Visitors > Green Initiatives

In 2007, Frieze commissioned Julie’s Bicycle, an environmental agency devoted to the creative industries, to look at the carbon emissions created by the fair. Audits were carried out in 2007, 2009 and 2010.

The fair has used these audits as a basis for carbon reductions across our activities. The greatest impact was located in the use of diesel generators, so from 2010 the fair has been powered exclusively by waste vegetable oil.

The introduction of waste vegetable oil, or bio diesel, has reduced the fair’s carbon footprint dramatically. The carbon footprint per visitor in 2010 was 0.25 kg CO2e, down by over 90%.


Reducing Carbon Emissions

    Energy
  • Biodiesel made from waste vegetable oil has replaced regular diesel in Frieze Art Fair generators to generate heating and electricity
  • 300w halogen floodlights previously used in the fair were replaced by 70w metal halides

    Waste
  • Encouraging visitors, staff and contractors to separate their waste by making recycling readily available
  • Recycling stations for glass, plastic bottles, aluminum cans, paper, and cardboard
  • Recycling of wood
  • Recycling of carpets

    Collaboration
  • Working with contractors to improve our environmental performance in a way that is practical and fits into current working practices
  • Encouraging caterers to use recyclable food packaging
  • Working with Royal Parks to protect the site we occupy
  • Working with The Mayor of London and partner organisations to reduce the carbon footprint of the visual arts in London
  • Working closely with our site management team, 20-20 Events, to develop the fair’s environmental infrastructure, improve our data collecting, and facilitate partnerships with contractors and stakeholders.

    Transport and Travel
  • Encouraging visitors to use public transport and bicycles
  • Providing extra bike racks outside the Fair
  • Providing shuttle buses for off-site events to minimise taxi and private car use
  • Monitoring the number of shipments arriving at the fair and where they are arriving from in order to assess the carbon footprint of shipping and production traffic

    Communication
  • Improving signage to encourage staff and visitors to separate waste
  • Including information about our Green Initiatives in briefings to contractors

    Performance Measurement
  • Carrying out regular carbon audits to manage our environmental performance

On Thursday, 14 October London’s Mayor launched the Green Visual Arts Guide at Frieze Art Fair 2010. The Guide, commissioned by the Mayor of London and written by Julie’s Bicycle with input from over a thousand galleries, studios, fairs and transport companies, is the fourth in a series specifically for the creative industries. The Guides set out the tools to tackle climate change issues which directly affect the visual arts. Case studies from visual art organisations of varying sizes are included to illustrate what can be done.


Thank You

Frieze Art Fair remains committed to reducing its carbon emissions. We are grateful for the support of our staff, contractors, and visitors in achieving this aim.

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Frieze 1 Montclare Street, London E2 7EU, UK, +44 (0) 20 3372 6111 www.frieze.com

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