Our Commitment
KDE Dance recognises that caring for our communities also means caring for the environment.
As an independent artist working as KDE Dance, we recognise that our resources are limited. This policy focuses on practical actions we can achieve now and build on over time.
We know that meaningful change happens over time. Rather than trying to introduce every idea at once, we are committed to making practical improvements that become part of the way we plan, create and deliver our work.
In 2026, Artistic Director Katie Dale-Everett completed Carbon Literacy Training. This policy builds on that learning alongside the environmental commitments already made through our Arts Council England National Lottery Project Grant.
We will review this policy every six months using data collected through Julie's Bicycle Creative Climate Tools to understand our environmental impact and help shape future decisions.
July – December 2026
Our priority is to establish strong foundations and continue building good working practices.
During this period we will:
Continue recording our environmental impact using Julie's Bicycle Creative Climate Tools, including travel and deliveries.
Use this data to establish a baseline that will inform future environmental decisions.
Prioritise public transport wherever practical, using private vehicles only where equipment needs to be transported.
Continue clustering work geographically wherever possible to reduce unnecessary travel.
Continue implementing Meat Free Mondays whenever touring takes place on a Monday.
Continue using locally sourced and upcycled materials wherever practical.
Encourage audiences and participants to use greener travel options by sharing public transport information alongside project information.
Reduce our digital footprint by:
carrying out a regular email clear-out
sending links instead of large attachments where appropriate
using Ecosia as our preferred search engine
switching equipment off when not in use
only boiling the water we need.
Share our Carbon Literacy commitment through our website and communications
January – June 2027
Our priority is to embed environmental thinking into the way we deliver projects.
During this period we will:
Prioritise second-hand costumes and props where appropriate.
Continue sourcing local and environmentally responsible materials wherever possible.
Make vegan catering the default option for meetings and events where KDE Dance is arranging food and work with partner organisations to ensure vegan catering is provided for the team wherever food is supplied.
Research lower-impact video conferencing platforms and other digital tools where they could help reduce our environmental impact.
Continue exploring ways to reduce the environmental impact of touring by working with partners to cluster activity within the same geographical area.
Explore the introduction of an optional environmental contribution that partners can choose to include when booking KDE Dance. Any funding received could support more sustainable travel, local equipment hire or other environmentally responsible approaches to project delivery where costs might otherwise be a barrier.
July – December 2027
Our priority is to review, learn and develop the next stage of our environmental approach.
During this period we will:
Review the environmental data collected through Julie's Bicycle Creative Climate Tools.
Identify where KDE Dance has the greatest environmental impact.
Set realistic priorities and targets for the following year based on this evidence.
Continue developing our environmental strategy as new opportunities and learning emerge.
Review and Learning
Environmental responsibility is an ongoing process rather than a fixed target.
This policy will be reviewed every six months alongside our environmental data and learning from projects. As we continue to learn, we will introduce practical changes that reduce our environmental impact while remaining achievable for the way we work.