Environmental Policy

Museum Development Midlands (MDM) is committed to reducing its environmental impact and recognises its responsibility, as a sector development programme, to lead by example in reducing its environmental impact.

MDM is hosted by Leicestershire County Council (LCC). LCC has its own environmental training, policy and procedures in place and MDM will always comply with LCC’S environmental framework.

This policy outlines the key areas that MDM will consider to reduce its environmental impact.

MDM recognises that it must balance reducing its environmental impact with other, sometimes competing, factors such as accessibility or safety. For example, delegates may require printed resources to support additional access needs or MDM staff may need to travel by car for safety if travelling outside of office hours or alone. The priority will be to take steps that reduce environmental impact where feasibly possible but not at the disadvantage or risk of delegates or MDM staff.

This policy will be reviewed every two years by the Environmental Responsibility Lead.

Events and Travel

Carbon footprint for internal MDM meetings

Most team meetings and catch-ups are held online, however MDM recognise the benefit in person team meetings as an opportunity for team cohesion, effective planning and building sector insight.

 When planning an MDM in-person meeting, MDM will consider the following:

• MDM will prioritise venues that can easily be accessed by public transport

• MDM team members will reduce carbon emissions by carpooling or sharing taxis when public transport is unavailable or under other circumstances when public transport may not be suitable

• Catering for MDM team meetings will be vegetarian and vegan and, where possible, prioritise local suppliers and those with their own environmental policies in place

• Where possible, MDM will request reusable cups, cutlery and crockery for team meeting catering

• MDM will minimise any printing, prioritising bringing any handouts or supporting documents electronically

Online vs In Person for external events

MDM recognises that online events are more environmentally friendly than in-person events, as they reduce the need for MDM staff, trainers and delegates to travel to venues, source catering, or use additional resources.

However, MDM recognise there are sometimes significant benefits for hosting events in-person, such as events where the primary purpose is to build networks or provide hands on practical training.

Therefore, MDM will have a clear rationale for deciding when events should be hosted online or in person, choosing the format best suited to delivering the event's aims while balancing the need for environmental responsibility and considering MDM’s access statement.

What are the aims of the event?

• Information sharing/presentation and PowerPoint focused/awareness raising/briefing sessions - consider online

• Interactive/celebration/networking/building cohort rapport/hands-on practical exercises - consider in-person

In person events

When arranging in person events, MDM will consider the following to reduce environmental impact:

• MDM will prioritise selecting venues that are easily accessible via public transport

• MDM will encourage delegates to use public transport as a priority over car travel (while acknowledging some delegates may only be able to travel by car due to personal circumstance or accessibility)

• MDM will prioritise venues that have an environmental policy in place that outlines how they reduce their own environmental footprint

• Where trainers provide handouts or reading, MDM to circulate electronically in advance and ask delegates to only print them if necessary and prioritise having them electronically on the day if possible.

• Where printing is unavoidable, MDM will prioritise printing in black and white and on both sides to minimise paper use

• Any leftover printing or paper will be recycled if it cannot be reused

In person event catering

MDM will consider when catering should be provided for delegates and when it may be appropriate to ask delegates to bring their own lunches.

When catering is required, MDM will consider the following factors in decision making:

• MDM will consider whether venue's catering or any external catering company have an environmental policy in place that outlines how they minimise their environmental impact and prioritise caterers that do

• MDM will prioritise local suppliers to minimise transport

• MDM will only order vegetarian and vegan options for catering

• MDM will provide accurate and timely delegate numbers are forwarded to caterers to ensure an appropriate amount of food is provided and minimise food waste

• MDM will encourage delegates to take left over food home

• MDM will request, where possible, that caterers bring reusable cutlery and crockery over disposable options

• MDM to encourage delegates to bring reusable cups for refreshments

Other areas for consideration

Leicestershire County Council’s (LCC) environmental policy and procedures

• MDM staff will complete mandatory Environmental Awareness training through LCC’s learning platform as and when required

• MDM will comply with LCC's guidance on improving environmental responsibility

MDM and digital/data impact

• MDM’s website was designed with environmental sustainability in mind, and any future website tenders will include environmental impact as a scoring criteria

• MDM will avoid unnecessary emails to reduce CO2 emissions

• In the medium term, MDM recognise there is work to scope out how to minimise digital storage to reduce the environmental impact of MDM’s data

• MDM also recognise there is work to scope out the potential environmental impact of AI use in MDM’s operation

• MDM will ensure that all LCC IT equipment is returned to LCC when replaced so it can be responsibility recycled/disposed of in line with LCC’s environmental protocol

MDM and external advocacy

• MDM will have a member of staff leading on environmental responsibility

• All MDM staff will advocate to the sector for environmental responsibility

• MDM will include case studies, resources and news in MDM comms to the sector, such as LinkedIn and newsletters

• MDM will embed environmental responsibility as a scoring criteria into relevant grant programmes to encourage applicants to consider how activity will impact on the environment

MDM learning and development

• MDM are all Carbon Literate through Museum Development England's Roots and Branches programme

• MDM will keep up to date with sector developments in environmental responsibility and examples of best practice

Policy adopted: April 2026

Policy due for review: March 2028