Vision: 2025 was delighted to participate in the MUTA Member’s Day, March 6th, at The Belfry, contributing a presentation and joining a panel discussion: ‘What Temporary Structures Companies Can Do’ to improve sustainability.
Hosted by MUTA general manager Joe Chalk who was joined by Graham Brown representing Vision: 2025, Michael Darby of Serge Ferrari Group, Joely Sockett. from Arena Group and Jenna Ackerley of Events Under Canvas.
Graham Brown’s input into the panel expanded on his presentation, covering Vision: 2025’s range of free-to-access resources, including the active Green Events Code of Practice (GECOP) Pilot, the Future Festival Tools, The Purple Guide Sustainability Chapter, and the Sustainable Materials & Waste Toolkit, explaining:
“We are sensing the increasing importance of the role suppliers play in the events ecosystem in reducing carbon impacts.
“We are developing our Green Suppliers Directory to connect sustainable suppliers with production companies and organisers, aiming to carry more case studies to highlight innovations and build awareness of companies implementing good practice.”
Panel host Joe Chalk asked about overcoming the challenges facing suppliers to be more sustainable. Joely Socket, Arena Group Sustainability and Social Impact Specialist, said:
“We’ve been on this journey for a few years now, it can seem daunting at the start, so I’d suggest starting with small steps. Tackle incremental areas where you can make reductions, such as in your premises energy, recycling, transport/logistics and look at onsite behaviours and break it down.
“This is becoming more driven by the market too, so as well as being the right thing to do it makes commercial sense. We have worked with events ranging from The Aintree Grand National, The Open and Skate Manchester to help the organisers reduce their carbon impacts through a number of initiatives.”
Jenna Ackerley, Events Under Canvas, a marquee supplier with ten employees, told the audience about their company’s success in several areas, Jenna explained that:
“Embedding sustainability in our company culture for several years has been pivotal in making reductions in areas including materials used, reducing energy and transport logistics.
“We have also engaged a tree planting program, linked to every project and to date have planted over 7,000 trees to compensate for our carbon footprint. It’s part of our marketing too – for example, at every wedding we supply, we give the bride and groom a tree to plant, which makes people think about sustainability.”
Andreas Wilhelm from Serge Ferrari brought a manufacturer’s perspective. As one of Europe’s largest producers of PVC for marquees and architectural applications. He told the audience about the ongoing research program to introduce sustainable membranes, saying:
“We have developed a new range of Loop Products, produced from recycled plastics and are currently building a European network of collection points for plastics. Our mission is to build a better tomorrow.”
MUTA is the UK’s only trade association dedicated to marquees, tents and structures. For over 100 years MUTA has represented its members and raised standards in the industry. Find out more: https://www.muta.org.uk/