Leading with Purpose: Our Ongoing Commitment to Sustainability in 2024

As we move further into 2025, the effects of climate change are more visible than ever—and the call for meaningful action continues to grow. Across industries, companies are rethinking how they operate. At CMC Marquees, sustainability isn’t just part of our strategy—it’s at the heart of who we are.

We’re proud to be a business that lives and breathes conscious, low-impact practices across every area of our operations. Guided by the Science Based Targets initiative, we remain firmly committed to reducing our carbon footprint and helping shape a more sustainable future for the events industry.

At CMC, we believe every business has a responsibility to do better—for the planet, for future generations, and for the communities we serve. That’s why we’re continually evolving, investing in greener technologies, and rethinking how we work to minimise our impact.

What We’ve Done So Far

We’ve spent years building a business rooted in sustainability and low-impact practices. As a rental-based company, reuse is naturally built into our operations. We take this even further through meticulous in-house management of our equipment—ensuring everything is maintained to the highest standards for maximum longevity and minimal waste.

We proudly generate 100% of our electricity and heating needs on-site and source most of our water locally. Our offices and warehouse run entirely on solar power, thanks to the panels installed on our roof, while a biomass boiler system provides eco-friendly heating and hot water.

We operate a responsibly managed fleet of Euro 6 / AdBlue trucks, helping reduce emissions across our transport operations. On-site, we’ve implemented robust systems for recycling, composting, and responsible waste disposal. We also use a PVC washing machine to extend the life of our materials and reduce the need for replacements.

We’ve expanded our rewilding project and creatively repurposed old steps into new planters to grow flowers, herbs, and native plants. We’ve also built a birdhouse from reclaimed materials to encourage more local wildlife into the area.

Our carpet manufacturer now collects used carpet when delivering new rolls, transporting it back to their London base to be cut, shredded, and processed. To minimise emissions, this return journey is shared with other recycling efforts or combined with job deliveries. The reclaimed carpet is sent to Poland—again on already-scheduled freight routes—where it’s turned into plastic shoe covers.

Our sustainability credentials have also been recognised by Albert, the film and TV industry’s environmental certification body. Their new application process is more detailed and rigorous, and we’re proud to be one of only two marquee companies on their approved supplier list. We’re always seeking ways to improve and better support the industry’s sustainability goals.

Reflecting on 2024

We recently completed our 2024 carbon footprint assessment, focusing on Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions as part of our ongoing commitment to transparency and improvement.

• Scope 1 emissions refer to direct emissions from company-owned sources. For CMC, this mainly involves our vehicle fleet, as the rest of our operations are largely manual and generate minimal emissions.
• Scope 2 covers indirect emissions from purchased energy. Thanks to our solar power system, we again recorded net-zero emissions (0 tCO₂e) for electricity use in 2024.

Our total Scope 1 emissions came in at 7,531 kg CO₂e, slightly higher than the previous year due to a significant rise in the number of jobs completed—resulting in more mileage per project. On the positive side, our Scope 2 savings were substantial: we avoided 5.6 tonnes of CO₂e, up significantly from the previous year. This improvement is largely due to our solar array generating 27,340 kWh, boosted by the installation of a new inverter.

Looking Ahead to 2025

As part of our pledge to the Bristol One City Plan, we’re working toward achieving Net Zero by 2030, and we’re proud of the progress we’ve made so far. But we also know sustainability is a journey, not a destination. We’re constantly reviewing and refining our practices to ensure we’re doing everything we can to reduce our environmental footprint.

Looking forward, we aim to explore more sustainability initiatives and pledges we can commit to. Our main emissions source—vehicle usage for marquee deliveries—remains a key focus, and we’re actively researching the introduction of electric vehicles into our fleet where practical.

Nestled in the North Somerset countryside, surrounded by fields and forests, we’re deeply connected to nature. Deer roam near our lake, squirrels dart through our grounds, and horses pass by our gates. Protecting and nurturing local biodiversity is just as important to us as reducing energy usage. That’s why we’re continuing to rewild parts of our property, sowing native wildflowers to support thriving populations of bees, butterflies, birds, and other wildlife.

We’re also looking at new ways to pass carbon savings and offsetting benefits directly to our clients, ensuring that the impact of their events is minimised too.

We’re excited to continue this journey and are grateful for the support of our clients, partners, and community. Together, we can create a more sustainable future for the events industry—one step, one marquee, and one meaningful change at a time.