ROKBOX Sustainability Statement 2023

The climate crisis is the most significant social and ecological challenge facing humanity. In October 2022, the UN warned that the world’s governments are not yet on track to keep global heating below 1.5 degrees, and the window for action is rapidly closing. Without urgent action from across society, these problems will rapidly escalate.

The art world has committed publicly to reducing 50% of carbon emissions by 2030 in line with the goals of COP26 and the Paris Agreement. The days of throwing art packaging away are coming to an end. At ROKBOX, our values and mission are to provide sustainable art crating options to enable the art world to ship art safely and cost-effectively whilst minimising the impact on the environment.

As an organisation, we are used by art world participants as a sustainable packaging solution; paradoxically, we also know that the production and shipping of these cases have an impact of their own (90% less than a single-use wooden crate).

This is why we have committed to tackling these impacts by:

• Regularly calculating the carbon footprint of our manufacturing, operations, and deliveries and reporting and tracking on our progress in line with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol scopes 1, 2 & 3.
• Setting specific targets for the major parts of our footprint, including:
  • Ensuring most of our international shipping is carried out by sea, rail or road rather than air by 2026.
  • Using only low or zero-emissions vehicles for local deliveries by 2024.
• The actions we are taking to meet these targets include:
  • Encouraging clients to choose to ship via sea freight over air freight.
  • Working with other GCC members on projects to help develop more sustainable packaging, transport and energy-saving solutions for the whole sector.
  • Seeking sustainable suppliers and service providers.
  • Maintaining a Green Team with representatives from different parts of the organisation that meets to track progress on all these targets and actions at least once a month.

Following guidance from the Gallery Climate Coalition, we are setting aside £70 per tonne of CO2e we emit into Strategic Climate Funds. This money will be spent on supporting frontline climate solutions around the world that are making a difference right now. We aim to act in line with the principles of climate justice, recognising the connections between the climate crisis and other global injustices. We want our environmental actions to support – rather than undermine or ignore – the needs of people on the frontlines of marginalisation and injustice.

We have set these targets and are acting in the knowledge that we aren’t yet doing everything right. We still have a great deal to do and much to learn. We welcome feedback from our clients on this environmental statement, our targets, and our action plans.