We are Green

The Echo Arena isn't just home to a host of international music stars, or a sparkly new building in a beautiful location - we're one of the one of the greenest venues in Europe, specifically designed with the most energy efficient, environmentally-friendly green criteria in mind.

More than 665,000 people visited the arena last year - that's thousands of people in one place at the same time; and all of the bottles, food packaging and cartons they consume. Our green credentials include a commitment to recycling. Recycling bins are available throughout the Echo Arena; you'll find three different types of bin, for general waste, plastic cups and paper and cardboard. Each is clearly labelled so you know what you can put in it.

As part of our build, the Echo Arena was designed to produce half the CO² emissions it would without any environmentally-friendly measures whilst using 20% less electricity - lighting, for instance, is high efficiency and controlled by motion detection.

And we're the only BREEAM accredited venue in the UK: the entire building is designed to be more efficient, with an insulation and air control system that requires less energy than a traditional build. Outside, we collect rainwater on the roof which is used to flush toilets, accounting for about 40% of the water used for flushing toilets in the venue; five 20-metre low noise wind turbines on the river side of the venue contribute to our electricity supply.

Our commitment to the environment is more than just skin deep. Our suppliers and support teams are chosen not just on their service and expertise, but on their environmental ethos too. Our caterers Heathcotes - for example - source their ingredients locally, so your food is guaranteed to be fresh and seasonal. They've reduced the amount of packaging they use too, and are making fewer deliveries each week to reduce their food miles.

Now, that's refreshing; we don't just talk about our green credentials, they're a part of everything we do here.