CBS Arena-SKOOT counter carbon partnership

Article posted by Coliseum, November 15^th, 2023

Image: Coventry Building Society Arena

The Coventry Building Society Arena, one of the Midlands’ (UK) premier event venues, has unveiled a new partnership with the sustainability platform SKOOT.

‘STARTUPS MAGAZINE’ stated that the carbon reduction partnership program called ‘32F’ will see both companies work together with an ambition to make the Coventry Building Society Arena one of the cleanest and greenest stadiums in the United Kingdom.

The Coventry Building Society Arena (often shortened to the CBS Arena or just simply Coventry Arena, and formerly known as the Ricoh Arena) is a complex in Coventry, England (UK). It includes a 32,609-seater stadium which is currently home to the football team, Championship club Coventry City F.C. along with facilities which include a 6,000 square meters (65,000 sq ft) exhibition hall, a hotel and a casino.

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Hackney (UK)-based SKOOT is a sustainability-focused platform that helps individuals and businesses make contributions towards reducing their carbon footprints. SKOOT provides tools to calculate emissions, counter carbon and plant trees. SKOOT also works with sustainability Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and carbon platforms to fund projects such as certified tree planting and stopping ocean-bound plastic.

The ‘32F’ carbon reduction program signifies a collaborative effort between the Coventry Building Society Arena and SKOOT to lead the way in sustainable practices within the events and entertainment industry. SKOOT enables the arena and its guests to actively participate in sustainable initiatives. These include the removal of ocean plastic, global tree planting in devastated regions, support for verified carbon projects, and engagement in local community initiatives.

To kickstart the program, SKOOT will work with its trusted NGO partners Plastic Bank to eliminate 20,000 ocean plastic bottles and plant 10,000 trees with Eden Reforestation, courtesy of Bidfood Group (foodservice wholesaler and distributor based in the United Kingdom), on behalf of the arena. Representing the Arena’s 250 members of staff, SKOOT will plant one tree in Hindi Nepal per employee through its partnership with Eden Reforestation.

Plastic Bank is a for-profit social enterprise founded and based in Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada) that builds recycling ecosystems in underdeveloped communities in an effort to fight both plastic pollution in oceans, as well as high poverty levels in developing countries.

Glendora (US)-based Eden Reforestation Projects (Eden) is a nonprofit NGO that works in developing countries to rebuild natural landscapes destroyed by deforestation.

‘STARTUPS MAGAZINE’ further stated that to encourage fan engagement, QR codes will be strategically placed around the arena, particularly near recycling bins and parking areas, allowing guests to support tree planting and ocean plastic removal to offset the carbon emitted from their visit. Realtime impact counters and digital screens will be displayed throughout the venue, showcasing the collective positive impact of the Arena’s team and fans.

In the coming months, the Coventry Building Society Arena plans to introduce a small eco-contribution to every bar and restaurant purchase, with the goal of planting over 100,000 trees by the end of 2024. SKOOT will work closely with the arena to calculate and offset the carbon footprint of each event, encouraging exhibitors and corporate guests to explore methods for reducing their CO₂ emissions.

A central element of the partnership involves increasing fan engagement in sustainability through exciting competitions. For every fan who participates in the competition, a tree will be planted, and winners will receive tickets ‘The Greenest Seats in the House’ to events at the Arena, with the initial prize being four tickets to the venue’s Christmas party event ‘Christmas at the Chocolate Factory’.

This partnership follows a series of sustainability initiatives implemented by the Coventry Building Society Arena throughout 2023. These measures include the introduction of sustainable packaging, responsible food suppliers and enhanced recycling stations, all of which are part of a comprehensive venue-wide sustainability initiative designed to reduce the arena’s environmental impact.

Commenting on the partnership, Paul Michael, Managing Director at Coventry Building Society Arena, said, “Our partnership with SKOOT is an important step in our ongoing commitment to improving our environmental impact. What we particularly like about SKOOT is its ability to bring fans, exhibitors and visitors on this sustainability journey with us. Through this partnership, we can be transparent about our progress and encourage all guests to be more conscious of their environmental impact when visiting the Coventry Building Society Arena. We hope that through this partnership, we can make a positive impact not only in Coventry but also in communities around the world.”

Noting the pressure faced by the events industry, the Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of SKOOT, Mark Stringer, said, “There’s growing demand on venues and arenas to become more sustainable, but often it’s difficult to know where to start, which is why SKOOT develops these tailored programs for venues. We are delighted to partner with the Coventry Building Society Arena, located in the heart of the Midlands, to make an impact on this world-class, cutting-edge venue. We believe this partnership will create a ripple effect among fans, showing that all their small actions can have a huge positive impact.”

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