OUR MISSION TO REACH NET ZERO
One year since setting our target to reach Net Zero by 2042, we’re delighted to see that our efforts are already having an impact. Working with sustainability consultancy Ecollective, we recently completed our updated carbon measurement and we’re delighted to report that we’ve achieved a 12.73% reduction, far exceeding our initial target of 5%. It’s an encouraging sign that our strategy is working, and it’s igniting our ambition to go even further.
Here are a few of the initiatives we have in motion to help us, and our clients, reach our ESG goals.
Waste Nothing: Our Zero to Landfill Commitment
Tobacco Dock has been a Zero to Landfill venue since 2018. All general waste is sent to a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) where recyclable materials are carefully separated. What can’t be recycled is converted into energy through waste-to-energy processes.
We currently divert 97.8% of all waste away from landfill, with 100% of glass and pallets being recycled or reused. In fact, our long-standing waste partners NuKleen give old pallets a second life by transforming them into bee hives for their very own colonies. We’re sometimes lucky enough to enjoy a jar of their honey!
Clients planning events with us can also receive comprehensive waste tracking data, including their event’s recycling and composting rates, perfect for corporate reporting and sustainability storytelling.
We’ve been proud to support clients in delivering events that hit their own sustainability goals. Nowhere more so than in bringing the impressive Breakthrough Energy Summit to life. As champions of alternative energy innovations, it was vital to the Breakthrough Energy team that their chosen venue was able to deliver on their sustainability targets for their flagship event. You can read more about the event in our case study.
Smarter Materials, Smarter Events
We’re always on the lookout for smarter ways to reduce our footprint. One small but powerful example: we’ve replaced traditional broadloom carpet with modular carpet tiles, so if part of the carpet becomes damaged, it can be replaced without needing to rip up the entire floor—cutting down significantly on material waste.
Finding ways to extend our sustainability beyond our venue, we’ve also arranged the re-use of redundant IT equipment, recently donating disused computer supplies to local schools.
Food tastes better when you share it
We work with City Harvest London and OLIO to redistribute unserved meals to local communities at no extra cost to clients. Kitchen food waste is processed via anaerobic digestion, producing fertiliser and bio-gas to fuel the collection fleet.
As an added bonus, through our partnership with One Feeds Two, for every meal we serve to guests at Tobacco Dock, we donate a school meal for a child living in poverty. This means that since the start of 2023 we’ve donated over 50,000 meals.
Our in-house catering partners, Tobacco Dock Food, have also recently partnered with Toast Brewing, who use surplus bread to craft their beer, cutting both waste and costs. Even better, 100% of Toast’s profits go to environmental charities including Rainforest Trust and Plantlife and grassroots community groups.
Supporting Our Community
Sustainability isn’t only about the environment—it’s also about people. That’s why we’re committed to supporting our local community through a wide range of CSR initiatives.
We’ve built vegetable gardens at local schools, helped serve breakfast at the Whitechapel Mission, and regularly work with charities and community organisations across East London. Every Tobacco Dock team member receives time off to volunteer for a cause close to their heart.
A Venue That Reflects Your Values
Whether you’re planning a brand launch, awards dinner or company away day, we know your choice of venue reflects your brand and your values. With measurable carbon reductions, zero to landfill waste management, food with purpose and deep community ties, we want to make it easy and meaningful for our clients to deliver on their own ESG targets. You can find out more on our Sustainability page.
If you’re looking for a venue that can help you elevate from great to extraordinary, please get in touch with our team, who will be delighted to talk you through our offering.