Environmental sustainability is increasingly shaping creative and operational decisions at the Royal Ballet and Opera (RBO), according to the organisation's first environmental sustainability report published today.
Titled The Next Act: Stories of Environmental Sustainability at the Royal Ballet and Opera, the report details how reclaimed materials and eco-friendly techniques are transforming stagecraft. More than half of all props for The Royal Opera’s new production of Siegfried were crafted from re-used materials, including metal components hand-sourced from junkyards. The costume department has planted an on-site dye garden to harvest flowers, seeds, and leaves for natural dyes, while repurposing over 30 costumes from a 2006 production of Tosca for Oliver Mears’ 2025 staging.
"For me, sustainability and creativity go hand in hand, pushing us to think more imaginatively, ask different questions, and find new solutions," said Netia Jones, Associate Director of The Royal Opera. "This report shows how sustainability is becoming part of the creative process at the Royal Ballet and Opera."
On the operational front, the RBO has upgraded its 19th-century auditorium with LED house lights and transitioned to bio-diesel for transport to and from Covent Garden. Collaborating with Theatre Green Book, the RBO also helped build a shared database of sustainable suppliers now utilized by cultural institutions across the UK. These measures have reduced gas and electricity emissions by 29% since 2018/19, supporting the organisation's target of reaching Net Zero by 2035.
Rachael O’Sullivan, Head of Environmental Sustainability, added: "The Royal Ballet and Opera is committed to being part of the solution to the climate crisis. This report demonstrates the work taking place across our buildings, operations, and productions to embed sustainability. We are proud of the progress we've made so far, but we know there is still much more to do. As we continue our journey, we're committed to sharing our experiences with the wider cultural sector so that we can collectively build a more sustainable future for the arts."
