Glyndebourne Opera House achieves top rating for sustainability commitment

Awarded the Industry Green Mark certification, Glyndebourne is one of only six organisations in the UK from across the creative industries to have been presented with three stars under the standard – the highest possible rating.

In achieving this, the opera house implemented several measures through its environmental strategy, including embedding environmental criteria into its procurement procedures, engaging audience members with sustainable travel initiatives and reducing its emissions through energy efficiency.

Glyndebourne is the only opera house in the UK to derive its electricity requirements from an on-site wind turbine and in the 12 months to January 31 2013, Glyndebourne’s wind turbine generated 89% of the organisation’s electricity needs.

Executive chairman of Glyndebourne Productions, Gus Christie, said: “We have invested in many energy efficiency measures and are committed to working with staff, audiences and stakeholders to reduce our impact on the environment.”

Industry Green is an independent certification of environmental sustainability and was set up in partnership with the Environmental Change Institute at Oxford University. The certification is administered by independent environmental organisation Julie’s Bicycle.

Julie’s Bicycle founder and chief executive, Alison Tickell said: “We’ve worked with Glyndebourne for five years now and have been continually delighted by the commitment and creativity shown to sustainability. Their magnificent wind turbine, which has allowed the venue to avoid 819 tonnes of CO2 equivalent makes them stand out as a leading innovator in the arts”.

Leigh Stringer