Iconic London events venue, Church House Westminster, is accelerating its commitment to ESG in 2026, with a new initiative that will see the net zero venue give away no gifts or merchandise at exhibitions this year and, instead, donate 100 per cent of the money saved to a local charity.
Having spent circa £6,000 on merchandising in 2025, the initiative looks set to deliver a sizeable charitable contribution. Not only tying in with Church House’s ethos to give back to its local Westminster community and aligning with its initiatives to minimise waste, the new pledge also marks a wider industry shift which has seen delegates move from expecting branded merchandise to questioning the need for it.
Alongside this, the unique venue will also run quarterly ESG-focused competitions to enable clients to contribute directly to the initiative. All clients that make a sustainability pledge, for example opting for a fully plant-based menu or going paperless with all event collateral being provided digitally, will be entered into a draw, with Church House donating £1 to charity for every delegate that attends the winning company’s event.
Marina Papadopoulou, Head of Business Development and Marketing at Church House Westminster, said: “We’re delighted to be redirecting 100 per cent of our merchandising budget for 2026 to a local charity. This is not only the natural evolution of our sustainability commitments but also signifies the fundamental role we play in supporting our local community.
“As both gifting and accepting promotional items can be at odds with a company’s green credentials, we’re excited to see the big impact a small change like this can make and hope it sets a new benchmark for the industry going forwards. This initiative recognises that the most valuable thing we can offer as a venue isn’t something physical that attendees can take away with them, but rather the experience we offer them and positive legacy their event creates.”
Church House is a unique, Grade II listed, multi-purpose event venue in the heart of London. A stone’s throw from some of the capital’s most iconic landmarks, and with stunning views of Westminster, the award-winning venue is home to 19 eclectic and flexible events spaces and can accommodate up to 664 guests. The venue hosts more than 800 events each year, from multi-day conferences, award ceremonies and product launches to Christmas parties, drinks receptions and filming.
For more information on Church House, please visit: https://churchhouseconf.co.uk/.
