Sustainability at ROC

Sustainability and the future viability of a company are closely linked. Sustainability is therefore playing an increasingly central role at ROC.

Not only because it promotes a company's competitiveness in the long term, but also because we want to take responsibility as a cultural institution.

As ROC, we would like to make a contribution to environmental protection by using resources consciously, using energy efficiently and preferring environmentally friendly materials.

A sustainable cultural enterprise can trigger positive social change. We would like to accept this challenge in order to face the future openly and agilely.

Interview with Diana Palm, Sustainability Manager at ROC

At ROC, sustainability is made up of the following four pillars:

1. Ecological: protecting the environment and and conserving resources
2. Social: fairness and equal opportunities, but also quality of life
3. Economic: Longevity and efficiency
4. Cultural: preserving cultural diversity and forms of expression

Why is sustainability relevant for the ROC?

Sustainability is relevant in every (cultural) organisation because it contributes to achieving the international Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. These goals have been adopted at EU and national level and are also reflected in climate neutrality targets (in Berlin by 2045). These include all of us in our responsibility to make a contribution and make ourselves fit for the future in society as a whole.

As a cultural institution, the ROC has a special role model function. We can not only improve our own environmental impact through environmentally friendly and social measures, more efficient operating processes and behavioural change, but also inspire our audience to adopt sustainable practices. In this way, we actively contribute to sustainable development.

How is sustainability promoted and implemented in the ROC?

Sustainability is systematically implemented at ROC. The starting point is a comprehensive status quo and process analysis, which includes drawing up a carbon footprint for 2019. On this basis, we formulate clear goals and measures that will gradually improve our impact on the environment.

A key aspect of this is to involve employees by sensitising and informing them. Participation processes and surveys also take place. Sustainability is a team sport and every participation and good idea counts.

In addition, strong partnerships and regular dialogue with our partners help us to share successful practices and develop suitable solutions. The wheel doesn't always have to be reinvented and we still motivate each other. 

For example, we entered into two partnerships in 2024. As part of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), we are working with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France as a newly founded ‘Green Orchestras’ group with the aim of making sustainability a priority for all EBU member orchestras and choirs.

We are also participating in the 12-month SDG Tandem programme of the Culture 4 Climate initiative. Here we are developing climate protection measures in a climate partnership with our partner, the AXICA Congress and Conference Center in Berlin, which we also want to implement together. It is remarkable how much we have already been able to learn from each other and we hope to be able to present great results at the end of the programme. Of course, we have also signed the initiative's sustainability declaration, which can be read here.

We have a lot planned, we are still at the beginning but already in the middle and look forward to all the further steps we take towards more environmentally friendly processes.

Would you like to find out more about this topic?

Contact us

Diana Palm
Sustainability Manager
T +49 30 202987 413
nachhaltigkeit@roc-berlin.de