Sustainability

At the Royal Air Force Club, we are committed to operating in a way that is respectful of the environment while upholding the high standards expected by our Members. Sustainability is a key consideration in our day-to-day operations, and we continue to make conscious efforts to minimise our environmental impact. These ongoing efforts form the foundation of our wider environmental strategy.

Some of the initiatives already in place include:

• Energy Efficiency: We have implemented energy-saving measures throughout the Club, including the installation of LED lighting, motion sensors, and upgraded HVAC systems in key areas to reduce energy consumption.
• Water Conservation: Low-flow fixtures and regular maintenance checks help to limit water usage across our facilities.
• Waste Management: We separate recyclables, food waste, and general waste and work with responsible waste partners to ensure proper disposal and recycling.
• Green Procurement: Where possible, we source sustainable and locally produced goods to reduce our carbon footprint and support ethical suppliers.
• Staff Awareness: Internal communications and training initiatives ensure staff remain informed and engaged in the Club’s sustainability efforts.
• Switch-Off Policy: A Club-wide policy encourages staff to power down unused equipment and lighting to minimise unnecessary energy use.

To further our commitment to environmental stewardship, the RAF Club has partnered with EarthCheck, a globally recognised scientific benchmarking, certification and advisory group for sustainable tourism and hospitality.

EarthCheck provides a rigorous and structured framework to help organisations like ours measure, manage, and improve their environmental, social, and economic impact. As a trusted leader in sustainability certification, EarthCheck supports us in aligning with best practices, achieving measurable progress, and ensuring long-term accountability.

Our objective in working with EarthCheck is to achieve formal accreditation, demonstrating our pledge to continuous improvement and responsible club management.

We are proud to announce that the Club has achieved EarthCheck Bronze Benchmark status, a significant milestone in our ongoing sustainability journey. This recognition reflects our commitment to operating responsibly and minimising our environmental impact across every aspect of our business. Through EarthCheck’s rigorous benchmarking process, our performance has been tracked in real time to identify opportunities for improvement and set measurable targets across key areas including gas, electricity and water use, carbon emissions, waste management, chemical and paper consumption, and community wellbeing.

With this valuable insight, we now have a clear understanding of our environmental footprint and a solid foundation to guide our journey towards our sustainability.⁠ Our next goal is to build on this foundation and progress towards EarthCheck Silver Certification, reaffirming our commitment to continual improvement and responsible business practices for our people, community, and the environment.