Sustainability

As an opera company with a global outlook, we believe it is our responsibility to put environmental thinking and action at the heart of what we do.

Tackling climate change is a joint effort. By engaging employees, musicians, audiences, communities, and supporters in the environmental process, we can help to reduce our environmental impact and carbon footprint, and inspire wider change towards a more sustainable future.

• Moved onto a 100% renewable energy tariff where possible with Good Energy
• Awarded a 3 star “Creative Green” certification by Julie’s Bicycle
• Installed water saving devices throughout our buildings
• Introduced on site food composting
• Offered discounted public transport for staff
• Event transport is handled by StageFreight, winners of 2019 award for Eco-friendly road fleet of the Year.
• Established an Opera North ‘Green Team’ to advocate internally for our environmental aims
• Cut electricity usage through behaviour change campaigns
• Replaced lighting with LED across the estate where possible
• Swapped disposable items for more environmentally friendly alternatives
• Successfully trialled a fully recycled set for a new production, Not Such Quiet Girls
• Now send all main stage sets to be recycled at the end of their life by a specialist contractor, Stockyard North
• Saved paper at Howard Assembly Room song recital performances by installing surtitles screens rather than giving out sheets with song translations
• Came second in category for Love to Ride‘s #CycleSeptember 2018
• Now print all main stage brochures on fully recyclable and carbon balanced paper, where the residual carbon impacts of a product or service have been estimated and are offset through the protection and restoration of carbon-rich wildlife habitats. Certified by the World Land Trust.