NDT commissioned the first calculation of CO₂ emissions for the year 2022, carried out in collaboration with PHI Factory. The aim of this initial baseline measurement was to understand where most of our emissions come from and what we can do to reduce them. This insight has helped us take more targeted sustainable actions and we hope to see improvements as we continue to measure each year.

On paper this seemed like a straightforward process, yet in practice it proved to be much more complex. Some data were incorrect or difficult to trace, and there was limited sector-specific information available for us to rely on. For several areas of our work we also needed to determine what and how we could measure in order to see meaningful effects.

We have now completed a second scan, this time for 2023. Although we still cannot call it a complete baseline measurement, each step brings new insights that help us move forward. Below you can read some of these insights.

• It is almost impossible for any organisation, including ours, to map out its full emissions. It is more effective to focus on specific areas.
• The measurements provide an overall picture of where the greatest sustainability gains can be made. This perspective helps us make greener choices.
• Each year differs too much to allow for direct comparison, due to variations in the distance and number of tours or differences in inventory and work-specific purchases.
• We do not always see the impact of sustainable choices. Because emissions are only measured at the point of production, decisions such as using organic fabrics, working with longer-lasting materials or circular products are not immediately reflected in the results.
• Measuring takes time and it is easy to focus too heavily on the numbers. Sometimes it is more effective to use our common sense.

Despite these challenges we continue to measure our impact every year in order to sharpen our understanding, both for ourselves and for the theatre sector as a whole.

You can find the results of our previous two measurements here.

Sustainable change is something we create together. Within NDT we have set up Green Teams that represent and support their own departments. This approach is inspiring, connecting and motivating.

Our Green Teams represent various areas of expertise: Production and Technical, Travel and Transport, Marketing, Communication and Development, Costumes and IT. Together we examine all our processes to make more sustainable choices wherever possible.

We avoid polluting materials and seek smarter, sustainable alternatives.

As a creation house the production of our works is central to what we do, so there is a great opportunity for sustainable impact. Since we collaborate with many external makers this is a complex area in which to set consistent policies. We start by focusing on our own processes, suppliers and working methods.

Our current guidelines are:

• We avoid the most polluting raw materials such as silicone, rubber and aluminium, and other materials at the top of material pyramids in terms of production emissions.
• We hire electric cars or vans for Production whenever possible. This is not yet feasible for Technical teams due to a shortage of charging points.
• We are reviewing our storage and working towards connecting with initiatives such as Jutplaats.

What are we exploring for the future?

• We aim to include green clauses in contracts for new works to encourage both ourselves and our makers to make better choices.
• We will consider more carefully which works travel to which locations.
• We are developing a roadmap towards low-emission touring in Europe.

We focus on recycling and on using natural fabrics and dyes.

Costumes are an essential part of the NDT experience. Like set production, costume creation is at the heart of our work. While we consider the wishes of designers and choreographers, we have direct influence on the fabrics and materials used.

Our guidelines include:

• Our dyer actively researches dyeing techniques using natural materials.
• We increasingly offer makers organic, sustainable and natural fabrics.
• We are creating a system to assess natural fabrics on durability, suitability for the atelier, dyeability, comfort for dancers and cost.
• For many smaller or educational projects we use our extensive costume inventory, which reduces the need to buy new materials.

What are we exploring for the future?

• We are considering a maximum number of costume items per dancer to reduce fabric use.
• We are researching the balance between the emissions linked to fabric production and the circularity and durability of fabrics.

We also work more sustainably online.

• We use green web hosting for our website.
• We collaborate in SharePoint rather than sending new document versions by email.
• Our website receives a C rating from the Website Carbon Calculator which is cleaner than 52 per cent of all websites worldwide. Most websites score lower than an E.
• The greatest digital impact on sustainability comes from hardware production. At NDT we aim to use hardware for as long as possible, repair it when feasible and generally avoid work phones.
• Last autumn NDT organised its own Digital Clean Up and will now do so annually as part of the global Digital Clean Up Day.
• We contributed to a study by DEN on the CO₂ impact of online streaming compared with in-theatre performances. You can read more here.

We work together to drive sector-wide change. We take part in initiatives such as the Theatre Green Book and actively share our knowledge. 

Our partners in our sustainability efforts are a.o. PHI Factory, Jutplaats, NAPK, Pieter Smit and DEN.