Here at Princesshay, we take our commitment to the environment very seriously, but, we know that we can do more. That’s why we’re working towards becoming even more environmentally conscious. So, along with maintaining our already successful initiatives, we’re constantly looking for ways to improve. 

We are committed to helping tackle the global climate and biodiversity crises by creating greener, healthier and more sustainable places. Here are just a few of things we’ve been putting in place!

Initiatives the centre has in place:

• Princesshay founded the Exeter Sustainability Awards in 2022 celebrating and recognising the great work and progress happening across the city. The awards is now in its third year and entries open from Monday 23rd September 2024.
• Princesshay and landlords The Crown Estate & Nuveen supported the creation of Petroc’s Place, a circular fashion hub on Paris Street together with other local projects in this area including St Sidwell’s Bake House, Positive Lights and Exeter Library of Things.
• We created a short film about the public artwork on display in Princesshay.
• Throughout this year Princesshay has hosted free tours of our the Roof Top Bee Garden. The honey from these bee hives will be harvested in September and made available for sale at Chandos Deli with profits going to our charity partner. Honey will also be on sale at the ‘We Can Do More’ event on Friday 20th September 2024.
• We have created an educational space within the centre about bees called ‘The Hive’ . This space also acts as a meeting point for school trips and community groups visiting our amazing rooftop bee project. Email us to book in for a visit.

Facts and figures:

• Princesshay is home to a rooftop garden complete with four hives and approximately 240,000 honey bees!
• Here at Princesshay we recycled 90,000kg of cardboard in 2023/24. That’s the equivalent of saving 1560 trees!
• In 2023/24 Princesshay recycled16,200kg of wood waste, reusing materials to make planters onsite for bee friendly plants and flowers.
• Princesshay recycled 11,840kg of plastic in 2023/24, which saved the equivalent of 214 barrels of oil!
• Princesshay returned 88,075kg of glass for recycling in 2023/24.
• Princesshay will add 13 new planters to the rooftop garden over the winter planting a variety of soft fruits and berries. These will be picked and shared with the team across site, providing fresh fruit to be enjoyed while at work.
• Princesshay has recycled 1,140kg of WEEE waste in 2023/24.