The SHIFT Eco-Guidelines for Networks recognise and address the ecological footprint associated with operating international cultural network and platform-organisations (hereafter referred to as network-organisations). The guidelines serve as a reference document for network-organisations that aim to minimise their footprint, optimise environmentally sustainable practices, and act as an example of good practice for their members and other networks. They are purposely made openly accessible in the hope they can inspire structural organisational change in the cultural sectors, in the broadest sense.
These guidelines are tailormade for cultural network-organisations, taking into consideration their unique characteristics and the contexts within which they operate. Their aim is to cover all major areas of their environmental impact, including operations, policies, activities, and governance. Special attention is given to travel and events, which are the main sources of carbon emissions for network-organisations. Implementing these guidelines will enable network-organisations to structurally become more environmentally sustainable.
The SHIFT Eco-Guidelines, initiated by the nine SHIFT partners and created in collaboration with the Green Leisure Group and Creative Carbon Scotland, are a first step towards filling a gap in the environmental certification offer. In fact, they are already structured as ecolabel guidelines, which could in the future be integrated into a certification scheme specifically for cultural network-organisations.
The SHIFT Eco-Guidelines are part of the environmental sustainability strand of the SHIFT project lead by ELIA – a globally connected network for higher arts education.
