Greenshoots
Cheltenham Festivals taking action on sustainability
What is Greenshoots?
Greenshoots is our project to create a more sustainable Cheltenham Festivals. We want to reduce our environmental impact, research and adopt best practices, work with our partners and share our ideas as we embark on our journey towards greater sustainability.
First steps — towards sustainability
We started in 2009 with a group of staff volunteers meeting each month. Between us we cover all aspects of Cheltenham Festivals, from office management through to event production. This involves:
- a review of what we’re doing already
- looking for ways to improve
- researching new opportunities
- providing input into Cheltenham Festivals policy
Our action plan
Our first document is a road map for progress. This is our action plan. We’ve divided our efforts into several distinct areas:
- Transport
- Energy
- Waste
- Purchasing
- Communications
Our action plan is a working document that includes targets within each area, from small improvements that staff can deliver within their own work area through to the larger issues of festival energy use and waste management.
Working with our partners
Our Greenshoots team is working closely with HSBC with whom we share office space here in Cheltenham, both of us working together to create a more sustainable office environment. We’re also establishing new relationships with our contractors and sponsors as we explore together ways in which we can improve.
A journey — towards sustainability
Through our events we strive to be both entertaining and innovative, always exploring new ideas, always moving forward. It’s equally important to us that we challenge our environmental impact and explore ways to do things in the most sustainable manner. Through these pages we’ll share that journey as our Greenshoots project gathers pace.
