The ETC Theatre Green Book provides theatres four levels of certification: Preliminary, Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced. These are based on hitting pre-defined goals across productions, buildings, and operations.
The approach is designed to be both realistic and effective, getting over the ‘piecemeal’ approach to sustainable activity that leads to “progress in one area while ignoring others that may have more impact.”
Theatres will be able to use the resulting labels on their websites and promotional material to demonstrate the extent of their sustainable progress to audiences and policymakers.
Preliminary
Preliminary is your commitment to become climate netural.
For a theatre to self-certify as Preliminary, it would need to:
- Commit to reducing your environmental impact
- Estblish a Green Committee
- Make an Action Plan, a Data Plan, and a Communications Plan
Basic
Baseline is the first step on your journey. You'll need to work differently but it isn't too hard.
For a theatre to self-certify as Basic, it would need to:
- Make the majority of its productions to basic standard, which includes that 50% of all materials used in the production have a previous life, and that 65% of materials used in the show are stored or used again afterwards
- Run the majority of operations to basic standard (across four out of six operational categories), which means progressive reduction of waste, monitoring audience travel, control all heating and cooling by timers to avoid energy wastage
- Develop a sustainability plan for its building and carry out ‘Easy Wins’ to reduce energy use, which might include draught proofing windows and doors, and installing hot water flow restrictors on taps and showers.
Intermediate
Intermediate reduces the damage that you cause the planet.
For a theatre to self-certify as Intermediate, it would need to:
- Make two-thirds of productions to intermediate standard, which includes that 60% of materials in the production have a previous life, and 70% must be sroted or used again afterwards
- Run the majority of Operations to intermediate standard (across four out of six operational categories), which includes making a sustainable travel plan with a limit on air travel, eliminating waste to landfill, and making a sustainable procurement policy
- Develop the Sustainability Plan for the building, including identifying maintenance projects to insulate the building, make it more energy efficient and reduce water use
Advanced
Advanced is as close as you can get to climate neutral.
For a theatre to self-certify as Advanced, it would need to:
- Make three-quarters of productions to advanced standard, which includes ensuring that everything on stage is reused or recycled, or accredited net-zero
- Reach advanced in all areas of operations, which includes making digital systems sustainable, making 75% of all menu items in your restaurant plant-based, switching to a green energy supplier...
- Carry out capital project(s) on the building to achieve the sustainability plan, so that the building is insulated, energy-efficient, supportive of biodiversity and using renewables
Jump to other sections in the ETC Theatre Green Book
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