Art and customs of a society or group. - Leipzig Opera gains sustainability accreditation.
Leipzig Opera is determined to adopt sustainable practices in the future. Its leader, Intendant Tobias Wolff, shared this ambition in his conversation with Deutscher Presse-Agentur (DPA). The opera now holds certification according to an internationally recognized standard for event management, which emphasizes sustainability in environmental, social, and economic aspects.
This is a significant achievement according to the opera, as not many institutions in Germany can demonstrate such certification. DIN ISO 20121 encourages operating sustainably by focusing on aspects such as reducing emissions, waste management, and green mobility.
Since becoming intendant in 2022, Wolff has campaigned for making the cultural institution a sustainable enterprise. He chose this standard because it provides more flexibility in setting their own goals, according to Wolff. The opera has created a list of actions covering both ecological and social issues. "We can't achieve sustainability by exhausting our staff," he added.
Wolff explained that they examined feasible ways to become more sustainable while considering the limitations imposed by cultural heritage preservation.
The certification was awarded by CEA, a certified body that examines and verifies the sustainability of events. The certification needs to be renewed annually. The standard was initially created for the 2012 London Olympics and is currently being refined for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Before the certification, Leipzig Opera had already initiated projects aimed at enhancing its sustainability. For instance, the opera "Mary, Queen of Scots" had its premiere late last year, with much effort put into minimizing the emission of carbon dioxide during its production. This was accomplished through the extensive use of existing opera house elements rather than creating new ones.
Wolff also mentioned that the transformation process will entail some unseen changes, like the offering of further training or the conversion of print products into eco-friendly paper.
