Driving a cleaner, greener future: North East businesses explore practical steps to improve environmental performance
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Business leaders came together at a Chamber Thought Leadership session exploring how organisations can strengthen their environmental performance and turn sustainability commitments into practical action.
The event Driving a cleaner, greener future was delivered as part of the Chamber’s Knowledge & Learning programme, supported by Associate Knowledge and Learning Sponsor, NCG and Event Sponsor, Lumo.
The session brought insight from rail travel, hospitality and community-sector organisations, focusing on what “going green” really means in day-to-day business practices and how organisations can make meaningful progress without compromising commercial priorities.
Key take-aways from the session
- An honest view of what businesses can implement now – highlighting that “speed and sustainability don’t often work for long-term change, unless you want something off the shelf.”
- How to balance ambition with commercial realities, reinforcing that “sustainability + scalability = success.”
- Practical guidance on navigating the sustainability policy landscape and accessing support.
- The importance of learning from real-world examples that show how culture, behaviours and communication shape long-term positive impact.
- The role of data in tracking progress, measuring performance and informing future decisions.
David Hughes, interim head of safety & sustainability at Lumo, described how the business is translating sustainability ambitions into action: “For us, sustainability has to be visible and tangible – customers increasingly expect to see it, not just read about it.
“Being the first rail operator to remove plastic bottles from our services and reshaping our supply chain weren’t just environmental decisions, they were leadership decisions. And we’ve learned that the real challenge is making sustainability scalable. You can have the right product or idea, but unless it can grow with your business, it won’t last.”
Nola Collinson, director of sales at Staybridge Suites Newcastle, discussed the hotel’s sustainability journey following its recent multimillion-pound refurbishment: “Our refurbishment gave us the chance to rethink how our hotel operates day-to-day. Hotels consume huge amounts of energy, water and resources, so the responsibility we carry is significant. From voltage optimisation to motion-sensor lighting, low-flow water systems and enzyme-based cleaning products, we’ve focused on practical changes that reduce impact without compromising guest experience.
“Ultimately, it’s about shifting mindsets, explaining the ‘why’ and helping both team and guests take meaningful steps.”
Panel discussion
The event concluded with a panel session chaired by Tim Marsden, knowledge manager at the Chamber, and featuring David Hughes, Nola Collinson and Laura Farrell-Pronesti of Groundwork NE & Cumbria.
The discussion explored how organisations can embed sustainability into operations, covering supply-chain practices, adapting internal processes, improving waste management, measuring impact and engaging employees and customers.
Laura Farrell-Pronesti, partnership development lead at environmental and community charity, Groundwork NE & Cumbria, offered a community and industry perspective, noting the challenges facing sectors such as construction: “Construction is often seen as one of the toughest sectors to decarbonise, which is why partnerships with charities like ours are so important.
“Whether by supporting nature-based solutions initiatives, youth-employment programmes or working with our team to help understand the next steps for an organisation, our work focuses on impacts that are genuine and long-lasting. What matters most is aligning mutual values, being transparent about outcomes and avoiding greenwash.”
Reflecting on the session, Tim said: “What came through strongly is that sustainability isn’t a single action – it’s a series of decisions about culture, design, behaviour and leadership. The more we can share what works in the North East of England, the more we can support businesses to move from ambition to action.”
Guests were also given a preview of a new onboard canned water product being introduced onboard Lumo services in the coming weeks which is produced by Newcastle based WATA and is 100% recyclable.
Anyone interested in learning more about sustainability programmes, events or opportunities within the Chamber’s Knowledge & Research work can contact Erika Armanino, knowledge and research executive, at [email protected].
The meeting was delivered as part of the North East Expo that took place at Newcastle Racecourse on Thursday, 13 November.
Ends
Image 1 (l:r) – David Hughes, Lumo and Hull Trains; Laura Farrell-Pronesti, Groundwork NE & Cumbria; Nola Collinson, Staybridge Suites Newcastle; and Tim Marsden, Chamber.
Image 2 (l:r) – David Hughes, Lumo and Hull Trains; Laura Farrell-Pronesti, Groundwork NE & Cumbria; Nola Collinson, Staybridge Suites Newcastle.
Image 3 (l:r) – Lumo’s fully recyclable WATA cans, showcased during the sustainability event.
