The Arena Group has reported significant improvements in its carbon reduction and social impact across the past year, highlighting the supply chain’s role in supporting event organisers’ progression.
Detailed sustainability reports covering sustainability considerations encompassing entire project delivery have shown significant improvements in 2023 for clients, including The Jockey Club (at Cheltenham Festival and Grand National), The Open for the R & A, and various ice rinks including Skate Manchester, Hampton Court Palace, Westfield and The Queens House Ice Rink.
Arena Group has achieved notable carbon impact reductions resulting from the introduction of measures including the introduction of responsibly sourced HVO fuel (replacing diesel) on sites (reducing CO2e by over 90%), electric forklifts in warehouses, recycling initiatives for carpets and wood, engaging local suppliers and social enterprises, improved transport logistics and solar powered sustainable cabins on site.
Arena has also partnered with Everclime, a technology and services company dedicated to making sustainability and impact commercially viable. Through Everclime’s platform, Arena were able to support sustainability initiatives including Montgreenan – Future Forest Company creating one of our more threatened and biodiverse woodland types: wet woodland and offset 180tCO2e of core emissions through this project.
With a dedicated team focused on Arena’s commitment to operate responsibly, and ethically, sustainability has become a central pillar of the company’s mindset and everyday operational processes. It is an ongoing process of culture change to enable these improvements, as Joely Socket, Group Sustainability and Social Impact Specialist, describes:
“There has been a concerted drive over recent years throughout all global divisions to become a (more) sustainable company. Our positive progress has required a balance of internal education and operational/logistical/behavioural changes, coupled with clients, whose attitudes have aligned with Arena’s.”
Joely believes that being an ethical company goes beyond environmental sustainability, which ties in with the Group’s Social Responsibility initiatives. These have included partnerships with Chapter One, a reading charity, and Cash4Kid, for underprivileged and vulnerable children having raised over £12,000 for their Mission Christmas Campaign.