The Hub is wholly committed to reducing our impact on the environment. Over the last ten years we have been monitoring & reporting our energy and water consumption, and the amount of waste we produce: our total consumption has decreased by 20%

To support the climate challenge, year on year we take more steps to try to reduce our environmental impact through the way we work and the creative programmes we deliver.

In collaboration with Design-Nation, The Hub’s latest exhibition Our Journey shines a spotlight on three key values that have become the most important aspects of the Hub and Design-Nation today – excellence, diversity, and sustainability.

Here is a snapshot of our sustainable journey so far:

Operations:

• Over the last ten years we have been monitoring & reporting our energy, water & sewerage, and waste and our total consumption has decreased by 20%
  
• We have moved to a certified renewable energy tariff
  
• We recycle everything we can, and we’ve invested in larger communal bins
  
• We actively donate unwanted items to local charities, schools, and community groups
  
• We use specialist recycle companies for computer peripherals, batteries, and shredding
  
• We bulk buy and use local suppliers where possible
  
• Over the last year we have terminated our contract on two external units, and condensed our stored supplies and materials
  
• As part of the refurbishment of the Hub in 2021, automatic and environmentally friendly LED lighting was installed. The ground floor also has a new heat recovery & ventilation system
  
• We actively promote a range of public transport routes to visit the Hub and bike storage is provided
  
• Plants feature in our public and office spaces, to help cleanse the air and remind people of the importance of the environment
  
• Our shop packaging is fully recyclable including paper bags, eco-board boxes made from recycled materials and biodegradable bubble wrap. We also reuse packaging that we are sent
  
• Our shop and café till rolls have a cardboard inner tube and these are re-used through our craft workshops
  
• Our CafeBar menu is predominantly plant-based and has been designed to minimise food waste
  
• We provide a range of dairy free milk options and offer sustainable Fairtrade coffee
  
• We also offer refills for visitors that have refillable cups and bottles
  
• All CafeBar packaging and take-away supplies are recyclable, and we use real towels instead of paper towels
  
• We source all ingredients from local suppliers and when we have been forced to close, we donate all food waste to local food banks

Creative Programmes:

• We always try new processes and experiment with new ways to present environmentally friendly exhibitions that create minimal waste
  
• We re-use furniture and materials, and any new display furniture is designed to be easily transportable and fit for multiple uses
  
• We haven’t re-painted our gallery in three years. Instead, we use minimal paint and recyclable vinyl to create impactful shows
  
• Reusable cotton dust sheets have replaced plastic dust rolls and we use mountboard instead of Foamex to display interpretation
  
• All exhibition handouts and activity sheets are printed on recycled paper, and we only print the minimum required
  
• We’ve reduced the print run of our seasonal Guide which is printed on recycled paper and most of our marketing is now digital
  
• We use ethically sourced materials for our craft and design workshops and recycle and re-use materials from past projects
  
• We only fire our kilns when they are full
  
• In 2021, we staged an event bringing together local partners to celebrate, champion and educate people about climate action

Team:

• We have reduced office space, files and storage so that the Hub team can work in a more hybrid way
  
• We have adopted a ‘print only when required’ culture and our administration has moved to digital formats, which are decluttered periodically
  
• We’ve replaced desktop computers for laptops
  
• Meetings take place online and we use digital platforms to communicate and work collaboratively

For Design-Nation: Our Journey:

• We commissioned new multi-purpose display furniture from Sleaford Woodwork Ltd, designed to be easily transportable and will suit many future uses
  
• The Perspex exhibition title walls have been recycled from the Hub’s Guitars exhibition in 2008
  
• Plinths from Art of Glass 2018 have been repainted and OBS material from previous shows has been repurposed
  
• All raw materials are environmentally friendly, and we’ve produced a recyclable newspaper which replaces wall interpretation and handouts

Design-Nation: Our Journey is at the Hub, Sleaford from 29 Jan - 24 Apr 2022.