The O2: World's Busiest Live Venue Optimises Energy Use

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The O2 in London CREDIT: Davis McCardle
The O2, owned and operated by AEG Europe, is commended for its sustainability progress – and is committed to going further and faster

The O2 is not just a hotspot for global entertainment; it also stands as a beacon of sustainability within the live venue sector.

It has been acclaimed with 'commended' status as A Greener Arena from A Greener Future, highlighting its proactive and substantial measures toward minimising its environmental and social impacts.

The recognition by A Greener Future points to The O2's consistent efforts in pushing the boundaries of sustainability within the live entertainment domain.

According to AEG Europe, which operates the iconic venue, this accolade mirrors The O2's deep-rooted commitment to these principles, emphasising its role in advancing the sustainability agenda in the live industry.

Carbon removal and The 1975

Country 2 Country at The O2

Described as a landmark year for The O2 in terms of sustainability, 2024 included several pioneering initiatives that set new standards across the industry.

A standout event was the series of gigs by The 1975 in February, which marked the first-ever 'carbon removed' live performances at an arena scale.

These events were monumental, leading to the removal of 545.9 tonnes of CO2 - roughly the annual electric usage of 395 homes.

Moreover, The O2 has taken giant strides in optimising its operational efficiency.

By significantly upgrading its waste management processes, it has implemented comprehensive use of reusable cups and established advanced sorting facilities, which function both behind the scenes and in patron-facing areas.

Its shift towards a fleet of electric-powered vehicles furthers its commitment to eliminating fossil fuel emissions within its operations, with plans to extend this initiative by introducing electric forklifts by 2025.

Impacting the wider industry

Sam Booth, Director of Sustainability at AEG Europe, says: “From history-making moments like our carbon removed events, to the essential works we’ve done behind the scenes to create efficiencies and minimise waste and emissions, we’ve made incredible strides at The O2 this year and we’re proud to have this recognised by A Greener Future.

Sam Booth, Director of Sustainability at AEG Europe

“The path to net zero is one that is constantly evolving and we’re committed to continued innovation so that we can deliver world-class, sustainable events for our fans, bands and brands.”

Claire O’Neil, CEO at A Greener Future, says: "We're really happy for The O2 and want to congratulate their team for all of their efforts to run a greener arena.

“When one of the most iconic venues takes visible action for a more sustainable live sector it reverberates throughout the industry.

“With all shoulders to the wheel, we look forward to seeing what will come next."

Fuelled by these eco-friendly initiatives, The O2 has seen a 3.5% increase in ticket sales from the previous year, setting a new record with more than 2.6 million tickets sold.

About The O2

Since its opening in 2007, The O2 has not only emerged as the planet's premier live entertainment, leisure and retail destination but has also welcomed more than 100 million visitors, selling more than 30 million tickets.

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It houses more than 300 events annually, including the O2 arena and the smaller, but highly popular music venue, Indigo at The O2.

The venue's diverse attractions encompass the adventurous roofwalk Up at The O2, substantial outlet shopping opportunities, innovative interactive experiences such as TOCA Social and iFLY Indoor Skydiving and immersive dining adventures like Mamma Mia! The Party.

The expanse also includes Cineworld, London’s largest cinema, with 19 screens, entertainment venues like BOOM BATTLE BAR and Oxygen Freejumping trampoline park among others, offering more than 30 vibrant bars and restaurants.

The O2 in London CREDIT: Laurie Noble

With its ongoing commitment to sustainability and a rich array of offerings, The O2 continues to redefine the standards of modern live entertainment venues while taking significant strides towards environmental responsibility.


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