The National Arenas Association (NAA) has published its Green Guide, developed in collaboration with live event sustainability experts, A Greener Future (AGF).

The NAA, a body that brings together the 23 largest indoor arenas in the UK and Ireland to share best practice, has produced the Green Guide as a resource to help all NAA members operate more sustainably.

The NAA Green Guide addresses the extensive environmental aspects of arena management, while also considering the areas of governance, social inclusion, and economic opportunity.

The guide aims to help member venues set sustainability objectives and work towards reducing their environmental impact, regardless of where they currently are on their individual sustainability journey.

Shared objectives noted in the guide include improved social and environmental sustainability polices and overall governance; reduced energy consumption, water use and transport emissions; and more conscious choices in food and packaging provisions.

Embracing a multi-stakeholder approach, the guide provides wide-ranging advice covering venue operations and governance, to promoters, production, and audience management.

Venues can also benefit from access to a number of Sustainability Guideline Templates adaptable to align with a venue’s individual sustainability requirements and infrastructure.

Backed by industry body LIVE and the Concert Promoters Association, the Green Guide will be reviewed annually as part of the NAA working group and is expected to evolve as the live industry continues to adapt to the demands and opportunities of social and environmental sustainability.

Claire Cosgrave, NAA Green Guide Lead, said: “The National Arenas Association Green Guide presents an accessible, action-orientated resource to help our member venues navigate the complex world of social and environmental sustainability. By focussing attention on a set of shared objectives, we believe the guide can help to drive progress in aspects common to all venues, regardless of size, age or stage of sustainability journey.

Working with the experts at A Greener Future, the guide covers a vast range of detail with practical steps for venue operators to take and engage key stakeholders on including promoters and event audiences. As a group, the NAA is committed to driving best practice across all its member venues and we look forward to evolving the Green Guide further in future years.”

Claire O’Neill, CEO & CoFounder A Greener Future, said: “It is vitally important that venues act now to prevent negative impacts on the environment, provide safe and fulfilling spaces for people, and manage risks and opportunities posed by climate change and market transformation. Venues are the home of live entertainment. This collaborative work is a significant step to getting the live sectors house in order, with manageable steps towards greener arenas.”

The guide and accompanying resources are accessible via A Greener Future’s website at agreenerfuture.com/naaguideresources

H/T N.M.