Courtyard join the 30 for 2030 climate action campaign
We are delighted to be one of the first Herefordshire businesses to join the 30 for 2030 campaign, an initiative for which 30 private, public and third sector employers in Herefordshire will pledge to track their progress and achievements along the way to net zero emissions by 2030.
The 30 for 2030 initiative forms part of the Greener Footprints campaign launched by the Herefordshire Climate and Nature Action Partnership in January 2022.
“The Courtyard already has a working Eco Group and Environmental Action Plan with an ambitious target to be net zero by 2030, so it makes perfect sense to pool our resources with other local businesses and align our goals and objectives with the Greener Footprints campaign. We’re hugely excited to be part of the initiative as we understand how important it is for all businesses to use their platforms to generate awareness of climate change.”
– Courtyard Operations Manager Phil Pearcy
In 2018 The Courtyard joined forces with other arts and cultural organisations in the UK and Herefordshire Council to declare a Climate and Ecological Emergency. The arts venue pledged to work with and support local communities, council and stakeholders in urgently tackling this Climate Emergency, and call upon others to do the same.
Cllr Ellie Chowns, chair of the Climate and Nature Partnership Board, said: “Business has a vital role to play in helping tackle climate change. I’m delighted that this campaign will help showcase good practice and inspire more businesses to play their part. Participating organisations will benefit in a number of ways: it will provide them with a focus and stimulus for their plans to get to zero carbon; and it promotes the fact that they are leading the way in the county in enhancing the environment. This is an important message reputationally to customers, existing employees and future recruits. It also creates a fantastic platform to engage and work closely with their own staff and suppliers to ensure they too make a significant contribution to their net zero journeys.”
Some of the ways The Courtyard have been working to reduce its carbon footprint include; instating an Eco Group who implement and monitor an action plan, operating a zero waste to landfill policy, rolling out green riders to visiting companies and installing Smart Water Management Systems across the building.
The Courtyard have also partnered with Beryl and Pedicargo in its aim to provide ‘green leadership’ within the arts.
Beryl provide The Courtyard’s Education practitioners and Senior Youth Theatre members free zero carbon travel to and from classes and give audiences an alternative way of visiting the venue.
Beryl CEO, Phil Ellis said: “We’re delighted to be working with the Courtyard and helping them on their journey to net zero by making it easier for people to travel to and from there in an environmentally friendly way. By inspiring even more people to take up sustainable travel options we’re helping to reduce road congestion while improving air quality and public health.”
Pedicargo are helping The Courtyard to achieve a zero-carbon waste management programme by 2023. They turn glass waste into sand for local flood defences and construction and food waste into compost to nourish local soil, all while using zero carbon transport for segregated waste.