The art of sustainability: how Christie’s continues to define environmental standards across land, sea and air
As global art leaders, making a more responsible art world a reality is an essential part of our pioneering work
Watch the key sustainability takeaways video from the Christie’s team. Render of Christie’s new Asia Pacific headquarters, the Zaha Hadid-designed Henderson building in Hong Kong, by Pixel Flakes.
Setting and exceeding standards is part of Christie’s vernacular. In 2021, Christie’s became the first major auction house to launch a sustainability strategy. The goal was to halve the company’s carbon emissions, reaching net zero by 2030. Today, Christie’s is on track to meet its short-term objectives, having reduced targeted emissions by 57% since 2019, by focusing on five operational focus areas: business, IT, travel, shipping and logistics, and publishing.
‘We want to help define standards within the art sector,’ says Julien Pradels, Christie’s Global Head of Operations. ‘Underpinning our global sustainability strategy are three key pillars.’ They are to commit to ambitious goals, communicate findings and successes, and collaborate with art industry partners and vendors.
In addition to having its targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), a global group that independently assesses and approves companies’ emissions targets in line with strict criteria, Christie’s also transparently shares progress with the public by publishing an annual environmental report, and collaborates across the art market as an Active Member - categorisation reflecting the company’s commitment and achievement - of the Gallery Climate Coalition.
Designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, Christie’s new Asia Pacific headquarters in Hong Kong has been described as a ‘masterclass in sustainable architecture’. Render by Parklife
Building for a better tomorrow
Reducing emissions in some operational focus areas, such as travel, has been a matter of reviewing processes and modifying protocols. While for others, like buildings, the focus has been on moving to renewable energy, while developing a sustainable management of water, electricity, and waste within company offices. In September, Christie’s will open the doors to its new Asia Pacific headquarters in Hong Kong, occupying 50,000 square feet of The Henderson. The state-of-the-art LEED-certified building was designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. The structure has been called a ‘masterclass in sustainable architecture,’ symbolising the company’s commitment to the future.
The future of art shipping
Since 2021, Christie’s has reduced overall emissions in shipping and logistics by 50%. ‘We’re really establishing ourselves as market leaders in shipping and logistics,’ says Director of Operations at Christie’s Americas, Emily Klug. Building on that momentum, the company’s strategy has continued to launch innovative initiatives to support this focus point.
‘This positive trajectory is the result of hard work and tough decisions, but we are not complacent. There is much more work to be done, especially within technology and packaging’
Christie’s has been working with the vendor DNA to size up production on their once experimental EarthCrate, a biodegradable shipping crate made from recyclable plyboard, as a cost-efficient alternative to traditional wooden crates. Due to the auction house’s volume, Klug explains that Christie’s was able to partner with DNA to ‘provide a more sustainable shipping solution without sacrificing cost, safety or time’. The increased production in EarthCrate has played a significant role in the company’s reduction of emissions.
Extensive testing has proven that these new crates are as safe and secure as traditional wooden shipping boxes. ‘Pioneering this is something we’re extremely proud of,’ adds Klug. ‘Our next step is to begin using them in the UK and internationally.’
Sea freight results in 80% less carbon emissions than air freight
Christie’s is also committed to expanding their shipping abilities to incorporate sea freight, which produces 80% less emissions than air freight. ‘Over the past year, we’ve made it so that taking the greener approach is less expensive for clients who are interested in it. We expect to set sail from New York to Hong Kong in November, establishing a route for shipping art by sea to Asia.’
Leading the way
Implementing both small and large-scale changes, Christie’s is dedicated to reducing its carbon footprint. As art market leaders, the auction house seeks to elevate environmental standards, raise awareness and encourage a more responsible art world globally, and as means towards that, has put in place regional sustainability teams operating at a local level. Partnering with like-minded businesses across the art industry, Christie’s will continue to work tirelessly to achieve the goals set by 2030, while looking at ways to go even further in the future.
‘We are working on an even more ambitious target for 2050,’ says Pradels. ‘To make it work, we’ll need all our vendors and partners to align on the mission, but it’s absolutely necessary for us to play our part in protecting the planet for future generations.’
Read more about Christie’s sustainability commitments. Sales at The Henderson in Hong Kong commence on 26 and 27 September 2024 with 20th and 21st Century Art, followed by Christie’s Luxury season in October and Asian Art in November
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