Two of London’s most popular music and events spaces are set to be the first multi-purpose venues to eradicate the use of single-use plastic.
Oval Space and The Pickle Factory are taking the action, dubbed Oval Green, in a first step towards going completely green.
The move comes off the back of Plastic Free July, a global movement that challenges millions to reduce single-use plastic waste and be part of the solution to plastic pollution.
The venues are replacing all plastic water bottles with Life Water, a zero plastic, BPA free and locally sourced alternative that is fully recyclable. Plastic cups will be replaced with cups made from PLA corn-starch, which is fully compostable and will go into the standard food waste.
The effect will be drastic, replacing an average of 60,000 plastic cups and 3,200 single-use plastic water bottles per month. Oval Venues will also be writing to its suppliers such as beverage wholesalers to encourage them to stop sending single-use plastic packaging.
Oval Venues will be introducing a £1 ‘Green Tax’ fee for all customers who buy tickets to any event at Oval Space or The Pickle Factory. Ticketed events will now be subject to a £1 'Green Tax' fee, while corporate venue clients will pay a mandatory flat fee of £75 on top of their regular hire fees.
This will go towards biodegradable cups, new combustible waste providers to dispose of the PLA cups in an eco-friendly processing facility, additional cleaning costs, biodegradable wristbands, and new recycling bins.
Any remaining money from the Green Tax will be donated to organisations and charities fighting for a greener future.
