Green BID

As a future-focussed town, Reading has long been delivering smart and sustainable initiatives to protect the future of Reading and all those who choose to live and work here, from world-leading climate research and cutting-edge technology, right through to more localised environmental initiatives.

What is a 'Green BID'?
Reading BID recognises the key role it plays in helping to shape Reading’s future for the better. In 2021 REDA (Reading’s Economy & Destination Agency and management company of Reading BID), kicked off discussions by chairing a new ‘green BID’ webinar as part of the Reading Climate Festival. Managed by REDA and the two BID Chairs, the webinar explored new ways for the BID to support green business in Reading, seeking to formalise a first-of-its-kind 'Green BID framework’.

A new 'Green BID' framework
The framework is being designed to recognise how individual companies and the collective BID can help reduce Reading’s carbon footprint. The Green BID Framework covers all forms of activity from the green credentials of our buildings to energy and waste, water, green spaces, nature and transport. It will cover businesses large and small, from shops and hotels to office blocks, bars, markets, transport hubs and night clubs. As part of that process, Reading BID will identify gaps for new 'green' initiatives and services. 

The Green Business Improvement District initiative is grounded in a number of local green policies:

• The Reading 2050 Vision for a smart and sustainable future for Reading, which includes an ambition to reach net carbon zero by 2030
• The BID Management Plan
• The Reading Climate Emergency Strategy 2020-2025, launched last year by the Reading Climate Change Partnership and endorsed by Reading Borough Council
• The Reading Economic Recovery Strategy, Powered by People Strategy

Looking to the future
The ambition is to assess what is being done already by our businesses and across the town centre as a whole, to create an action plan of what we can do better and to work towards Reading Business Improvement District becoming a national ‘green’ beacon of environmental good practice.

The first action of the Green Business Improvement District initiative is to capture accurate information about what is being done already towards climate reduction targets locally. The BID runs a small number of practical services on behalf of town centre businesses to help reduce the carbon footprint such as a carboard recycling, greening the waterways, wildflowering and tree planting - but at present we have no clear picture of what individual businesses are doing to become more environmentally sustainable. Subsequent phases will involve mitigation, adaptation and financial planning to invest in more green initiatives.