Sustainability is a slippery word, but here at Barmotion, we began our journey by simply making every reasonable effort to make the sustainable choice wherever there was a choice. And as you'll have no doubt discovered for yourself, those choices present themselves many times a day.

For us, it's a balance of impact against cost. There are some low hanging fruit in sustainability that many businesses can pick, and we started by going paperless and using only electronic communication throughout the company. Not only does this cut paper almost completely out of the equation, but electronic comms also gives us a detailed audit trail, instantaneous responses, and the ability to work simultaneously across two continents.

Sometimes the sustainable thing to do just isn't practical, or even possible. Coffee cups are a good example - the perfect biodegradable cup doesn't exist yet, so we choose the most sustainable alternative - these still require separation from general waste and specialist reprocessing. It's moving in the right direction, but there's no denying the 7 million coffee cups distributed every day in the UK pose a significant waste problem. 

Here at Barmotion, we have elected to use compostable cups and food containers, utensils and paperware at all our stands and bars. They offer decent branding support in full colour and allow us to build the look needed for an integrated hospitality solution, and a measure of sustainability. But the search is definitely on for a better solution for all 'disposable' food and drink containers. 

Steel and aluminium are eminently recyclable and work well for cold drinks, but aren't suited to hot beverages! We keep a close eye on developments, and there are a number of promising technologies that may yet deliver the perfectly compostable/recyclable cup or tray.

We also take responsibility for our own waste - so important in the case of PLA and PE lined compostables. Unless they are separated and processed separately, they can't be composted properly, and most likely will end up in landfills. We check and separate all our waste on event deployments to make sure our investment in sustainability isn't wasted at this final step.

All our warehouses and offices are the same - waste is separated and recycled wherever possible, making use of local recycling and waste disposal facilities. Our driving ambition is to reduce waste - including food miles - so we endeavour to source locally for all our needs. 

Sustainability is a journey, and whilst we like to think we've made great strides over the last few years, with carbon-offset options for customers and supporting reforestation efforts, in addition to choosing more sustainable consumables, we recognise that everyone has a long way to go. We have to improve the environment for everyone, and this means giving back to our local communities too.  We're engaged in a number of projects including a 'Santa Shoe Box' experience for underprivileged children. And donating excess stock to a number of homes in our area that care for the elderly and mentally disabled.