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Article published 12/06/2025

Celebrating success

Aberdeen City Council’s Archives, Gallery & Museums service (AAGM) is celebrating Green Tourism awards success for four of its venues.

The Art Gallery has achieved the highest award, Gold recognition, with the Maritime Museum, Provost Skene’s House and the Treasure Hub celebrating Silver status.

Green Tourism is the world’s largest sustainable certification programme of its kind, promoting greener ways for businesses and organisations to operate, by offering advice on sustainability best practice, from ethical buying to reducing energy use.

a group of people outside facing the camera, one holding a certificate

Picture caption from left to right - David Jackson, Regional Director VistScotland, Danielle Jones and Amber Pithie Renfrey, Museum Supervisors, and Councillor Miranda Radley.

AAGM inititiaives

The AAGM staff team was congratulated by the judges for displaying an excellent understanding of sustainability and awareness of opportunities and challenges associated with running a responsible business. The AAGM submissions were themed around people, places and planet, with initiatives including:

  • establishing a regional recycling scheme for blue nitrile gloves routinely worn by staff when handling artworks and objects
  • reducing energy consumption through improvements to insulation and installation of LED lighting, low -flush toilets and water-saving taps
  • introducing recycled and plastic-free stock in the Maritime Museum and Art Gallery shops
  • tackling period poverty by providing free sanitary products in the venues in partnership with Cfine
  • providing facilities at the Art Gallery for visitors with disabilities, specifically a Changing Places Toilet
  • removing single-use plastics from the Art Gallery café

Other key projects included:

  • establishing a wildflower meadow at the Treasure Hub in Northfield
  • re-homing bee hives
  • repurposing art crates – from crate to plate

To find out more and read the full press release visit the Aberdeen Archives, gallery & Museums website.

We must all play a role in preserving Scotland’s natural and cultural heritage. I’m thrilled to hear about AAGM’s Green Tourism Award successes.

Sustainable tourism development is at the heart of what we do, working with partners to drive change and embed responsible practices across the industry. Our business support hub contains a plethora of essential advice, including a guide to net zero and information on how businesses can create a sustainability and climate action plan.

We have a vision for Scotland to be the most economically, environmentally and socially sustainable destination in the world, so it’s great to see AAGM playing their part and demonstrating real leadership for the region.

David Jackson, VisitScotland Regional Director

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