Driving Sustainability at M+: A Museum-Wide Commitment

Since its grand opening in November 2021, M+, Hong Kong’s museum of contemporary visual culture, has positioned itself as a pioneering institution not just in the arts but also in sustainability. Recognising the urgency of the climate crisis, the museum has embedded sustainability into its organisational ethos, ensuring that environmental responsibility is not just an add-on but a core principle guiding its operations.

During a conference presentation for the Green Museums Summit, Penni Hall, former Head of Strategic Projects and Governance at M+, and Ria Smith, Manager of Strategic Projects, shared insights into how the museum has successfully integrated sustainability into its framework. Their presentation detailed the development of M+’s Sustainability Vision and the collaborative efforts of its Environmental Advocates.

A Vision-Led Approach

From its inception, M+ sought to be a role model in sustainable museum practices. Sustainability was considered from the outset in the museum’s design and construction, but Hall and Smith emphasised that their focus has been on extending this commitment beyond the built environment. Their strategy revolves around embedding sustainability into everyday museum-wide behaviours, ensuring that environmental consciousness becomes second nature to all staff members.

To achieve this, M+ developed a Sustainability Vision, underpinned by a set of seven key intentions:

• M+ as a role model
• M+ as an advocate
• M+ as experimental
• M+ as trustworthy
• Embedding sustainability across operations
• Acting as a platform for collaboration
• Giving back to the community

Empowering Staff Through Environmental Advocacy

One of the most innovative aspects of M+’s sustainability journey has been the creation of the M+ Environmental Advocates. This cross-departmental volunteer group of 24 staff members has played a crucial role in driving sustainability initiatives. Representing all levels of the organisation, from administrative staff to senior curators, these advocates have been instrumental in developing and implementing sustainable practices across M+.

Recognising that change must come from within, M+ conducted a staff-wide survey to gauge employees’ understanding of sustainability and their concerns regarding climate change. The results revealed a strong interest in making meaningful changes, reinforcing the need for an organisation-wide sustainability strategy.

Four Workstreams for a Sustainable Future

To translate its vision into action, M+ has established four key workstreams, each driven by dedicated teams:

1. Collections Care and Display – Exploring sustainable materials and practices in exhibition installations, ensuring that conservation efforts align with environmental responsibility.
2. Visitor Engagement – Developing educational tours and public programming that promote sustainability, including a guided experience highlighting the museum’s environmentally conscious practices.
3. Staff Engagement – Introducing sustainability into daily workplace culture, from reducing data storage footprints to eliminating environmentally harmful stationery.
4. Travel and Shipping – Assessing the museum’s carbon footprint from international logistics, with an emphasis on reducing emissions from artwork transportation and staff travel.

Learning, Adapting, and Growing

Hall and Smith highlighted that their approach is rooted in a cycle of learning, reflection, and transformation. Rather than treating sustainability as a fixed goal, M+ continually assesses and refines its initiatives, ensuring that sustainability remains an evolving practice.

A key milestone in this journey has been joining the Gallery Climate Coalition, an organisation dedicated to reducing the carbon impact of the visual arts sector. This membership has enabled M+ to benchmark its sustainability efforts against global best practices and leverage innovative tools such as carbon footprint calculators.

What’s Next for M+?

Despite achieving significant progress with limited financial resources, M+ has secured additional funding to further develop its sustainability initiatives in 2022-23. The museum is now focusing on formalising action plans for each workstream, ensuring that its sustainability ambitions translate into measurable impact.

Moreover, as part of the West Kowloon Cultural District, M+ is collaborating with other institutions to shape a district-wide Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy. By serving as a case study within this broader framework, M+ hopes to inspire other museums and cultural organisations to take bold steps towards sustainability.

Leading the Way for Sustainable Museums

M+’s commitment to sustainability offers a compelling model for cultural institutions worldwide. By embedding sustainability into its operational DNA, empowering staff as changemakers, and fostering a culture of continuous learning, M+ demonstrates that museums can be at the forefront of climate action.

As the museum continues its journey towards net zero emissions, its approach serves as an inspiration to the wider museum sector—proving that when sustainability is embraced at every level, real transformation is possible.

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Penni Hall and Ria Smith spoke at the Green Museums Summit in March 2022.