Liverpool Philharmonic is committed to fully understanding and minimising its impact upon the environment through our Environmental Sustainability Policy and Action Plan. We will strive to reach the highest practicably achievable standards in environmental sustainability throughout our business operations and develop a positive culture of environmental awareness, personal and corporate responsibility across our employees, performers, promoters, audiences, participants, clients and contractors, and anyone else who may be affected by our actions or activities. 
 
We will adopt a robust and systemic approach to environmental sustainability management, complying with all relevant legislation and guidance, and striving for continuous and measurable improvement in our performance. 

 Our aims are to:

• Reduce our environmental impacts in energy and water consumption, waste generation and disposal, acting responsibly and efficiently throughout our company and venues 
• Promote a proactive sustainability culture through continued employee engagement and focused initiatives 
• Require consideration of this policy and industry good practice through procurement of equipment, goods and services 
• Encourage the use of environmentally friendly forms of transport by employees, audiences, artists and visitors to our venues 
• Communicate our environmental sustainability goals and results to our employees, customers, audiences and stakeholders. 
  
  

 To achieve our aims, we will:

• Ensure effective leadership of this policy by the Chief Executive, Executive Team, and Leadership Team with annual reporting to the Board of Trustees 
• Develop and implement an Environmental Sustainability Action Plan with time limited, measurable objectives and outcomes to be reviewed and updated annually 
• Establish Environmental Sustainability as a standing item at key meetings including Executive Team, Leadership Team and Health & Safety Committee 
• Operate a cross-organisation Environmental Sustainability Action Group chaired by the Executive Director Audiences & Development with quarterly meetings to coordinate and help drive progress 
• Communicate our goals and results publicly through our Review of the Year.  

Progress in 2023-24 included:

• Successful reduction in energy consumption in our buildings, through measures including more effective and responsive monitoring; and installation of LED lighting in a number of areas 
• Carbon literacy training delivered to all staff 
• Significant increase in procurement of bars and catering products from local and environmentally responsible suppliers, and products which are vegetarian, vegan, and/or in environmentally friendly packaging 
• Successfully eradicated the use of glass bottles from our concert bars, the move to cans, cardboard bottles and boxes has led to a dramatic reduction in carbon emissions and waste 
• Continuing reduction in use of paper, with increased move towards paperless meetings, e-tickets and documents delivered online including Annual Review, and concert programme notes; and working with promoters to largely cease use of individual print for one off concerts. All paper used was from responsible sources 
• Commissioning and presentation of major new piece by Joanna Marsh, ‘Plastic Theatre’ which explored the impact of climate change and was performed by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Youth Choir and Children’s Choir. 
• Partnering in the presentation of a new piece by Stevens & Pound, ‘The Silent Planet’ which includes an additional ‘Earth’ movement with climate activists from the international youth organisation, Force of Nature, musicians from the Royal Northern College of Music and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. This new composition uses the power of music to amplify unheard voices around climate change, urging listeners to recognise the environmental issues we face today. 

Environmental Action Plan 2024/25

Our objectives for 2024-25 were approved by the Board in June 2024. 

They set a framework for detailed activity that will be undertaken and led by members of the Leadership Team. 

The Plan was developed and will be monitored by a cross-departmental Environmental Steering Group. The purpose of this group is to: 

• To support objectives, targets and goals that Liverpool Philharmonic has set 
• To monitor progress against the Plan, and report to the Executive Team and Board 
• To develop future plans for approval by Executive Team and the Board 
• To help spread the word amongst staff about how to play their part in environmental sustainability 
• To help design staff engagement activity - training, knowledge sharing, etc. 

Key Objectives 

These objectives are set out in a more detailed internal document which sets measurable actions and goals and which will be reviewed by the Environmental Steering Group. 

1. Reduce energy usage in the Hall and Friary by 5% year on year. This will be done through a combination of: ensuring all lighting and equipment is turned off when not in use, reviewing consumption data to see if there are anomalies of usage at times and correcting these, control of heating (BMS system and other measures and investment to improve the buildings’ energy efficiency 
   
   
2. Invest in energy efficient equipment and systems including in this year more LED lighting, more efficient heat pumps, and replacement roof covering for the main building  
   
   
3. Increase staff awareness through Carbon literacy training for new staff as part of their induction, and regular updates and communication on our aims, actions and progress 
   
   
4. Encourage the reduction of the carbon footprint associated with travel and transport of audiences, the company and the orchestra, and visiting tours, including exploring approaches to incentivise alternative travel options to private car 
   
   
5. Reduce consumption of materials, including work to minimise waste from the bars and front of house operations, reducing print production and usage throughout the business - from tickets, brochures, hard copies of papers to staff, etc. 
   
   
6. Continuing our successful work to ensure product lines and packaging of products in our bars and catering operations are sustainable and environmentally responsible, and that we are working where we can with local and environmentally responsible suppliers 
   
   
7. We will communicate our progress on these measures to staff, stakeholders, audiences and funders at least every 6 months, in board reports, annual review, company circulars and company briefings, emails to audiences, stakeholders, learning programme participants, etc., on our website, and through social media. We will work through our networks to influence their environmental agenda. 

Achievement of these objectives will be supported by a detailed and SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time limited) Action Plan.