Sustainability
Green Vision
At Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT), we know the world is facing a climate crisis. We also know that our work has an impact on the environment. Sustainability is part of our whole organisation. We want to lower our CO₂ output and make better choices when it comes to materials and the way we work. We also like working together with others and learning from new ideas.
That is why we try to make more sustainable choices in everything we do. We do this in our studios, during performances, on tours in the Netherlands and abroad, in costume design, and in many other parts of our work. Step by step, we are working towards lasting change.
For us, this starts with being open and honest. We want to share where we are now and what we still want to improve. We know we are not leading the way yet, but we do want to use the same creative energy we show on stage to help build a greener future. This also fits with our home, Amare in The Hague: a building where greener choices are encouraged and supported.
Our work in practice
In 2023, Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT) measured its CO₂ output for the first time. We looked at our work from the year 2022. We did this research together with PHI Factory.
The goal of this first scan was to understand where most of our CO₂ output comes from. This helps us decide where we can improve and lower our CO₂ output in the future.
In practice, this was more difficult than expected. Some information was hard to find or not fully correct. There is also still little information available for the theatre world. Sometimes it was not clear what we should measure or how we should measure it.
Since then, we have completed a second scan for 2023 and a third scan for the 2024–2025 season. We still do not have a complete picture, but every scan helps us learn more. These are some of the things we have learned:
- It is almost impossible to measure all CO₂ output completely. It helps more to focus on certain areas.
- The scans help us understand where we can make the biggest difference.
- Every year is different. Tours, travel distances, materials and purchases change from year to year, which makes it hard to compare results.
- Sustainable choices are not always easy to see in the results. For example, the scans do not always show the benefits of reused materials or fabrics that last longer.
- Measuring takes a lot of time. Sometimes common sense helps us make decisions faster than numbers do.
Even with these challenges, we will continue to measure our CO₂ output every year. This helps us keep learning and improving. You can find the results of our earlier scans here:
As a touring company, we know we create a lot of CO₂ output. That is why we fully compensate our CO₂ output every year. We support projects that lower or prevent CO₂ output while also helping nature and local communities.
In 2025, we are supporting the Katingan Mentaya Project in Indonesia.
Employees from different departments take part in our Green Teams. Together, they help us make more sustainable choices.
In 2023, we took our first steps towards becoming more sustainable. We started with a CO₂ scan and a brainstorm with employees from all departments.
After this, we appointed a project leader for one day a week. This person worked on a plan based on the results of the scan and brainstorm.
We then created several Green Teams to make better use of the knowledge and experience within the organisation and to encourage shared responsibility.
We have Green Teams in Production & Technology, Travel & Transport, Marketing & Communications, Costumes and IT. Together, we look at the way we work and where we can make greener choices.
NDT is an international dance company. Around half of our performances each year take place abroad. Travelling is therefore an important part of our work, but it is also the biggest source of our CO₂ output. Audiences also travel to see our performances.
That is why we work with the following guidelines:
- NDT 1 undertakes a maximum of one tour outside Europe per year.
- NDT 2 undertakes a maximum of one tour outside Europe every two years.
- Bus travel and transport trucks during Dutch and European tours use more sustainable fuel (HVO biofuel).
- International tours are combined where possible, so that travel between cities can happen by train or bus.
- We avoid short flights if travel by train or bus is possible. For journeys shorter than 8 hours or under 600 kilometres, we choose train or bus travel where possible.
- Guests flying to Schiphol and staying for no longer than one week travel by train from the airport instead of by taxi. For longer stays or flights from outside Europe, a taxi is possible.
- For transport, we first use materials already available in theatres, so that less material needs to be transported or rented. We also try to avoid half-empty trucks.
- Where possible, we hire electric cars or vans for the Production department.
- We make sure these guidelines fit within agreements on working hours and remain financially realistic.
- We encourage audiences to travel to performances by public transport. We mention this in the emails visitors receive before a performance.
- Where possible, we prefer to work with sustainable theatres, hotels and transport companies.
What are we exploring for the future?
- Within three years, we want to organise our Dutch tours with lower CO₂ output. We also want to start this process for our European tours.
- We are looking more carefully at which productions travel to which locations, so that large transport movements can be reduced.
- We want to organise more performances at each location.
- We are exploring different ways of touring, such as slower travel or touring with smaller groups.
Creating new performances is at the heart of what we do. This is also an area where we can make more sustainable choices. Because we work with many different makers, it can be difficult to create one clear set of guidelines. That is why we begin with our own way of working, suppliers and materials.
Our guidelines
- We avoid materials that create high CO₂ output during production, such as silicone, rubber and aluminium.
- Where possible, we hire electric cars or vans for production. For technical transport, this is still difficult because there are not enough charging points.
- We are reviewing our storage spaces and working towards joining initiatives such as Jutplaats.
What are we exploring for the future?
- We are making sustainable agreements for new productions, encouraging both ourselves and makers to make greener choices.
- We are looking more carefully at which productions travel to which locations.
- We are developing a plan for European tours with lower CO₂ output.
- We actively focus on recycling and using natural fabrics and dyes.
- Costumes are an important part of an NDT performance. Just like set design, costume creation is central to our work. We take into account the wishes of designers and choreographers, while also making choices about the fabrics and materials we use.
Our guidelines
- Our fabric dyer researches how fabrics can be dyed using natural materials.
- We increasingly offer makers organic and natural fabrics.
- We are developing a system to assess natural fabrics based on how long they last, how comfortable they are for dancers and how practical they are to use.
- For many smaller and educational projects, we use clothing from our existing storage, so that we need to buy fewer new materials.
What are we exploring for the future?
- We are thinking about setting a maximum number of costume pieces per dancer to reduce fabric use.
- We are researching the balance between CO₂ output during production, reuse and how long fabrics last.
- We work together in SharePoint instead of constantly sending new versions of documents by email.
- Our website receives a C rating from the Website Carbon Calculator. This means it performs better than 52% of websites worldwide. On average, websites score lower than an E.
- The biggest digital impact on the environment comes from making equipment such as computers and phones. That is why we try to use devices for as long as possible or repair them where we can. In general, we do not use work phones.
- Last autumn, NDT organised its own Digital Clean Up and will continue to do this every year as part of the worldwide Digital Clean Up Day.
- We contributed to research by DEN into the CO₂ impact of online streaming compared to live theatre performances. Read more about it here.
We work together with others to help make the theatre world more sustainable. That is why we take part in initiatives such as the Theatre Green Book and actively share our knowledge.
