Justine: Welcome to our podcast, Beyond Warwick. Joining us today is Andrew Perrolls, CEO at Greengage Solution. Welcome, Andrew.
Andrew: Pleased to be here.
Justine: Greengage Solution is a very well-known and respected sustainability consultancy for the meetings industry, and you've been incredibly supportive of Warwick Conferences on our own journey.
Let’s start with understanding Greengage in the first place.
Andrew: Well, you know, I feel very fortunate because I spent many years working in the travel and meeting sector. At the same time, in the last few years, I’ve really developed an interest in the planet and some of the challenges it faces.
I remember thinking, wouldn’t it be great to bring those two passions together? So, I started a business to help industry members on their sustainability journey. I went away, did some studying, and surrounded myself with experts. In March 2020, I launched Greengage.
The business was founded with three objectives: first, to certify sustainable hotels; second, to provide consulting; and third, to help people measure carbon emissions.
Justine: Fabulous. I’ve heard you talk about Greengage Solutions as inspiring and empowering organisations to create meaningful change. Can you expand on what that means in practice?
Andrew: Yes, that’s in our mission statement, and it’s what we strive to do. Consumers and businesses are increasingly seeking sustainable options—this applies to holidays, hotels, and meeting venues.
We launched EcoSmart, a certification to assure clients that the hotels or venues they choose are sustainable. While certification verifies a venue’s efforts, we wanted to go further—helping venues along their sustainability journey. We guide them through the process, enabling continuous improvement.
For instance, venues are accredited from bronze to platinum. Warwick Conferences began as gold and then progressed to platinum. Over a third of the venues we work with improve annually, which is fantastic.
Justine: Absolutely. For us, achieving platinum status just before Christmas was a significant milestone. Now, turning to event organisers, what advice and support can you offer to help them choose the right venue while adhering to ever-changing sustainability criteria?
Andrew: Sustainability is now a top-three consideration for meeting buyers, but it’s a broad topic. Key factors to focus on include:
- Energy and carbon emissions
- Waste and recycling
- Reducing single-use plastics
- Water conservation
- Sustainable food and beverage options
- Guest experience and environmental ethos
The best way for organisers to ensure these are met is by choosing certified venues—it's a clear "tick in the box."
Measuring carbon emissions is also crucial. That’s why we developed the Carbon Toolkit, enabling organisations to measure and manage emissions. Soon, we’ll launch a carbon calculator for clients to track and reduce their event impact.
Justine: Brilliant. Measuring the carbon footprint of an event is essential.
Andrew: Absolutely. There’s an old saying: What gets measured gets managed. For example, reducing the amount of beef served or choosing venues accessible via public transport can significantly reduce emissions.
Justine: At Warwick Conferences, we prioritise reducing our carbon footprint over offsetting. What are your thoughts on offsetting?
Andrew: Offsetting should never replace action. Any event generates emissions—from travel to energy use and food. Reducing emissions as much as possible is critical, and offsetting should only address the remainder.
Be cautious with offsetting; it can be like paying someone to diet for you. Use certified schemes like Vera or Gold Standard, ensure an audit trail, and choose projects that reduce fossil fuel use and support local communities.
Justine: Absolutely. Food waste is another major issue, with hospitality contributing 10% of the UK’s food waste. How can venues manage this effectively?
Andrew: Food waste is significant, especially with buffets—often, 20% goes uneaten. Commonly wasted items include vegetables, salads, bread, and desserts.
Venues need to manage waste at all levels: packaging, preparation, and leftovers. Skilled chefs can reduce waste during preparation. Educating clients and delegates about sustainable events can also help reduce over-serving. Simply communicating the intent to reduce waste can decrease food served by 20% without impacting satisfaction.
Justine: Absolutely. We need to be bold about our messaging. Clients and delegates are often happy to support waste reduction.
Andrew: Agreed. Clear communication makes a big difference.
Justine: Are there any energy-saving tips you’d recommend?
Andrew: Certainly.
- Use natural daylight to reduce energy usage.
- Control heating and lighting in individual rooms.
- Avoid overusing air conditioning.
- Implement sustainable practices like reusing towels and linens.
Public transport access is also critical. Electric vehicle chargers are increasingly important for venues as EV adoption grows.
Justine: Yes, we’re installing 16 EV chargers by the end of the year.
Andrew: That’s fantastic. Offering choices like “skip your room” hangers is also effective, giving guests control over their environmental impact.
Justine: Sustainability values are spreading across organisations. How can businesses encourage staff engagement and adoption?
Andrew: It’s essential to have leadership support and involve employees. Green teams are an excellent way to engage staff. Communication is also key. For example, your sustainability roadmap at Warwick Conferences is a great visual and practical tool for both staff and guests.
Justine: Thank you. It’s a journey we want to take our clients and staff on together.
Andrew: Setting clear targets and showing progress encourages continued efforts.
Justine: We’re also enhancing biodiversity—planting trees, creating meadows, and even installing bug hotels. We’ve earned a hedgehog-friendly campus bronze award and conduct species surveys. Do you have any best practices to share?
Andrew: Honestly, you could share your practices with me! That’s impressive. Biodiversity is as important as reducing carbon emissions. Initiatives like planting trees and hedges create habitats and sequester carbon.
Justine: We’ve planted over 500 trees and are continuing.
Andrew: Fantastic. Adding hedges is also great for biodiversity and sustainability.
Justine: Our geese are also part of campus life—they even use the crossings!
Andrew: Wonderful. It shows how humans and nature can coexist.
Justine: The environmental impact of large in-person events is well-documented, yet face-to-face networking remains vital. How do you see the industry evolving sustainably?
Andrew: The three major environmental impacts of events are energy consumption, travel, and waste. The industry is improving, but challenges like single-use carpets and exhibition stands remain.
The Joint Meetings Industry Council pledged to cut event emissions by 50% by 2030. With only a few years left, we must take this seriously.
Justine: Collaboration is crucial. As platinum members, we share best practices with other accredited venues. How can individuals get involved in the sustainability journey?
Andrew: Training is a great starting point. Sustainability resonates with everyone, and individuals can bring valuable ideas to the table.
Justine: Thank you, Andrew, for sharing your insights. It’s been an enlightening conversation.
Andrew: My pleasure. Thank you for having me.
