The University of Leeds Conferences and Events team is proud to announce that Cloth Hall Court has been awarded a prestigious Gold rating from the Green Tourism scheme. This accolade recognises the dedicated efforts and innovative approach to promoting sustainability across its operations.

Sustainability is embedded in the culture at the University of Leeds, with an emphasis on environmental awareness, community engagement and charitable initiatives. The Conferences and Events team has been at the forefront of this drive with Cloth Hall Court acting as a “Living Lab” to pilot green practices before rolling them out further.

“As a premium events venue, we have a responsibility to lead the way in sustainable conferencing,” said Sam Glenister-Batey, Deputy Director of Commercial and Business Development. “The Living Lab approach allows us to trial eco-friendly solutions at Cloth Hall Court before implementing them across campus.”

Some of the key sustainability initiatives already underway at Cloth Hall Court include:

• Menus featuring locally-sourced, seasonal produce to reduce food miles
• Eliminating plastic water bottles in favour of reusable options with free water refill stations
• Comprehensive recycling and food waste measurement to minimise wastage
• Guide for “Sustainable Delegating” with tips for attendees such as offsetting

The team has also developed a bold 5-year Sustainability Blueprint to drive further improvements in areas like energy efficiency, ethical procurement and community engagement projects.

“We’re thrilled to have our efforts recognised with this Gold award from Green Tourism,” added Sam. “It’s a testament to our collective commitment to making a positive impact, and it fills me with immense pride as we look forward to continuing our sustainable journey and making events more sustainable. With the dedication of our team, I am confident that we will keep pushing boundaries and setting an example for sustainable business practices in the years to come.”

To find out more about sustainable conferencing at the University of Leeds, please visit the Sustainability webpage.