Regional Development Fund and will save over 87.8 tonnes of CO2 each year.

Corporate social responsibility is a type of self-regulation where your business holds itself to account by ensuring its operations make a positive social impact. The four main types of CSR are environmental responsibility, ethical responsibility, philanthropic responsibility and economic responsibility.  

Allow your event to leave a lasting legacy by perhaps incorporating a beach clean, tree planting or by supporting the local food bank.

Calculate the CO2 emissions of your event and make a corresponding contribution to climate protection.

By becoming a Carbon Neutral Business – you will differentiate yourself in the market as an Industry Leader – proactively reversing your impact on Climate Change, whilst also reducing your emissions over time.

Consumers are more inclined to choose and spend more money with environmentally proactive brands, and as a Climate Leader – you will attract, retain and generate more business and enhance your reputation as an organisation.

Introduction and maintenance of a waste management and recycling scheme. Pro-active in the recycling of paper, cardboard, plastic and food waste. Investigating re-useable plastic receptacles for the bars to reduce waste stream. Encouraging clients, conference delegates, and exhibitors to separate food waste

Bottle tops and crisp packets are recycled through our local terra-cycle centre

Plans to introduce an inter-centre ‘swap shop’ to reuse unwanted equipment or materials

Digital tickets for events has already reduced the amount of print and paper produced

Reduction in energy by turning off unnecessary light when areas are not in use. Only running heating and air conditioning on event days in the areas used, also regulating the heating and Air-con through the venue’s Building Management System (BMS)

Changing all lighting to LED throughout the venue in a programmed phase.

Environmental considerations given to areas of refurbishment and have evaluated key elements of future physical developments – i.e. ‘green’ living roof installation over the Purbeck Foyer entrance, improved lighting etc

The BIC currently has Level 1 accreditation from ‘Green Mark’ and are aiming to complete Level 2 by autumn 2024.