Environmental and Sustainability Policy

Brightelm are part of the growing movement to reduce the impact of the events industry on the environment. It is the collective responsibility of all organisations within the industry to act sustainably and work collaboratively. The team at Brightelm are focused on better working practices, working closely with clients, and engaging in the wider conversation. 

Principles 

Brightelm follows the principles of reducing, reusing, and recycling. 

• Where possible, the team will only use materials that can be recycled 
• The office spaces contain automatic lighting and low energy bulbs to reduce energy consumption 
• Hand dryers are used in place of paper towels to reduce waste 
• Printing is kept to a minimum, and recycled paper is used if required 
• All staff travel to work using low impact transport and meetings are held virtually, if possible, to reduce overall travel outside of the office. 

Working practices are reviewed annually. An assessment is carried out to identify areas where resources and materials could be reduced or improved, and a scoring system determines if any improvements could be made. This extends to the coworking space in Bristol where the team are based. The landlord proactively seeks feedback monthly on any improvements required around the office and all tenants, including Brightelm, are involved in the discussions. 

Working with clients 

Brightelm has a transparency promise with all clients, which extends to sustainability practices and the impact of services on the environment. It is vital that everyone involved in the planning stages are aware of the opportunities and limitations for hosting a sustainable event. The team works collaboratively to support and advise, taking input from the client and suppliers throughout the lifetime of the project. The client will always be made aware of each supplier’s sustainability policy and approach, and Brightelm will seek to use and recommend suppliers that align with the values held by the client. 

Ambitions 

1. To only work with suppliers with a robust sustainability policy. Brightelm uses the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) put forward by the United Nations to determine whether to engage with an organisation. This will involve discussions on their working practices before putting their services forward to a client. At a minimum, the supplier would need a statement to confirm that they are following all environmental legislation, regulations, and codes of practice at the time of engagement 
2. To use our Professional Conference Organiser networks, attend conferences and training events to highlight and share areas of good practice and to stay abreast of policy changes. 
3. To appoint an internal champion who will have dedicated time each week to help us develop our sustainability practices further. 
4. Implement a regular review of practices with the goal of reaching carbon neutrality across events delivered by 2050, in line with the events industry pledge.