University of Birmingham’s Conferences and Events wins Green Meetings Gold Award
We have worked incredibly hard to make sure our events are as sustainable as possible, but now it’s official: we’ve been awarded the highest Green Tourism accreditation, which is acknowledged worldwide to set the standard for exceptional sustainable practices in our industry.
Over the last six months, the team has integrated green initiatives into our daily operations and events delivery. Our efforts focused on energy efficiency, suppliers, waste reduction, local food sourcing, eco-friendly travel, biodiversity, and most notably, the launch of the Green Conference Catering Package.
Some of the examples that we’ve implemented to achieve this award, include:
- Removing all single-use plastic, with water served only in glass bottles. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own bottles and refill at any one our zip taps across campus, which provide filtered, chilled water for free.
- Serving seasonal and local ingredients, 100% British meat, free-range eggs, Red Tractor milk, and MSC-certified seafood.
- Introduced our greenest menu yet, for conferences, meetings and events. Every dish in our Green Events Catering Package is carbon-costed and A-rated.
- Encouraging delegates to travel responsibly. We boast over 1,800 secure bike racks, University train station, bus routes and electric vehicle charging stations.
- Vetting suppliers for events and meetings to ensure they align with our sustainability policy. For example, our marquee supplier, Fews, has award-winning credentials for their sustainable practices.
- Encouraging delegates to make the most of our 26 acres of green space, plus cultural and historical landmarks like Lapworth Museum, Barber Institute of Art and Winterbourne House and Garden.
This award further enhances University of Birmingham’s burgeoning reputation as one of the most sustainable universities in the world, having reached the 35th position in the 2024 QS World Sustainability Ranking.
Find out more about our sustainability practices here.
Interested in hosting your event at a sustainable venue? Get in touch with the team.
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