As a small arts business, we often find ourselves balancing on the thin line between surviving and operating to positive ethical and environmental standards. Our aim is to keep operating as a business, whilst running the company in a manner that adheres with our personal beliefs. We think we are managing so far.

Our current ethical and environmental policies are laid out below:
Ethical
Not For Profit:
  • Acrojou Circus Theatre is a small creative enterprise established through the investment of our dedication, hard work and capital. It is not run for profit. As artists, we earn a small living from the sale of our work. When there is a surplus, it is reinvested into the development of the work.
Outreach:
  • Circus and theatre workshops are a wonderful vehicle for group bonding, confidence building, self-expression and education. As a company we are committed to working at cost price for projects or schemes run with the specific aim of empowering and aiding marginalized or underprivileged members of society.
Community:
  • The nature of the work we produce means that we actively promote community:
"Art… did not arise to spotlight the few, but rather to summon the many to come join the parade...Through the harmonic magic of art, the relative weakness of the individual can be traded up for the strength of the hive, cohered into a social unit ready to take on the world…(A) social elixir …that spans cultures and time" (Natalie Angier, New York Times, 2007)   
  • We also believe it is important to support the community in which we operate. We invest our energy in fostering relationships with local traders to help to ensure the growth of local businesses. This also helps keep our transportation emissions to a minimum.
Environmental
Transport:

We have long been concerned about working within an industry which will occasionally necessitate us to travel by air. Our current policy is as follows:
  • Whenever circumstances allow, we will avoid aviation and opt for slower but greener modes of transport.
  • When we do have to fly, 50% any income earned is invested into a fund to enable us to purchase a low emission company vehicle in the future, hopefully by 2014.
The nature of our work means travelling within the UK is also a necessity. We try to reduce the impact of this as much as possible:
  • We aim to keep fuel use to a minimum by using the smallest vehicle possible and arranging vehicle shares.
  • As of January 2009, our vehicle will be serviced at Kwik-Fits green car service. The service is the UK's first and consists of various checks and enhancements that enable the vehicle to run at its optimum efficiency. Through the service, a carbon offsetting company also receives a donation to neutralise the customers motoring footprint for a period of approximately six months. Renewable energy, methane capture and energy efficiency are included in these projects.
General carbon emissions:
  • We do not run independent premises for our office or studio. Both are based within a home, meaning we vastly cut our emissions.
  • Electrical items are used efficiently and switched off when not in use. This is monitored very carefully.
  • We use a carbon free email mailing list.
Publicity Materials:
  • As of January 2009, all of our printed publicity will be printed with vegetable-based inks on 100% post-consumer waste.
Waste & recycling:
  • We create much of our artwork and performance props from found objects and recycled materials, promoting a creative alternative to incineration and landfill.
  • We produce very little waste, and what we do produce is recycled whenever possible.
  • We try to avoid the use of any materials that are toxic or non-recyclable.
  • We minimize our use of printed publicity.
~
ACROJOU CIRCUS THEATRE reserves the right to update these policies without prior notice.