Sustainability

Co-op Live is powered 100% by electricity. We are proud that the day to day running of the venue uses only renewable electricity, from on-site solar panels topped up by renewable energy. By not having any gas on site, we can power, heat and cool the venue with zero carbon emissions. 

Co-op Live has been was built using local suppliers where possible to keep transport miles to a minimum. Our façade is from Salford, our steel from Bolton and the seats you sit on are made in Britain.

See summary of our local economic impact

With our smart building technology, our green ventilation and air filtration systems will keep the air fresh and clean as part of our commitment to guest wellbeing, intelligent building controls and low carbon technologies. 

In Manchester, we do rain well. That’s why we are harvesting our rain and re-using it to flush our loos and water our plants. 

We have installed 100% LED lights to ensure we are as efficient as possible with all our lighting.

We have planted a new ‘biodiversity ring’ around Co-op Live. With over 2,700m² of plants to promote diverse vegetation and create a habitat for local wildlife. With a variety of trees, shrubs and wildflowers to enhance local biodiversity and create a living green wall, bat and bird boxes to attract pollinators, wildlife and support endangered bees.

We can dramatically reduce the carbon footprint of Co-op Live with your help. By travelling to the venue by public transport e.g. walk, cycle, scoot, tram our fans will leave no carbon footprint.

We have worked closely with Manchester City Council and City Football Group to regenerate The 'Citylink' Walking Route Presented by Climate Pledge, from the city centre to the arena.

Data from our first year of operation shows the following modes of transport by our fans to Co-op Live:

• 5% by bike/foot
• 50% by public transport (train, bus, tram)
• 45% by car

We are sourcing our food and produce from local suppliers (within 50 miles of Co-op Live) to support their businesses and reduce transport miles for the planet. 

We provide plant-based food options at all of our food outlets, giving our fans the choice. With your help we can reduce our carbon footprint.

We also go entirely plant-based on the artist request. We've worked with Massive Attack, Morrissey and Billie Eilish to ensure that the menu across the whole venue is plant-based.

Discover more about going plant-based at Massive Attack 

Co-op Live is reducing plastic where it can. We will have no single use plastic drinks bottles on site and no plastic around fan merchandise. We also have condiment dispensers to avoid individual sachets and comply with legislation e.g. no plastic straws or serveware.

In hospitality areas we serve all food on washable platters and plates, enabling repeat use and reducing waste. We've partnered with Event Cup Solutions to enable us to serve all our fans their beer, wine, cocktails and soft drinks from re-useable pint and wine glasses and flutes to avoid plastic waste. Doing more to use less one cup at a time.

Discover more about our partnership with Event Cup Solutions

We’re aiming to avoid food waste by cooking on demand, but where this isn’t possible, we work with local food donation programmes to make sure that no edible surplus food goes to waste. We also have food waste bins across the venue for vegetable peelings etc. This waste will help create compost and green power via Anaerobic digestion. 

What’s more, we’re aiming for zero waste direct to landfill and zero food waste to landfill with the help of our fans and cleaning teams. Reducing packaging and providing refill/reuse solutions, including free water refill stations throughout the building.

By sourcing plant powered, organic cleaning solutions in 100% recycled bottles and pods that are diluted, we are lowering transportation miles as well as waste and further reducing our impact on the environment.

Our grounds management team do not use any pesticides or chemical fertilsers and our green walls, trees, planters and wildflower areas are maintained by hand on all our landscaped areas.

Alongside our local food partner, we also work with local suppliers and artists celebrating the talent off the stage as well as on it.

Discover the local artists we've worked with so far

Co-op Live isn’t just another arena. We’re donating at least £1m annually to the Co-op Foundation supporting local and national good causes, as well as offering Co-op Members first in line access to tickets. Ensuring we give back to the local community, we’re offering ticketing initiatives to residents, and working with schools to inspire the next generation to work in live events and be our future talent.

Our donation to the Co-op Foundation is changing the game for young people, supporting youth-led social change.

Find out more

Opportunities for all from the studio to stage

With thoughtful design that’s planet-friendly and community led, doing good never sounded so good.

Find out more about our work with the community