Sanitary facilities

The use of vegan organic soap in refillable bottles reduces the consumption of disposable packaging and protects the environment.
The use of recycled toilet paper and towels conserves resources and reduces waste.
Water-saving measures such as the water-saving flush button on toilets and taps that are firmly turned off reduce water consumption. Guest artists can be encouraged to use less water through a notice in the toilets at event venues.
Using cold water conserves valuable resources. There is no need to consume energy to heat water.
In many cases, water can be conserved by means of inserts in the tap or shower head, for example a ring that restricts the flow of water.
Composting toilets offer a resource-saving alternative to conventional sanitary systems – especially for open-air events or temporary venues. They reduce water consumption and allow nutrients to be recycled.

Good to know

Paper towels are more hygienic than cloth towels. But cloth or cotton towels are more environmentally friendly because they can be reused. The main environmental difference between hand dryers and towels is the efficiency of the technology, the power consumption and the frequency of use.

Not everyone is able or wants to wash their hands in cold water –sometimes due to personal needs or health reasons. Hot water should also be available in such cases.

Toilets must be accessible. This also includes the provision of gender-neutral toilets.

Good practice examples

PACT Zollverein recommends shaking hands twelve times before drying them – in which case a single paper towel is sufficient. Conserves resources and works reliably, according to the recommendation. The idea comes from a TED talk that can be found on YouTube.

PACT Zollverein Choreographisches Zentrum NRW (PACT Zollverein Choreographic Centre NRW): Sustainability

Outdoor areas

Natural elements and plants adapted to the location protect the environment, promote biodiversity and conserve resources.
Natural acoustics and lighting create a calm, pleasant atmosphere – with no noise pollution.
Strengthen community spirit, create awareness of sustainable practices: Those pursuing such goals can involve audiences in designing outdoor spaces – for example, by creating raised beds or maintaining insect hotels during special event days or in designated areas.

Good to know

Outdoor areas consisting of natural elements and plants adapted to the location promote biodiversity, conserve resources, reduce maintenance requirements and are more resistant to extreme weather conditions. Natural acoustics and lighting reduce energy consumption and protect the environment. They also support biodiversity by respecting the habitat of local flora and fauna. They also contribute to a balanced ecosystem.

Waste separation

Paper, glass, plastics, metals, organic waste, textiles, wood, batteries, electronics: At some point, all of this becomes waste. If carefully separated, this increases the recycling rate and the efficiency of resource utilisation.
Avoiding (plastic) waste reduces the amount of waste produced and less plastic ends up in the environment.
Clearly labelling the waste bins helps ensure proper waste sorting and disposal. Pictograms are particularly good: As universally understandable signs, they enable waste to be correctly allocated to the bins.
A clearly visible explanation of the waste separation system also makes it easier for people who are not familiar with it to dispose of waste correctly.

Technical equipment

Resources can be conserved in new productions by buying or borrowing used or refurbished technical equipment.
Certain items of technical equipment may be repaired, passed on or repurposed and do not have to be disposed of. This helps reduce electronic waste and promotes the circular economy.
New purchases online can often be avoided: Public supply chains or local shops also provide needed materials. Buying from them helps reduce CO₂ emissions and supports local economies.
Well-maintained technical equipment has a longer service life. Regular maintenance keeps investments in new items down.
Technical equipment must be disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner and in accordance with legal regulations. This protects the environment and promotes the proper recycling of materials.
When purchasing new equipment, it is recommended that they are low-energy devices that can also be repaired, thereby extending their lifespan.
Optimum utilisation of refrigerator capacity and operation on the lowest cooling level reduce electricity consumption, which in turn conserves energy.
Theatre holidays, annual leave, after work: during these periods, equipment – including computers – is not in use and can be switched off. This reduces energy consumption and electricity costs.
Refraining from using electrical appliances that are not absolutely necessary means that no energy is required. This in turn conserves resources.
Multiple sockets with switches or a main switch ensure that equipment is disconnected from the power supply and is not in standby mode.
Avoiding battery or rechargeable battery-operated devices that are not absolutely necessary – such as wireless mice or keyboards – reduces resource consumption.

Digital technology

Energy-efficient digital technologies – such as search engines, hardware and software, internet services, AI, video conferencing, web hosting and data transfer – reduce energy consumption. The environmental footprint of digital processes can be minimised by seeking out and choosing sustainable providers.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) consumes a lot of energy. Targeted, efficient use with clear added value conserves resources.
Digital meetings eliminate travel, thus reducing CO2 emissions.
Outdated or no longer required data may be deleted from servers on a regular basis. This avoids data waste and ensures that storage space is utilised more efficiently.
Lean digital communication encompasses emails that are limited to the essentials. A call or exchange via a messaging service is often even more sustainable.

Good to know

In the case of digital providers, it is sometimes necessary to weigh up environmental sustainability and accessibility. Zoom, for example, may not offer the most environmentally friendly server, but it is considered more accessible than many other providers, as it offers automatic live subtitles and the option to keep sign language interpreters in the frame permanently, for example.

Digital devices and systems such as servers, data centres and end devices consume a considerable amount of electricity and water. In addition, a digital infrastructure consisting of cloud services, streaming and communication technologies is often associated with significant CO2 emissions, especially if no renewable energies are used.

People who do not have smartphones or digital skills may be excluded from digital meetings. This exclusion must be prevented.

Office supplies

Alternatives to printed advertising materials exist. These include digital formats or reusable materials. These reduce paper consumption, which is in turn compatible with a more sustainable way of working.
The customised planning of print jobs means that print shops only produce the required quantity of advertising materials. This means there is no waste.
Double-sided black and white printing from refill cartridges conserves resources: both paper and ink consumption are lower.
The use of recycled paper for notes, printed materials and folders reduces the environmental impact and promotes the circular economy.
Working with environmental printing services reduces the environmental footprint if the printers use sustainable printing processes. These include water-based inks or energy-efficient machines.
The environmental footprint can also be reduced in the office: by using office supplies from climate-friendly suppliers – whether pens, glue or adhesive tape.
Chemical-free cleaning agents and detergents are good for the environment and your health.

Good to know

Ink tank printers are particularly environmentally friendly. Their ink tanks can be refilled, so there is less waste than with cartridge printers.

There are differences between paper, printing process and colour quality: while many print shops advertise themselves as “green”, often the only eco-friendly aspect they offer is environmentally friendly shipping.

Ordering

Fewer online orders lead to fewer emissions that would otherwise be generated during the transport of goods. A guideline such as “Do not buy from large online retailers like Amazon” supports local economies.
Demand-orientated order planning is helpful in the attempt to conserve resources and avoid waste. It also helps avoid returns.
Comparing offers from regional and environmentally friendly suppliers is helpful in reducing CO2 emissions and supports the local economy.
Less (plastic) packaging leads to less waste and promotes the sustainable use of resources.

Sanitary facilities

Good to know

Further reading

Good practice examples

Outdoor areas

Good to know

Further reading

Waste separation

Further reading

Technical equipment

Digital technology

Good to know

Further reading

Office supplies

Good to know

Further reading

Ordering

Further reading