Sustainability Certification & Policy

Sustainability solutions at The Brighton & Hove Business Show.

Sustainability Certification 8091 AC UK

The Brighton & Hove Business Show is working towards the certification 8091 AC UK introduced for all event companies to shortly achieve in the UK.

As a young Show team, operating in what has been dubbed 'the greenest city in the UK' (report - Norwich Union 2007) the team possess an ethical and sustainable approach already to their businesses and in their business practices.

It was necessary to then turn attenions to review the possible carbon footprint of the first Show in May 2009 and introduce certain initiatives.Eco Events were on hand to help and advise during this process and provided the Show with a basic benchmark to go forward  and continue with sustainability aims andto continually reduce the carbon footprint impact of this large, City event.

The November 2009 Show continued from the May Show to sell stand space without power consumption where exhibitors received large discounts for taking stands for doing so. This was popular with a number of firms and helped to reduce our consumption levels. (The Hove Centre, the Show venue, provides high efficiency lighting and motion sensing and uses energy saving light bulbs; a combined heat generator and low water usage closets). 

Fresh water dispensers were plumbed into mains supplies at the venue, during the summer, in between Show dates, reducing use of plastic bottles and delivery firms carbon footprint.   

No dedicated paper, 'Exhibitors Handbook Directory' was printed for this event, nor in May 2009, reducing unnecessary waste. Exhibitors’ information is visible online.

Car sharing was encouraged, wherever possible, when visiting this Show and use of local buses and other public transport highlighted too, whenever, and has increased between both May and November Shows 2009; a positive step forward.

Substantial reductions have been made in the amount of paper flyers printed, constantly being achieved at each Show.

A substantial reduction in the amount of posters printed, size of posters printed and replaced by re-usable event signage.

Suppliers and requisites for the event are retained and sourced from the local business area, situated no further than 15 miles from the venue centre for the Shows, providing income for the local region.

The event venue streamed rubbish in May and November 2009 and publishes the following results from November 2009 showing a much improved attitude from exhibitors and visitors about their responsibilities to disposing waste, having had constant reminders to the build up of the event and very visual waste bins on hand on the day to use in numerous and convient positions.

Plastic                  300 litres was left behind
Cardboard /Paper   480 litres was left behind
Glass                   120litres  was left behind
General Waste      240 litres was left behind
Metals                  0

General waste is currently subject to hand sorting; approximately 70% of this 240l general waste was recycled, only 72l of general waste will go to landfill.

These were considered to be better than expected readings with further November Show 2009 information shortly available.


The Carbon Company
The Carbon Company operated by Dr. Lucas McGrady were on hand to provide exhibitors with information about sustainability matters at our November 2009 Show.  Please contact Dr McGrady on lucas.mcgrady@carboncom.co.uk if you require further information.


Eco Events
We were pleased that Eco Events were able to provide us with our first benchmark at the
May 2009 Show providing information about who came to our event, how visitors arrived, their travel plans, their views on sustainability and basic waste streaming put into place.  

Click here for further information about Eco Events