Category: Blog Post, Sustainable, Meetings

Here are three venues worth considering — each with a different size, style and green focus, so you can pick what fits your conference best.

Plymouth Pavilions

A larger, flexible venue in Plymouth, known for entertainment and corporate hire — and with clear public statements about their environmental policies.

  • paper, utilities, transport, packaging, single-use plastics.
  • They are part of the city’s Plastic Free accreditation (via the waterfront BID) — meaning they’ve engaged with local eco initiatives.
  • Because they already host large events, they’re suited for conferences with more delegates — and you get sustainability plus scale.

National Marine Aquarium

Why choose it

Located on Rope Walk, Coxside,  the National Marine Aquarium is the UK’s largest aquarium and a truly compelling venue for an event that wants to stand out.

  • It offers meeting and event spaces for up to around 200 delegates in theatre style, with multiple rooms available.
  • The backdrop is hard to beat: marine-life exhibits, immersive surroundings, and a sense of being “somewhere different” which can stimulate delegate engagement and creativity.
  • Importantly from a sustainability viewpoint, the venue is run by the Ocean Conservation Trust (a charity) and demonstrates commitment to ocean education and conservation. For example, they host workshops such as “Young Climate Ambassadors” at NMA.
  • The Aquarium also has a sustainable-garden feature: the “Blue Mind Garden” installed at NMA draws on the wellbeing power of water and uses sustainable materials and planting.

How it supports a sustainable conference

  • You can tie the venue into your sustainability narrative: holding your conference in a space dedicated to ocean conservation gives you a real story to tell about environmental purpose.
  • Choose catering with local, seasonal, or vegetarian/vegan options – the Aquarium setting gives a natural prompt to link to marine/eco-themes.
  • Consider hybrid attendance: an Aquarium venue can offer memorable in-person experience while remote participants dial in (reducing travel-emissions).
  • Give delegates a small “eco-challenge” or theme: for instance, “What can our business learn from marine ecosystems?” Break-out sessions could happen near exhibits or incorporate a short tour of the venue.
  • When booking event spaces, ask about the venue’s own sustainability practices: waste reduction, energy efficiency, transport access, etc. The NMA’s partner charity ethos suggests they’re well aligned.

Plymouth Argyle Football Club

Home Park, the stadium of Plymouth Argyle FC, is listed among Plymouth’s conference venues and offers modern event spaces suitable for larger gatherings.
And importantly for sustainability:

  • Plymouth Argyle achieved the Gold Award in the EFL Green Clubs programme and GreenCode accreditation, recognising its commitment to environmental practices.
  • Their “Our Commitment to Sustainability” page details specific measures: 100% renewable energy procurement, digital ticketing, lighting and heating controls, etc.
  • They also partner with a major waste-management firm (Biffa) to implement “Simpler Waste” solutions at Home Park.

How it supports a sustainable conference

  • Hosting at a venue which already has strong sustainability credentials adds credibility to your event’s environmental aims. When delegates arrive at a stadium that uses renewable energy etc., the message is reinforced.
  • The stadium setting offers roomy layouts for plenaries + break-outs, and accommodation of larger numbers if needed.
  • You can build in “green connectivity”: e.g., encourage delegates to arrive via train or bus, promote ride-share or cycling, perhaps even offer a walking tour of the venue’s sustainability features.
  • For refreshment/catering, the club hospitality team may already have experience with large scale events — you can request sustainable catering options (local, low-waste, vegetarian-first).
  • Use the venue’s sustainability story: include a short session or video highlighting how the club reduced its carbon footprint, which can prompt discussion about organisational sustainability in your conference context.

Plymouth is a compelling destination for a conference that doesn’t compromise on sustainability. You get the benefits of strong transport links, beautiful natural surroundings (which also help with wellbeing and networking), and venues that are increasingly aligned with green goals.

For more information on Sustainable Venues in Plymouth please visit  Sustainable Venues - Conferences

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