Our CEO, Andrew, recently visited the QEII Centre in London to spend time with the team behind one of the UK’s most progressive sustainable London venues. Here’s his lowdown on what sustainability really looks like in action, from an ECOsmart certified venue setting a high bar.
Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of spending time with James Bogle and Coralie Wood at the QEII Centre in Westminster, a standout London conference and events venue, and proud holder of ECOsmart Platinum certification.
The QEII team are defining what sustainability in business events can look like. Here’s how.
Championing sustainable food & beverage
My tour began with Coralie Wood, General Manager of QEII Taste, part of Levy UK (Compass). Her team is driven by a simple and powerful principle – looking after people and
the planet. That philosophy is visible in so many details.
People
- A fully stocked staff pantry provides nutritious food (breakfast rolls, snacks, and more) for anyone working four hours or longer.
- Best practices are actively shared across other Levy UK venues such as Excel London, The O2 and Twickenham Stadium.
Planet
- Chip-resistant crockery is used throughout, guaranteed to be replaced and recycled by the manufacturer if it does actually sustain any damage.
- No single-use plastics. Anywhere!
- All desserts are vegan, and carbon labelling (using Food Steps technology) is applied to every dish.
- The team has eliminated cling film food wrap and banned any ingredients travelling by air freight.
Lower impact menus
- Beef is removed from the menu entirely. They even developed a delicious jackfruit ‘burger’.
- Chalk stream trout has replaced salmon, reducing the impact on overfished species.
- Venison, sourced locally from Sussex and Kent, is now a popular, sustainable menu option.
- For conferences, high-energy fruit boxes are replacing traditional snack items.
- Food waste is measured with precision and used to guide continuous improvement.
Culinary innovation
- The renowned Will Devlin, Green Michelin Star chef from The Small Holding, has partnered with QEII to design sustainable fine-dining packages for conference dinners.
- English wines, particularly Gusbourne, recently ranked among the world’s best, are championed through regular tastings.
- Event organisers can explore dishes within a dedicated on-site tasting room.
Technology & operations
The QEII Centre is also pushing forward with operational sustainability:
- The Hawk System gives real-time monitoring of fridge temperatures and delivered goods.
- Storage areas are redesigned by food group to minimise stock levels and reduce waste.
- Cleaning products across the venue are eco-friendly, with Cowshed soap and moisturiser in toilets and bathrooms.
- Waterless urinals are currently being trialled, with significant water-saving potential.
And perhaps my favourite detail…
The QEII Centre now hosts 10,000 bees on its roof – a thriving urban hive that is visible from the main building.
Smart building management
At the heart of the building is The Hub – QEII’s tech nerve centre. It monitors room temperatures across the venue so that heating and cooling can be automatically reduced when spaces are empty. It’s an impressive demonstration of how smart building management can reduce energy use without compromising delegate comfort.
Culture of sustainability
Finally, the QEII Sustainability Committee brings together people from across the organisation to generate ideas and maintain momentum. One simple but effective example is switching entirely to rechargeable batteries for equipment. It may sound small, but multiplied across thousands of uses, it makes a real impact and reflects a culture where everyone contributes.
Walking through the venue with James and Coralie made it clear why QEII stands out. Sustainability is a mindset here, embedded in decisions from menu design to building operations.
Congratulations to the entire QEII team – your leadership is helping raise the bar for the business events industry.
About the author:
Andrew Perolls is founder and CEO of Greengage. He is uniquely positioned as both a business travel & events expert and a keen advocate of environmental sustainability. He set up the company to provide independent advice and support to businesses wanting to embrace a greener approach.
Andrew’s previous experience includes UK and international company Board roles with Business Travel Direct / Reed & Mackay, BCD Meetings & Events and CTM. His specialism is accelerated business growth through organisational transformation, cultural change and strategic marketing & communications.
