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- Sustainable events case studies
Sustainable events case studies
Case study 1: Creating a Good festival, delivered by BeaconHouse Events
BeaconHouse Events working with Dynamo North East created and lead on the Good Festival Ambition (GFA) for the North East’s TechNExt festival, prioritising inclusivity, diversity, accessibility and sustainability throughout its programme.
To ensure inclusivity and diversity, the GFA offers funded tickets to those who may not normally have access, supports fringe events financially, and covers school transport costs for a challenge event. The organisers encourage unused ticket donations, strive for balanced representation across protected characteristics, and engage with underrepresented communities (Women in Tech and Asian Business Connections) to expand event reach. Group booking discounts were available for FE Colleges and University students.
Accessibility is a key focus, with a buddy system, quiet rooms and subtitling / hearing loops at main events. Accessibility audits are conducted for venues, and familiarisation videos are provided for key events. All flagship events are wheelchair accessible, and fringe organisers are asked to ensure accessibility of their spaces too. A dedicated contact system is in place for additional needs at the main conference venue.
Sustainability is also a priority, with sustainable travel promoted, vegetarian menus by default, and carbon tracking and reporting across curated events. The festival ethically offsets all its event carbon from the flagship events to Groundwork NE & Cumbria’s nature-based solutions programme.
This ambition demonstrates a commitment to creating a welcoming and responsible festival experience for all.
Case study 2: Reducing waste at The Glasshouse International Centre for Music
The Glasshouse has an ambitious 2030 net zero goal and is working hard to reduce waste. They recently partnered with Northumbrian Water to conduct a water audit of their building, which has lots of water sources – including over 250 sinks! As well as finding a few leaks, the water audit team fitted aerators to all the taps in the building. These devices cost around £1 each, and halve the amount of water used each minute by a tap without reducing water pressure. Each day, this will lead to thousands of litres of water being saved and significant savings on the Glasshouse’s water bill.
The Glasshouse is also working hard to reduce food waste. Produce that doesn’t get used during the day’s service in their café and brasserie is saved and turned into soup the next day – providing a low-cost and healthy lunch for staff and visitors.
Read more about The Glasshouse’s journey to net zero
Case study 3: Delivering sustainable energy solutions for events, delivered by Ingram AV
Ingram AV is dedicated to reducing its environmental impact through ongoing investment in sustainable technology. In 2022, the company installed a 15KWp solar array and battery storage system at its warehouse in Hoults Yard, Newcastle upon Tyne. This system not only reduces reliance on the grid but also feeds excess energy back during peak times to help balance demand.
Furthering its commitment to sustainability, Ingram AV utilises solar power to charge its small fleet of electric vehicles, enabling a zero-emission delivery service for small to medium-sized orders.
Also in 2022, the company launched NRG, a brand focused on providing portable energy solutions for events and beyond. NRG offers a range of zero-emission and hybrid energy products, including portable battery storage systems ranging from 2KWh to 120KWh. These systems can operate independently or integrate with generators in hybrid mode, significantly reducing or eliminating CO₂ emissions at events.
By embracing renewable energy and innovative power solutions, Ingram AV continues to drive the events industry toward a more sustainable future.