Environmental Policy

Brighton Open Air Theatre (BOAT) is a 400-capacity open air theatre in Dyke Road Park, Hove. BOAT has an artistic policy of open access and hosts a huge range of events that support our charitable objective, which is ‘the advancement of education in arts culture through the establishment and maintenance of an open-air theatre in Brighton & Hove for the use of residents and visitors.’

BOAT follows the 3 pillars of sustainability which are:

  1. Social equity or people: improving the lives of employees, local communities, and all of society
  2. Economic development or profit: ensuring the economic viability or environment of an organisation, product or service
  3. Environmental protection or planet: preserving natural resources, reducing harmful waste, using renewable energy and lowering carbon footprint

BOAT has always been committed to conducting its operations with minimal impact on the environment since it was built in 2015. This year BOAT has signed up to the Theatre Green Book, which is a new framework for making sustainable theatre, and includes The National Theatre and the Theatres Trust as its champions. 

BOAT’s Sustainability Policy is specifically committed to:

  • Maintaining an open and honest dialogue with all stakeholders and the public, about the environmental, health and safety performance of its operations and services
  • Developing clear guidelines for staff, volunteers and contractors to adopt sound environmental work practices, and provision of adequate training to ensure these practices are carried out
  • Minimising all waste through source reduction, reusing and recycling
  • Preventing pollution including greenhouse gases, and the unintended release of substances that can cause harm to air, water or land
  • Managing our environment to minimise impacts on biodiversity
  • Conserving energy by improving energy efficiency of all its facilities, and giving preference to energy suppliers with high renewable energy sources
  • Prioritising the purchase of products that have a sound environmental focus, and from companies committed to sustainability themselves
  • Helping our customers reduce their carbon footprint by encouraging sustainable travel and reducing event waste.

BOAT will achieve this by:

  • Increasing communication with our audience through marketing and ticketing channels so that they may participate in our efforts
  • Including our sustainability objectives within all contracts, particularly with visiting artists
  • Working with our environmental partners and waste collection service, to help us work towards carbon neutral status
  • Using municipal recycling depots to recycle waste outside of weekly remit (such as metals, electricals, batteries)
  • Keeping up to date with, and comply with, new legislation that seeks to mitigate the harmful practices that are driving climate change (such as food waste and single use plastics)
  • Regularly promote and improve access to sustainable travel options, such as provision of secure bicycle parking
  • Fostering responsible environmental behaviour amongst staff at all levels using the weekly stakeholder newsletter, training materials, and staff meeting discussions
  • Creating a ‘Green Team’ to monitor our policy and to keep us steered in the right direction. The Green Team will meet regularly and use the Theatre Green Book as their guide
  • Reviewing equipment purchase and maintenance on a regular basis, and include best environmental practice in the end of season Operations Reports
  • Improving our stewardship of the natural site by working with our ground staff to improve biodiversity, such as the wildflower bank and choices in planting and site materials
  • Conducting regular environmental assessments and record and review data collected, so we continually strive towards improving our facilities and meet goals and targets
  • Choosing Fairtrade/ethically/sustainably produced products to sell at the bar that are easily recycled, and avoid plastic packaging as much as possible

 

-->
MENU