A Sustainable Gem

An Overview

Our plan for a

future

The CrystalInitiatives and policies related to reducing environmental impact have gone beyond a trend. They are now part of our way of life both commercially and experientially. The word sustainability can often be associated with reducing our environmental impact or using energy more efficiently. Whilst this is true it is also about our social and economic impact.

The events market has been slow to pick up on the need to be fully sustainable. We are all aware of the positive effect that events have on the economy, in fact events directly contribute £39bn to the UK economy annually, and globally this value is over £840bn.

We believe that sustainability is about long-term growth for our society and our economy, with minimal impact on the environment.

Holding an event at a location that is truly sustainable gives the right message and purpose to those attending and allows everyone to be inspired by what can be achieved. For example, of all the world’s energy consumed, buildings use 41% of this. Globally, buildings also consume 25% of all water and also produce 33% of all greenhouse gas emissions. The impact on the environment is enormous.

Implementing sustainable practices is both the right thing to do for the planet and a business imperative. It can also reduce costs, improve brand reputation and increase attendee engagement. Events are also a great opportunity to bring people together to inspire change and innovation.

Due to the impact that conferencing and events can have on sustainability, it is important to carefully consider all elements of the event including location, menus, equipment, people, management and the space itself.

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The BuildingThe design, engineering and technology that is being used within The Crystal building is contributing to its environmental impact every day.

The Crystal was built on a brownfield site and is the world’s first building to reach both BREEAM® Outstanding (meeting the highest local standards for a sustainable building) and LEED® Platinum (meeting the highest global standard for a sustainable building) status. In order to reach such certification, the building must meet the highest standards of sustainability in energy, water use, materials, resources and ongoing improvement.

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Sustainable CriteriaThe building has sophisticated and integrated active and passive design elements making it one of the most sustainable buildings in the world. It is a fully electric building. Its main features include:

• A Building Management System that controls all electrical and mechanical systems in the building. It has over 3,500 data points which provides information from outdoor weather station supplements

• It senses and controls building data around energy consumption/reduction by optimizing energy flow within the building via an energy centre which uses smart building technology

• It has solar panels which generate around 20% of the building’s energy, as well as ground source heat pumps

• LED lighting throughout the whole building which is managed by the central BMS

• It was built with strategically placed glazing to maximise daylight and heating via insulation

• It has low flush toilets and low flow taps which can reduce water consumption by up to 25%

• Space specific ventilation systems that are managed by sensors

• Provides rainwater harvesting (87% of the buildings water demand is capable of being met by rainwater which also saves energy)

• A green roof which is covered with vegetation that provides habitats and helps balance the environment

• Dedicated waste storage area which is reusing and recycling waste

• Providing electric car charging

The Crystal is committed to economic and social sustainability through its work with national and local partners.

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Food and BeverageThe Crystal’s catering and events are provided by Sodexo; the UK’s leading catering and events provider, partnering with more than 60 of the country’s best loved museums, sports stadia and visitor attractions.

Sustainability is integral to The Crystal philosophy which is why the catering provider must share the same values.

Sodexo’s ethical commitments encompass all three pillars of sustainability and are in line with the United Nation’s Sustainability Development Goals, launched in 2016. (https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/ sustainable-development-goals/)

Sodexo’s commitment to improve the Quality of Life of their team, their employees and their guests means that corporate responsibility lies at the core of everything The Crystal does. The corporate responsibility roadmap, Better Tomorrow 2025, is designed to guide Sodexo’s actions in relation to their aspirations as a responsible business. This is why Sodexo actively supports The Crystal in its corporate strategy and supports business development and long term growth.

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Sustainable PracticesSodexo believes that growing responsibly is about pursuing and tracking what they can do better, safer, healthier and more environmentally-friendly. It is about improving the way they care for their employees, their clients, their stakeholders as well as their food service and the way they behave as a corporate citizen.

Better Tomorrow 2025 includes nine commitments for responsible action and each commitment has an associated target. Sodexo’s commitments are organised according to the roles they play and where they have an impact.

Sodexo’s Better Tomorrow 2025 commitments details their vision to be a company that truly enhances quality of life, proven by their internal targets to reach a 68% engagement rate, gender balance within all management teams and a culture of environmental responsibility.

Sodexo also strives to create positive and rewarding interactions with mutual benefits. They are committed to fostering business practices that are fair, inclusive and sustainable.

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Making a DifferenceSodexo also recognises that, in the long term, a rich and resourceful planet is indispensable for quality of life.

In everything they do, they aspire to build a harmonious relationship between individuals, communities and the environment in which we all live. This is why Sodexo plan to reach 575,000 direct beneficiaries with their Stop Hunger activities, as well as reduce the gender pay gap as they continue to work with the UN to achieve a 50% reduction in food waste.

Sodexo’s reporting system is composed of 58 indicators at site level and UK wide.

All of these help to track their actions and progress towards their commitments at The Crystal. Sodexo also tracks its progress on over 20 topics – from employee engagement and working conditions, diversity and gender balance, sustainable and responsible sourcing and their environmental footprint.

Each year, an internal and external audit team assess the effectiveness of this work and plot new goals for the following year.

This process helps to identify risks, market trends and future opportunities to better embed sustainability methods and practices.

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Supply PartnersThe Crystal insists that the sourcing focuses on sustainability, seasonality and provenance. Sodexo have a commitment to using local suppliers and SMEs wherever possible and works closely with service partners to ensure they live up to the promises made. Where they are unable to, their first priority is to help them achieve these standards through BS 11000.

This approach sees an overall reduction in food miles enabling them to build a stronger relationship with suppliers. It also enables their chefs to produce menus using the best, freshest and most seasonal ingredients with guaranteed provenance. Sodexo is committed to sourcing Red Tractor assured meat and MSC certified sustainable fish and seafood, as well as Freedom Food and LEAF certified produce that is in season.

Sodexo also has an initiative to make good use of ‘wonky’ and Grade B vegetable produce through our ‘Wasteful to Tasteful’ programme where a 15kg vegetable box and a 5kg fruit box of seasonal products are delivered weekly.

The produce may not look as pretty as we are used to seeing in the supermarkets, but the soups, stews, desserts and smoothies taste just as good.

Menu content has both a massive environmental and social impact with much publicity around the quantity of red meat consumed and the associated effect on our planet. Consuming a higher level of vegetable and alternative protein sources will go a long way in helping both our own health and that of the planet. With this in mind Sodexo has worked with the WWF and Knorr to produce the Future 50 Foods Report.

This is a collection of diverse plant-based foods from around the world which can boost the nutritional value of meals and reduce the environmental impact of food supply. This is then reflected in the menu development programme giving clients the opportunity to choose a more flexitarian offer for their delegates.

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Waste ManagementThe Crystal has a zero to landfill waste policy with all cardboard and paper waste being recycled and all general waste being assessed prior to incineration to ensure there is no contamination of the waste stream.

Food waste is a big issue in the events industry, in fact the hospitality industry and food service sector produce around 1 million tonnes (worth £2.9bn per annum) in food waste alone.

Sodexo has launched WasteWatch, by LeanPath which helps to identify where the waste is coming from and define action plans to prevent waste ongoing. Sodexo strongly encourages clients to ask attendees to choose their food menus prior to the event so that dishes are produced according to the demand.

The remaining and unavoidable food waste is segregated and goes to produce green energy via a biogas plant, whilst the remains of the incineration goes to road aggregate.

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Zero to LandfillIn 2019 The Crystal achieved its commitment to banish single use plastic. We did so through a number of activities.

• Removing all plastic straws and introduced china, glassware and cutlery for all events catering

• Ensuring that all disposable items are made from plant-based materials which can be composted, this includes take-out containers and lids as well as hot and cold beverage cups

• Exchanging all plastic bottles of water for recyclable cans which can be re-sealed and disposed of in the correct waste stream

• Introducing pens made from vegetal matter

For events, water is provided via the on-site filtration system and served in glass bottles. For networking events Sodexo provides pressed and infused fruit cordials, that are sourced locally.

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Charitable ActivitiesZero Hunger is one of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals to which Sodexo is committed. The Sodexo Global CEO is the UN’s Sustainability Development Goal Ambassador. As a company Sodexo do more than just nourish clients and their employees with quality ingredients that taste great and enhance well-being, they seek to find new and innovative ways to fight hunger.

Over 20 years ago, Sodexo founded the Stop Hunger movement and today this campaign works across six continents. All employees are encouraged to take part personally by payroll donations or using their three paid volunteering days to help the cause. Last year 113,000 volunteers globally distributed 5.7 million meals.

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One Siemens Brothers Way, Royal Victoria Dock, London E16 1GB

Tel: +44 (0)207 055 6400

Events enquiriesEnquiries.TheCrystal.SLT.UK@sodexo.com