Bristol hosts major business event on sustainability
The Blue Earth Summit has brought dozens of businesses together from across the UK and Europe
Last updated 13th Oct 2022
Business from across the UK and even Europe have been in Bristol this week discussing how they can be more sustainable.
The Blue Earth Summit has been in the city from October 11-13, returning for the second year in a row.
Bringing together business leaders from across industries, it aims to encourage conversations on how to be more sustainable, while shining a light on why that is so important.
The first two days went ahead at the event space Propyard with the third at The Wave artificial surfing lake in Easter Compton.
Keynote speakers included Sir Tim Smit from the Eden Project, Hugo Tagholm from Surfers Against Sewage and Kresse Wesling CBE, co-founder of sustainable fashion company Elvis & Kresse.
We popped along to The Wave today and spoke to event director Linley Lewis.
"What we're trying to really do here is create a platform for people to discuss and share ideas and be inspired around business being a force for good," he said.
"We believe that as a business community business needs to realign itself to reverse the negative impact that businesses may have traditionally had on the planet and on people and there is a different way of doing it.
"There's a lot of good businesses out there that are changing the way they work to prioritise people, to prioritise the planet and we're creating a platform through a variety of keynotes, workshops, seminars, think groups...and just bringing people together to share ideas, inspire each other, make amazing connections and ultimately go home and act and change how they treat their professional lives."
Talks over the three days have focussed on topics including looking beyond fossil fuels, the importance of ocean health and sustainability in hospitality.
Nick Hounsfield founded The Wave, which has hosted day three and has sustainability as a core value.
The surfing lake is powered entirely by renewable energy.
"The Wave was always about trying to educate people about how to protect blue spaces, natural spaces, so it's a perfect alignment (with the Blue Earth Summit) of vision and values," Nick said.
"It's taken 10 years to be able to get this place going, and in that time the narrative has shifted.
"People are much more respecting of the environment and trying to be part of future facing businesses, future facing society, where people care about the natural world as well as business, as well as society.
"So, the narrative has caught up with the vision and superseded me which is great."
Richard Walker is the managing director of supermarket chain Iceland.
“If you and your business are passionate about our planet and the people who work for you, Blue Earth Summit is for you.
“The Summit is a celebration of the outdoors, encouraging people to walk around their local parks or spending time at the beach.
"We know it benefits people’s mental and physical health. They are shared goals.”
If you want to find out more about the Blue Earth Summit, you can do so here.