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Sustainability

Sustainability sits at the heart of a lot of what the we do at the Southbank Centre

We recognise the urgency of the climate and ecological crises, and that we have a role to play in reducing environmental impact. We’re taking a holistic, transparent approach to improving our environmental performance.

Our sustainability targets

In 2022, we set a range of targets, covering energy usage, water consumption, waste (including food waste and plastic), travel and many more, to be achieved by 2025 or 2030.

Sustainability progress
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Progress

See what we’ve achieved since publishing our first sustainability plan in 2022.

Sustainability targets

Targets

Take a look at our updated sustainability targets and plans for 2030.

Our roadmap to net zero

Our aim is to be a net zero organisation by 2040. This means that the amount of greenhouse gases emitted from our operations will be no more than we remove from the atmosphere. Our roadmap to net zero is as follows:

2025

We reduced our carbon emissions from our buildings by 63% compared to our baseline year of 2014/15, surpassing our 2025 target of a 50% reduction. This reduction relates to emission scopes 1 and 2 (scope 1 relates to emissions produced on-site, i.e. gas heating; scope 2 relates to indirect emissions from purchased electricity).

2030

By implementing energy efficiency initiatives, we aim to make further reductions by 2030, targeting an 80% reduction in emissions from our baseline year.

2035

We aim to reach net zero for scopes 1 and 2 by seeking alternative heating sources.

2040

Through decarbonisation of our site and our supply chain, we aim to be entirely net zero across all of our operations by 2040. This will incorporate scope 3 emissions, which are indirect emissions from sources such as deliveries, travel, logistics, commercial partners, facilities and waste management.

Explore further

About us
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About us

Discover the past, present and future of the UK’s largest arts centre.

Our impact
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Our impact

See how we’re fostering creativity and changing lives for the better.

Join & support
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Support our work

Find out how you can helps us to continue to do what we do.