Unravel: Sustainability

As proud members of the Gallery Climate Coalition every effort has been made to produce Unravel: The Power & Politics of Textiles in Art sustainably, although we recognise that we have more work to do. 

To minimise the environmental impact of the exhibition, we have: 

1.  Reduced the use of timber used in the exhibition build. Using an alternative lightweight material has reduced the energy required for transport, reduced the impact of the manufacturing process and makes it easier for us to recycle and/ or reuse the exhibition build.  
    
2. Worked with suppliers to reduce the energy consumption required to maintain the temperature and humidity levels in the gallery, whilst still protecting the artworks on display. 
    
3. Invested in a local environmental project rather than paying to off-set our carbon use. This process won’t make our emissions disappear, but we believe it is a fairer way to support effective environmental projects and accelerate systemic change.  

We are tracking the carbon use across the project so that we can review ways to reduce this for future exhibitions and installations. We have also incorporated into our working practice the principles outlined in the Barbican International Enterprises (BIE) manifesto on sustainable exhibition making.   
 

Is the exhibition build sustainable? How?   

• We have worked with build contractors Raskl to minimise the impact of the new materials used in the exhibition build. Using EPS (Expanded Polystyrene), a lightweight alternative to softwood, reduces the energy required for transport and reduces the carbon impact of the manufacturing process. Using EPS, in comparison to softwood, also reduces the carbon footprint associated with the labour required to process and assemble the plinths, by around 300%.  At the end of the exhibition we will look to reuse as much as the build material as we can for future exhibitions. 
• We have used low VOC paint in the gallery in order to reduce negative effects on air quality. 
• The exhibition team has tracked procurement of materials and actively measured and quantified our environmental footprint so that we can work to reduce this for future projects.  
• Our tender process for build suppliers also included consideration of their sustainability credentials.  
• We have also incorporated into our working practice the principles outlined in the Barbican International Enterprises (BIE) manifesto on sustainable exhibition making.