Our Commitment to the Environment
At 1 Wimpole Street we realise our actions have an impact on the environment around us. We regard sustainability and tackling climate change as key strategic issues for us, and for the U.K. We are therefore committed to the implementation of an effective environmental system that will not only reduce the impact of our activities on the environment but also increase our efficiency and effectiveness.
We Fulfil This Mission By A Commitment To:
- Understanding environmental issues and sharing this information
- Developing innovative and flexible solutions to bring about change
- Sourcing products and services that are produced and distributed in a responsible fashion
- Recognising that managed social responsibility is essential to our future
- Monitoring and measurement of our progress for each project
- Encouraging all our suppliers and partners to share in our aims
Thoughtful & Considerate Staff
1 Wimpole Street recognises the responsibility our staff have in contributing to good environmental management. We seek to harness and channel the enthusiasm and interest shown by our employees and provide the appropriate training and support to ensure all staff understand and exercise their environmental responsibility.
Responsible Suppliers & Partners
1 Wimpole Street will promote and encourage good environmental practice to the organisations we work with, including suppliers and partners. We seek to do business with those who share our vision, encouraging a shared responsibility in preserving the natural spaces that sustain our planet.
The provenance of our food ingredients means a great deal to us. Of course, we want them to be the finest and freshest available, but we also want to know that they are from suppliers with integrity.
That’s why we source fish from suppliers dedicated to promoting sustainability and minimising food miles. The butchers we use can trace every link in their supply chain back to the farm. Our cheese comes from artisan makers in the UK who are passionate about their craft. Wherever possible, our chefs use fruit and vegetables from British growers. And all our hot beverages are supplied by importers who are as committed to the welfare of the growers as they are to the quality of the product.
We Do…
- Manage our venue’s energy consumption by turning off unnecessary light and climate control to our rooms through a computerised Building Management System (BMS).
- We endeavour to procure electricity from 100% renewable energy sources, wind, biomass and solar.
- Reduce electrical load on the aircon chilling plant by using the fresh air only when the weather is below 19 degrees and not using any re-circulation function.
- All waste food from production waste, such as vegetable trimmings combined with food waste post service is sent to Veolia UK | Leeming Biogas gas-to-grid anaerobic digestion.
- Buy from small independent suppliers, and have seasonal produce tailored to our conference menus.
- Minimise cardboard packaging on deliveries where possible.
- Have an on-site water purification system which has saved annually an estimated 92,000 1 litre glass bottles from being transported and saving an estimated 7,200 tonnes of carbon emissions.
- Use environmentally friendly cleaning products.
- Meeting room notepads are made from FSC certified paper, and pens from recycled aluminium.
- Use electronic documentation and files where possible to limit paper consumption.
- Facilitate the use of hybrid events to reach overseas delegates, in order to reduce their carbon footprint.
- Have the ability to stream events so fringe delegates can access the conference at a time that suits them.
- Offer video conferencing in all meetings allowing potential overseas attendees to reduce their carbon footprint by accessing the event remotely.
- Use low energy light bulbs wherever possible.
- Use of reusable dispensers for soaps and shampoo in the hotel rooms and toilet areas of the building.
- Have aerators on taps and showers in the bedrooms to reduce water usage.
- Encourage bedroom guests to reuse towels, and reduce linen usage during their stay which in turn uses less water and detergent.
What We Don’t do
- Use air freight transport where possible, allowing us to limit “food miles”.
- Use disposable or non-recyclable packaging.
- Use aerosols as all our cleaning materials are held within reusable containers.
- Believe the Meeting and Event industry should be wasteful.
We Recycle
We currently recycle: paper, plastic, glass, cardboard, cans, cooking oil, print cartridges, batteries, food waste, light bulbs, IT equipment.
Royal Society of Medicine (RSM)
The Royal Society of Medicine owns and operates 1 Wimpole Street. Holding your event at 1 Wimpole Street is an investment in the future of UK healthcare. All profits are reinvested into the RSM’s primary charitable purpose: to provide education for doctors and other healthcare professionals.
The RSM highlights key health issues such as the impact of climate change within its education programmes.
The RSM is a founding member of the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change which brings together healthcare professionals to advocate for better responses to climate change that protect and promote public health.
The RSM’s Council is aware of its need to invest the Society’s funds in a responsible manner and to have a positive impact on people and the planet. This is done by investing in funds that adopt screening policies that exclude areas of significant social or environmental harm and integrate ESG factors within the investment selection process. One such exclusion is the direct holding of investments whose primary business is in fossil fuels including the production, extraction and refining of oil, gas and coal, screened at more than 10% of revenue.
