Earth Day Reflections from TCU Place CEO, Tammy Sweeney
Today is Earth Day, and TCU Place CEO, Tammy Sweeney, has some thoughts to share.
"I envision a world where every day is Earth Day - a world where we don't need a special occasion to promote, celebrate, and learn about sustainability. At TCU Place, we have made it our mission to prioritize environmental responsibility by reducing our demand on the planet's finite resources, minimizing our carbon footprint, and working towards the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. Our strategy sends a clear message: we can and will do more to provide better outcomes for our community, customers, and environment by limiting our impact and driving change together.
As part of our commitment, TCU Place has joined the Sustainable Tourism 2030 Pledge and the Global Destination Sustainability Program, and we have set ambitious goals for 2023. These goals include implementing paperless event logistics and communication, creating a community-integrated sustainability plan and management system, offering options and incentives for event planners to offset the carbon load of their events, and measuring our carbon footprint annually.
We have already achieved significant success in decreasing our environmental footprint and increasing our handprint. For example, in 2022, TCU Place diverted more than 35,000 kg of recycled material from landfill, 70% of which was converted to compost material. We also partner with local agencies to donate leftover food to charity and encourage our clients to do the same. Our 2023 diversion rate is already at about 50%.
We prioritize sustainability in all aspects of our operations, such as sourcing food and beverages locally and using seasonal and organic produce. We also use china, glassware, stainless flatware, and washable linens on tables to minimize single-use items. In addition, we have installed occupancy sensors, implemented a "Lights Out" campaign, and upgraded our facility lighting to LED to save energy. We have also fitted 90% of our washrooms with water-saving fixtures and installed Power Factor Correction devices to moderate electrical demand.
We believe that daily practices matter, and small changes can make a big difference. As we help people gather and connect, we are relentless in our pursuit to reduce our impact on the environment. On this Earth Day, we challenge you to join us in walking a little greener, stepping a little lighter, and dreaming a little bigger as we work collectively to make our world a better place."