The Tricycle Theatre & Cinema Environmental Policy 2015/16 2017/18 March 2015 1
1. Introduction The Tricycle recognises that business can negatively impact the environment. We are committed to, and enjoy, finding ways in which we can reduce the environmental impact of our work and engage and communicate with others about this important work. Our policy aims to maintain a working environment that, where reasonably possible, strives to promote energy efficiency, recycling of waste materials and the use of recycled products in the pursuit of creating an economic, efficient and environmentally friendly workplace. We will also comply with all relevant environmental legislation, regulations and requirements. The action plan attached to this policy builds on the action we have already taken over the last three years and sets out continued and new actions for 2015/16. Our action plan is renewed annually. We aim within this coming three-year period to embark on a major capital project to transform the theatre auditorium and improve front-of-house facilities as well as our kitchen/bar spaces. Environmental sustainability is embedded within our plans and we hope that many of the challenges we currently face in our early 20 th Century building will be overcome and that we will significantly reduce our carbon footprint. Until such time as we can begin our project, we remain committed to reducing our carbon emissions through our daily practice, building on the work we have carried out over the past three years as part of the London Theatre Consortium s work with Julie s Bicycle. The Tricycle Theatre s Environmental Policy is a statement of our commitment to help reduce the impact of our activities on the environment. The policy is supported by an Environmental Action Plan, which specifies how the policy will be implemented, complete with targets, dates and a named person responsible for delivering actions. We will work with our staff, artists and audience to ensure we consider and communicate the environmental impacts of our activities. For each financial year we will assess and report our environmental performance to stakeholders. This information will be used to update our action plan for the coming year. We aim to regularly review our Environmental Policy and seek to reduce our impact by setting carbon reduction targets. 2. Mission, values, core aims and structure Our mission is: The Tricycle views the world through a variety of lenses, bringing unheard voices into the mainstream. It presents high-quality and innovative work, which provokes debate and emotionally engages. Located in Brent, the most diverse borough in London, the Tricycle is a local venue with an international vision. The values we subscribe to are: Transparency- we aim high, and do as we say 2
Authenticity we are committed to integrity Quality we do not compromise in attitude or artistic ambition Justice- we share a sense of purpose and a search for justice Empathy we share and celebrate the unheard voice with compassion and without judgement Opportunity we give people the chance to be extraordinary Hospitality we treat everyone who walks through our doors with respect and expect the same in return Fun we want to entertain and be entertained; we enjoy it! Our core aims 2015/16 2017/18 are that we achieve: 1. An outstanding artistic programme of work, that stretches our imaginations as much as it does our capacity 2. As wide a diversity of audiences for our work as possible, who come because they are passionate about our kind of theatre 3. Opportunities for every child in Brent to experience and enjoy the Tricycle as participant, audience and theatre-maker 4. A theatre building that physically reflects our vision and mission and which our local community is proud of 5. Long-term economic and environmental sustainability Our structure is that the Tricycle is a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity. Our board of Trustees consists of 13 people with a range of skills, expertise and experience. Two trustees have designated responsibility for environmental sustainability. The Tricycle is led and managed by the Artistic Director & CEO and Executive Producer. Together they lead a skilled, experienced and highly committed full-time team of around 24 deployed across seven main departments: Artistic, Operations, Finance, Creative Learning, Development, Marketing and Production. Staff responsibility for environmental sustainability lies with the Head of Finance and Operations and the Operations Manager. 3. Key Environmental Impacts The Tricycle is located within our current building in Kilburn, which was originally built in 1927 and converted to a theatre in the 1980s. We house both a 235-seat theatre and 300-seat cinema. In addition we have several studios along with a café-bar. The venue is of a medium size having a floor area of 1,600m2. Our work takes place largely at the Tricycle, but also off-site at various venues in Brent through the Creative Learning Programme s workshops, youth theatre sessions and other events. We work a 3
lot in partnership with other organisations, particularly in Creative Learning e.g. schools, community groups, housing associations. Our theatre productions are produced by us for the Tricycle and sometimes transfer to other theatres in the UK and internationally. We also present a range of visiting companies. Our cinema shows mainstream films and live alternative content. We also programme film festivals in partnership with other film organisations. Our activities have environmental impacts in the areas of: Energy Water Waste Travel Materials Our ability to improve our environmental impacts depends on our knowledge of, and commitment to addressing them, and our capacity to change and influence decisions. We are fully responsible for utility contracts and therefore we will exert our efforts as much as possible to understand; measure; improve; and communicate our environmental performance. The Tricycle achieved a 2 star Industry Green rating via Julie s Bicycle for 2013/14. We quantify our main environmental impacts in terms of carbon emissions. In 2013/14, the Tricycle Theatre and Cinema s activities generated 253 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent corresponding to 363gkg per performance. A further 174 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent was generated by audience and business travel. The total CO2e was 427t. The Tricycle has seen an overall reduction in total emissions from 532.0 in 2009/10 to 426.9 in 2013/14 (from 295.5 to 252.8 excluding travel) and an overall reduction in relative environmental impacts from 794.0 in 2009/10 to 613.3 in 2013/14 (from 441.1 to 363.3 excluding travel). We remain committed to reducing all the negative environmental impacts of our activities, in particular those relating to our: Buildings: fossil-fuel energy consumption, water consumption, waste generation, supplies and services Travel: including staff business travel and commuting as well as artist and audience travel: fossil fuel energy consumption Offices: including consumption of resources/energy for office electronic equipment, furniture, paper, inks, toxicity of cleaning products Theatre Production: fossil fuel energy consumption, waste generation, use of materials e.g. wood, steel, toxicity of batteries Catering: waste generation and disposal, food miles, energy and water consumption Communications: use of resources (paper, inks), transport for printed materials and use of energy for storage, downloading, streaming and/or online reading for digital communications Business services: website, data and email server hosting, and banking. 4. Our commitments We are committed to understanding, measuring, monitoring, improving and communicating our environmental performance, and to engaging our Trustees, senior management and staff in this process. Our key areas of focus for reducing our impacts are on those impacts that we can 4
reasonably gather data for, and control the use of. In embedding this policy we will: Ensure that this Policy is intrinsic to the Tricycle s Artistic Policy, Business Plan and supporting operational plans; Gain commitment from all staff to the key principles of sustainability; Ensure that this Policy is fully supported and promoted by the Company management; Consult and communicate widely on the Policy; Undertake a systematic approach to measure our impact; Actively work to reduce the environmental impact of our activities, including our carbon emissions. Thoroughly monitor and review to ensure the effectiveness of the Policy and to inform future action planning. Make training available to support all staff and Board members Work in partnership with the London Theatre Consortium and Julie s Bicycle. In all our work we will : Seek to minimise resource use and eliminate waste as far as possible, promoting a circular economy. Seek to embed low environmental impact and sustainable practice into all our operational systems and the fabric of our buildings and equipment. Alongside this we will work to engage staff and create a culture wherein sustainability is a key factor in decision-making and ways of working. Seek to minimise the need to travel, use sustainable travel options, and maximise the value of any international travel Aim to use the range of resources within the sector including the work of Julie s Bicycle - to identify best practice and implement that, wherever possible. Work with suppliers and contactors to find effective ways of minimising our environmental impact and will take this aspect into account when choosing supplies and services for our business operations. Communicate our progress and share our learning with staff, partners, industry colleagues and audiences, working in partnership to further our aims where appropriate. Policy into Action This policy will be reviewed every three years by the Trustees of the Tricycle. The Tricycle will create an Environmental Action Plan designed to further the principles set out above and ensure that the policy is properly effective. This will include specific, measurable actions, with designated responsibility for achieving them. Progress against the plan will be driven by the Green Team and regularly reviewed by the Tricycle s Executive team. The Environmental Action Plan, together with a report on the effectiveness of the previous year s actions, will be reviewed annually by the Board of Trustees. 5
The Environmental Action Plan will be incorporated into Tricycle s Business Plan. The Head of Finance and Operations and the Operations Manager, with the full support of Tricycle s Executive leadership, are charged with ensuring that the necessary monitoring, record keeping, training programmes and reviews are properly established and maintained. This Environmental Policy is endorsed by: Indhu Rubasingham (Artistic Director) and members of the Tricycle board Approved by the Board of Trustees: March 2015 Date of next review: March 2018 6