The Green and Blue Gala

The gala aimed to raise awareness of the sustainability challenges facing the hospitality sector and showcase the opportunities to do things differently, at a crucial moment for the industry as Britain’s restaurants and hospitality venues return for outdoor dining.

With celebrity speakers, including chef and author Melissa Hemsley and the BBC’s Rick Edwards, guests also enjoyed a showstopping performance from KT Tunstall and a keynote speech from David Shukman, Science Editor of BBC News, and heard more about the importance of building back greener for Britain’s hospitality businesses.

We were also honoured to welcome the heads of two hospitality businesses who are driving sustainable change. Gavin Adair, CEO of Rosa’s Thai Cafe and Jenny Costa, CEO and Founder of Rubies in the Rubble, shared their experiences and tips for overcoming the challenges their businesses have faced, to help inspire others within the sector to make changes and do good for people, planet and profit. Here are the key takeaways:

As businesses start to find their feet, it’s an exciting time to shout about sustainability and find new ways of doing things. Consumers increasingly want to know that they are consuming in a better way – not only is this good for the planet but it also creates a compelling business case that can help drive customer loyalty.

Adair revealed his approach is to “not preach but communicate and just make sure we are doing the right thing in the belief that in the long-term that will pay dividends”. He also explained that going green can benefit the bottom line, highlighting that “this isn’t just the right thing to do because it’s the right thing to do, it impacts results and business valuations and that leaves us in an exciting place where investor imperative meets consumer demand and employee engagement to super-charge sustainability efforts.”

Ultimately, businesses that are willing to buy into sustainability are showcasing to consumers that they care about quality, the planet and its people. At BRITA, we are delighted to have supported this event to celebrate the potential for a greener model of hospitality and we’re proud of our continued partnership with Whale and Dolphin Conservation to tackle single-use plastic pollution.