FORREC, a leading entertainment design specialist, has shared some insights on sustainability from Raquel Kieling, a senior designer, and project manager at the firm, following her contribution to a panel discussion on the topic at the IAAPA Latin America summit in Mexico last month.
Kieling is on a mission to empower her peers, other thought leaders, and the attractions industry to employ best practices when it comes to designing and planning sustainable spaces and places. She is passionate about sustainability and the impact her work as an experience designer has on the environment, and during the recent IAAPA event she had the chance to share what she’s learned throughout her 20+ year career during a panel titled, “Creating a Sustainable Future for Our Industry.”
It’s time to act
As awareness about climate change is at an all-time high, and sustainability is an increasing concern for consumers, more and more people are choosing sustainable or environmentally friendly brands, products, and experiences as a way of reducing their individual carbon footprint. The attractions industry is no exception, and it needs to adjust to the market and to the consumers.
For example, 73% of Gen-Z consumers say they are willing to spend more on sustainable products. A Deloitte study shows that around 60% of consumers in the UK reduced their usage of single-use plastic to adapt to a more sustainable lifestyle. Brands with strong sustainable credentials were sought out by 1/3 of UK consumers.
With the level of demand for sustainability only set to increase globally, embedding sustainability into corporate strategy is essential for any company to remain relevant in the coming years.
Designers, operators, and vendors know that it is time to act to address the climate crisis but not everyone knows what to do or how to do it. This is where Kieling provides solutions that work. She is not making promises about solving climate change or making theme parks sustainable right now, but instead giving people a road map about how they can minimize their impact and move in the right direction.
Sharing sustainable strategies
In her talk, she presented ideas that can be implemented right away and others that require more time and investment.
For example, guests desire a place where they can feel unique. A place where they can create memories for the rest of their lives. They expect singularity and subjectivity, but also connection and engagement, which you can only have in fully built and controlled environments.
So, if we need fully controlled, man-made environments (which have a significant carbon footprint and environmental impacts) can we lower those impacts? Can we offset them over time and make sure that we mitigate those 27% emissions from leisure? According to Kieling, yes.
Here Kieling outlines how to establish short and long-term sustainable strategies to achieve the above:
- Provide external comfort for guests such as increasing open spaces and shade, implementing a shading and misting strategy to reduce the need for both buildings and air conditioning and installing intensive green roofs.
- Choose renewable energy sources like solar panels.
- Learn and understand local ecology and the importance of using native plant species and native landscaping.
- Practice better waste management and how to eliminate plastics.
- Use different types of sustainable materials and learn how to use them (such as vernacular materials and mass timber.
- Reduce water use using reclaimed water strategies and water filtration systems.
- Learn about District Energy Systems such as centralized chilled water systems, geothermal energy sources and displacement ventilation systems.
There is substantial scientific consensus regarding global warming and degradation of the environment. No matter the role you play, we all need to take responsibility when it comes to creating a sustainable future for our industry.
Last year, FORREC announced a new agreement with Vietnam’s SUN GROUP. The two firms have worked together since 2016, and have now entered into a long-term strategic partnership, sharing their industry-leading knowledge and experience.
