As Scotland’s largest indoor and outdoor venue, the Royal Highland Centre is committed to reducing its environmental impact, ensuring the sustainability of our society and organisation for the future. Over the past 5 years we have implemented several initiatives to minimise our ecological footprint and promote sustainable practices. These actions are aligned with the Royal Highland Centre’s aims in achieving year-on year growth, promoting responsible business practices, attracting eco-conscious clients and long-term resilience.
Transport Links Toot toot...beep beep
The Royal Highland Centre is lucky to be located near several public transportation hubs, making the venue easily accessible by bus, tram, air and bicycle. We work closely with local transport partners like Edinburgh buses and Edinburgh trams to provide additional or later running services for busy events. We encourage attendees to plan ahead and consider using environmentally friendly transport links to and from the venue.
Trains
The closest train stations are Edinburgh Gateway and Edinburgh Park. Both are linked to a tram stop. From here it is a 5 – 10 minute taxi or rideshare journey to the venue.
Trams
The closest tram stop is Ingliston Park and Ride. Ingliston Park and Ride is a 25-minute journey to our North and East Entrance. Approximate distance is 1800m or 2400 steps.
Buses
There is a bus stop outside the Moxy Hotel on Eastfield Road that is a 15-minute journey from our North Entrance. This bus stop services the below:
Lothian Buses – 100 Airlink, 200 Skylink, 400 Skylink
Stagecoach – 747
There are bus stops along the A8 that are close to our West and North Entrances.
Buses that service these stops are the below:
Citylink – 900
Lothian Buses - X18
McGill's Scotland East – 20, 63, X24, X25
Stagecoach – 747
For some of our larger events Lothian Buses will run a service 98 to and from Edinburgh City Centre and the venue. Click here for information on which events they are running this service.
Waste not, want not!
Venue Practices
The Royal Highland Centre are committed to minimising the amount of waste sent to landfill and promoting recycling and using recyclable materials at events.
In conjunction with our parWastner cleaning and waste management supplier Immediate Waste, the Royal Highland Centre has a comprehensive waste management plan in place for daily operations, which ensures a zero waste to landfill outcome. Any residual waste that cannot be recycled is used as a fossil fuel substitute to provide heat and steam for electricity generation.
Event Cleaning
All events at the Royal Highland Centre utilise our cleaning and waste management supplier - Immediate Waste. Registered with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Immediate Waste have extensive experience in the management, recycling and disposal of commercial and industrial waste streams. To minimise haulage and emissions output, Immediate Waste has a compound at the Royal Highland Centre containing all the necessary equipment to carry out cleaning and waste management for events.
At all events, we promote the use of eco-friendly materials and practices and provide attendees and exhibitors with clearly labeled bins for separating recyclables, organic waste, and general waste to ensure a zero waste to landfill outcome.
We have innovative water-saving measures!
Venue Practices
At large events such as the Royal Highland Show, our toilet blocks do an average of just over 360,000 toilet flushes – that requires A LOT of water!
So, we have systems to use ‘grey’ water to flush as well as a 1,000,000 litre rainwater tank which services our toilet blocks around the venue and in our indoor spaces. Since 2018, we have seen a huge 40% reduction in water use across the venue. This means that we can conserve valuable freshwater resources and reduce our reliance on local water supplies.
Event Water
The Royal Highland Centre and visiting events use our preferred supplier Tempsite Installations Ltd for all water requirements. To minimise haulage and emissions output, Tempsite has a compound at the Royal Highland Centre containing all the necessary equipment to carry out the plumbing installations for events.
Tempsite Installations Environmental Commitment:
Tempsite Installations Ltd acknowledges the importance of sustainability and strives to be environmentally conscious at every operating process the company undertakes, taking proactive steps to have their processes in line with sustainability and minimising impact to the environment. Amongst some of the initiatives the company has developed over the years to achieve their sustainability targets include:
- calculated pipe sizing
- use of non-concussive taps
- ensuring the supplied spec of toilets, showers needing to be installed and connected are inspected and are of a modern standard and meet current legislation
- provision of on call 24 hour cover to prevent unnecessary leaks or damage to pipework causing loss of water
- reuse pipe from project to project where possible
The systems are designed in such a way to ensure adequate pressure and flow is present without overdemanding the system thus preventing waste of water.
Renewable Energy
At the forefront of our sustainability efforts is our commitment to renewable energy. The Pavilion, completed in 2020 has seventy-five state –of-the-art 270w poly photovoltaic solar panels, harnessing the power of the sun to generate 1242kwh of renewable electricity every month, helping to contribute to our renewable energy goals.
Throughout 2023, the Royal Highland Centre started the rollout of a site-wide LED lighting upgrade to help reduce energy consumption. As a further commitment to our sustainable practices, all the electricity used across the site is produced by carbon free sources, helping contribute to our target of Net Zero.
Staff Programs & Incentives
The Royal Highland Centre recognises and rewards staff for their contributions to sustainable efforts within the organisation. We are currently working to incorporate eco-friendly practices and targets into job descriptions and performance appraisals, making sustainability everyone’s shared responsibility. Furthermore, we are in the process of implementing incentive programs that acknowledge individuals or teams who achieve notable milestones or demonstrate innovative solutions. Some of the existing programs within the organisation that encourage sustainable practices include:
- Staff travel schemes including public transport, carpooling and bike schemes
- RHASS Sustainability working group and green training opportunities
- RHASS Food Charter - ensures that where possible only locally produced and ethically sourced food is served at the Royal Highland Show, supporting local producers and championing Scottish produce
- Staff internal growth and development opportunities