Environments Nurtured with Responsibility
PUTTING PEOPLE AND PLANET FIRST
The space we stand on belongs to more than just the university, our guests, or our team. It belongs to the earth, and we have a responsibility to ensure we take care of it as well it takes care of us. We were the first academic venue to achieve ISO14001 in 2011 and we are committed to creatively delivering our services in the most sustainable way possible.
We've maintained that ISO140001 accreditation, with this expanding to cover to the entire Aston University Campus and further adding ISO50001 in 2016 for Energy Management Systems.
VERIFIED GREEN
To ensure our venue and team are always working to best practice, our sustainability efforts are reviewed by external awarding bodies to ensure our overarching goals are aligned to industry, national and international standards. Conference Aston is proud to carry ISO 14001 and ISO 5001, Green Tourism Gold Award, Sustainable Restaurant Association Two Stars, and the Trip Advisor Green Leaders Gold Level.
OUR PEOPLE AND PROCESSES
- Our team receive regular, ongoing training on sustainable practices, green ways of working and new green products and services
- Our Go Green Team meetings include representatives from all departments across the hotel to review our current ways of working, review new initiatives within the sector and generate fresh ideas to operate as sustainably as possible
- Conference Aston have presented at the CUBO Summer Master Class seminar on the green commitments of the venue, sharing our knowledge to encourage sustainability across the wider sector.
- We work in partnership with Aston University's environment and sustainability team to ensure we're playing an active role in supporting the green focus of the wider campus, as well as external consultants and partners for overarching strategy development.
YOUR EVENT
- Our city centre location makes public transport the first choice for delegate and guest travel, with routes from across the UK into New Street, Snow Hill and Moor Street, you'll save on your carbon footprint compared to driving. On arrival to the second city, we're then just a 10-15 minute walk from the stations.
- Electric vehicle charging points are available onsite and nearby to the Hotel, with a number available in the pre-bookable onsite car park on a first come, first serve basis. Public access charging points are available on Aston Street and Woodcock Street, next to the hotel (time limits apply).
- We promote and source local food and drink where possible, with free range eggs from Shropshire, beers sourced here in Birmingham, snacks and crisps from Staffordshire, fairtrade tea, coffee, sugar and hot chocolate, NEMI teas and much more!
- Meeting room stationery is provided on request to reduce wasted paper; mineral water is bottled here at the venue; the pencils are made from recycled CD cases; even our recycle bins are made from the upcycled tops of our old meeting room tables!
- Paper, card, metal, glass, plastics, batteries and food waste are recycled from across the hotel rooms, meeting rooms and public areas.
- Our used coffee grounds are bagged and available for guests to take home and use in their garden to improve aeration and nitrogen levels.
STAY SUSTAINABLE
- When staying in our hotel rooms, you'll find recycling bins in all hotel rooms, refillable toiletries using locally sourced products
- Rather than plastic wrapped biscuits, you can enjoy a complimentary homemade cookie from our hotel reception
- Water stations are provided on hotel floors and we encourage guests to use refillable water bottles
- Hang up your towels to reuse them