Planet Mark brought more than 300 guests to London’s Barbican Centre on 3 November for its inaugural Sustainability Summit, extending the community-building work of its eight-year awards programme. The full-day event combined expert presentations, interactive sessions and networking for organisations across property, construction, legal, finance, business services, retail and hospitality. Headline event sponsor AYKO joined a programme focused on practical carbon reduction, commercial relationships and peer learning. With Connect, Inspire and Share as its central themes, the summit gave attendees space to compare experiences and consider new ways to reduce emissions.
A New Summit Format
The event marked a fresh chapter for Planet Mark’s member community, placing collaboration alongside recognition of sustainability progress. Delegates heard from Sir Tim Smit, co-founder of the Eden Project, as well as Planet Mark strategy consultants Sabrina Wrabley, Ella Revitt and Richard Garnham.
Cleanology Chairman Dominic Ponniah, Peak PEO CEO Alex Voakes, Hypnos Managing Director David Baldry and Social Value Portal CEO Guy Battle also contributed to the programme. Sessions considered both the benefits and challenges of AI, while retaining a focus on the role people play in sustainability programmes.
Avital Johanan, Managing Director at Planet Mark, said:
“For eight years, the Planet Mark Awards have celebrated our community and those driving continuous positive change. This year, we have built on that legacy with the introduction of the Sustainability Summit, creating a platform for meaningful conversations, peer learning and collaboration.
Avital Johanan, Managing Director at Planet Mark, said:
“We were delighted to see more than 300 people come together to share their challenges, successes and inspiring stories. The Summit was designed to help accelerate our attendees’ carbon reduction journeys while building valuable relationships and creating commercial opportunities that benefit everyone.”
Celebrating Practical Progress
A central part of the summit was the chance to hear from winners of the Planet Mark Sustainability Changemaker, Action and Innovations, and Business Impact Awards. Their presentations examined how sustainability can sit within business strategy and become part of everyday operational decision-making.
Sustainability Changemaker winners shared examples of action that challenged conventional thinking and encouraged colleagues to participate. The Action and Innovations Awards highlighted projects and campaigns spanning engagement, communications, events, construction, retrofit, infrastructure and energy-efficient design.
The Business Impact Award is open automatically to all Planet Mark Members. Its winners demonstrated how annual carbon footprint data can identify opportunities for improvement, support measurable emissions reductions and inform ongoing work.
Connections Beyond The Stage
Networking was built into the day’s format, giving delegates opportunities to meet organisations working across a wide range of sectors. The Barbican Centre setting added an environmental dimension to the gathering, with guests able to visit its Conservatory, which is home to more than 1,500 species of plants and trees.
The summit’s agenda positioned shared experience as a useful resource for businesses at different points in their carbon reduction work. It also brought social value, commercial opportunity and environmental action into the same conversation.
James Hyett, CEO and co-founder at AYKO, said:
“The Planet Mark Sustainability Summit provided a valuable opportunity to connect and gain insights from fellow businesses dedicated to shaping a more sustainable future.”
Building On Shared Learning
Planet Mark’s certification work includes programmes aligned with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the GHG Protocol and the Science Based Targets initiative. The organisation is part of Veriforce and says more than 700 organisations use its services to measure, reduce and demonstrate sustainability progress.
The inaugural summit gave that wider network a visible forum for exchange, with award winners and speakers illustrating how emissions data, engagement and collaboration can inform day-to-day business decisions. Planet Mark is already looking towards next year’s event as it develops further opportunities for members and guests to learn from one another.
Avital Johanan, Managing Director at Planet Mark, said:
“Designed around participation, we are delighted that our first Sustainability Summit delivered on our commitment to open conversation, peer learning and collaboration.
Avital Johanan, Managing Director at Planet Mark, said:
“Change happens together. Bringing businesses together to share knowledge, celebrate achievements and learn from one another is essential if we are to accelerate progress. We are already looking ahead to next year’s event and to creating even more opportunities for Members and guests to gain insights from fellow businesses committed to a more sustainable future.”
