Environmental policy

We are committed to making music that is kind to the earth

Our goal is to offer a rich musical experience with a low carbon footprint. We are taking purposeful steps to reduce the climate and environmental impact of our events. We are working to make our policy inclusive of all stakeholders: our musicians, our patrons, our board and volunteers, and our sponsors and other partners.

Environmental mission statement:

Sinfonia Toronto recognizes environmental protection as a guiding principle and a key component of sound business activity. We are committed to providing a first-rate series of musical performances, in addition to education and musical outreach, all in a manner that ensures a safe and healthy workplace for our performers and minimizes our impact on the environment. We will strive to use environmental best practices in all aspects of planning, promotion and execution of our performances and outreach.

We will:

• integrate the consideration of environmental concerns and impacts into our decision-making and operations

• promote environmental awareness among our musicians, staff, volunteers and board members, and encourage acting in an environmentally responsible manner

• inform and educate our staff and musicians about environmental issues that may affect their work

• reduce waste through re-use and recycling and by purchasing recycled, recyclable or re-furbished products and materials where these alternatives are available, suitable and economic

• promote efficient use of materials and resources in our facilities including water, electricity, raw materials and other resources, particularly non-renewable resources

• purchase and use environmentally responsible products and work with venues and partners with these criteria in mind

• regularly communicate our environmental program to our clients, customers and the public and encourage them to support it

• strive to continually improve our environmental performance by periodically reviewing our environmental policy in light of current and future planning

Specific measures already implemented or in progress

• encouraging our patrons to access the digital edition of each concert program; printing fewer hard-copy program books so we can eliminate

• holding Board and committee meetings online, eliminating the gas used and carbon emitted by over 100 individual trips around the GTA per year

• rehearsing and performing from digital files on tablets instead of printed musical parts, eliminating thousands of pages of paper per season, as well as ink and the carbon output of printers/copiers and postal mail distribution

• prioritizing digital advertising over hard-copy promotion, reducing promotional partners’ reliance on paper, ink and physical distribution

• increasing digital and on-site promotion for our sponsors to replace reliance on hard-copy acknowledgements

• featuring many stellar guest artists from our region, reducing the number of international guest artists arriving by air

• reviewing the orchestra’s travel options to select the lowest carbon footprint for each trip, avoiding individual cars: carpooling vs charter bus vs rail vs air

• promotion of low-carbon personal travel by our musicians and guest artists

• digital records replacing printed copies

• electronic file-sharing for all operational communications, accounting and annual audits