Buffini Chao Deck

The Buffini Chao Deck is designed to be used year round with as little carbon impact as possible. The building is thermally insulated to substantially reduce heat loss in the winter and the space itself is temperature controlled through underfloor heating which will be linked to the NT’s heat and power system.

It is naturally ventilated, drawing in air through the side walls, and circulated by ceiling fans. The glass in the windows and sliding doors is treated to deflect sunlight and reduce heat gain during the summer months.

All the permanent installed lighting is LED and is locally controlled, ensuring it is only used when the space is in operation.

They use organic and locally sourced ingredients where possible. Their aim is to provide food and service that reflect the National Theatre’s sustainability vision.

Food and Drink

Welcome drinks

Temple’s welcome drinks’ come from fellow B Corp The Uncommon they produce English sparkling wines in cans. They are the  first to do so in the UK, and still produce the the very finest wine. As the first Certified B Corp wine in the UK, they have joined a global community using business as a force for good. Sustainability has been cultivated at The Uncommon’s core and it exists to make beautiful wine for people, and for the planet. They use cans because they have a carbon footprint 1/4 of that of a traditional bottle, the aluminium used is endlessly recyclable, a glass bottle takes more energy to recycle than make new.

Food 

The Street food served will be from the National Theatre KERB vendors. They are all start ups and the theatre and KERB gives them a platform for 12 months to develop their business. KERB, supports small businesses in the hospitality industry and individuals facing barriers to entry. They support people into work and people at work. They’re all about driving positive change by providing vital support and a slice of opportunity for those who need it the most. They focus on supporting referrals from our Impact Partners across four main areas:

  • youth unemployment
  • refugees
  • homelessness
  • re-entry services

National Theatre Sustainability commitments:

  • To embed environmental sustainability at the heart of National Theatre’s practice
  • To work to the standards of the Theatre Green Book
  • To set year-on-year carbon reduction targets
  • To use the best tools and practice to help minimise our carbon impacts
  • To report on our progress annually
  • To share our experience and learn from others within the wider sector and by working with peer networks
In 2022-23, they are aiming to reduce their energy and water carbon emissions by 20%

Energy

All of the electricity that powers the NT from the national grid is generated by wind and solar. They also generate some of their electricity on site through their combined heat and power plant.

In the last few years they’ve significantly updated their 1970s building to make it more energy efficient. This includes new LED lighting in their auditoriums and foyers and improved monitoring systems which reduce energy use.

Biodiversity

They have several hives and a sedum roof on their workshops, from which bees forage and pollinate for up to 3 miles around the concrete jungle of the South Bank. The honey they produce is available in small quantities in their shop.

The beds on their terraces and outside are planted with flowers and greenery that bees will enjoy.

Waste

They currently recycle 67% of their commercial waste. They want to reach 75% by 2022 and reduce non-recyclable waste.

The new reusable cups in their bars saved over 200,000 single-use plastic cups in the first three months. Coffee grounds are collected and turned into eco-heating briquettes. Every 6 months they collect around 5 tonnes of coffee grounds, which makes 4200 briquettes.

Water

Their water extraction plant reduces their impact on mains water supplies and reduces their carbon impact. They can extract up to 120 cubic-metres of water each day – enough to fully meet their demand for non-drinking water.

The Max Rayne Centre also has a rainwater collection tank which supplies water to all toilets in that wing of the building, including the Dorfman Theatre and the Clore Learning Centre.

Key Contact

Carla Stokes Marketing Director
Temple