Our Sustainability Story
Nestled in the heart of London, The Pink Elephant has redefined the art of event styling, reimagining luxury and elegance while advocating for a sustainable future. With a chic blend of event décor, tantalizing grazing platters, and their own signature merchandise, The Pink Elephant has become synonymous with transforming special moments into unforgettable experiences. Steered by their visionary founder, Ian Henderson, let's delve into why sustainability has become the driving force behind The Pink Elephant's ethos, strategy, and operations.
Why was it important to you to incorporate sustainability into the business?
It’s pretty much impossible to ignore that the climate crisis is here. As a team, we understood that sustainability wasn't just a nice-to-have but an imperative. Every business decision we make has a footprint. So, it’s about taking that collective responsibility seriously and ensuring that our actions contribute positively to the well-being of both people and the planet. And in this era, where ethical practices are highly valued, integrating sustainability into our business felt like the most organic progression.
The Pink Elephant’s sustainability strategy has three distinct pillars, can you explain how you decided upon them?
Certainly, the essence of our sustainability strategy revolves around three main factors - People, Planet, and Progress - a process that Becca Coughlan, our highly qualified and dedicated sustainability consultant, played a crucial role in shaping.
We were in agreement that, in addition to considering the environment, genuine sustainability should also prioritize the people who grow our food and make our products. It is increasingly understood that while it is those of us in the Global North that contribute more significantly to global warming due to our excessive consumption, it's the communities in the Global South, deeply entrenched in our supply chains, who are bearing the brunt of climate change's harsh realities, already dealing with extreme weather events and more that compromise their homes and livelihoods.
This just goes to show how important it is for all sustainability strategies to really think about and tackle these intersections. At The Pink Elephant, we truly value our amazing network of small independent businesses across the globe. Their well-being is not just important to us; it's a fundamental part of our pledge to sustainability. And when it comes to 'Progress,' well, it's a gentle nudge reminding us that this journey is all about learning and growing. We're committed to always tweaking and bettering our practices for the greater good.
Tell us a bit more about the six individual areas that the strategy will focus on?
So, our sustainability efforts are driven by six main areas: Suppliers, Produce, Decor, Packaging, Transportation, Education, and Community. We dug deep into our day-to-day operations and pinpointed these areas as the spots where we can make the most impactful changes. While we may be a small company, we are dedicated to refining our operations within these domains.
A big focus of The Pink Elephant’s sustainability strategy is education and communication… Why is this important to you?
Transparency is absolutely crucial in our sustainability journey. We're fully committed to sharing all our findings and experiences with our community and clients. Our goal is twofold: we want to build a sense of trust by being completely open about how our sustainability practices impact our business decisions, and we also want to inspire everyone in our community, whether they're customers or suppliers, to start their own sustainability journey.
We're all about making sustainability accessible and actionable, hoping to get everyone on board with our mission for a greener future. As The Pink Elephant continues to weave sustainability into the fabric of its brand, we invite you to explore our sustainability strategy and be a part of our ongoing journey toward a more conscious and responsible event styling industry.
Written by: Gemma Parsons