Consider virtual couriers

Check with your presenting partner if a courier is required for the transport of your artwork, and request the use of a virtual courier instead.

Ship unframed works

Reduce weight and emissions by shipping unframed pieces and work with local framers for installation. You can also lower carbon emissions by transporting unstretched canvas pieces.

Prioritise local construction

For installations and large artworks, construct onsite with locally sourced materials to minimise shipping emissions.

Use local resources for performance-based practices

Produce tangible objects onsite instead of shipping to reduce environmental impact.

Plan ahead

Refer to the Research and Development section for tips on designing artworks to mitigate transport impact preemptively.

Request reusable packing materials

Encourage shippers to use reusable crates and packing materials for transport, following GCC packaging guidelines.

Choose reusable packaging

If reusable options aren’t possible, opt for kerbside recyclable, paper-based products for single-use shipments if they sufficiently protect the artwork. See GCC packaging guidelines for more information.

Explore reusable containers

Discuss the use of reusable containers and packing materials with external fabricators and framers to minimise waste.

Choose low-impact transport

If arranging your own shipments, opt for road or sea freight when shipping long distances. This can reduce the carbon emissions of the transport by up to 90%.

Explore GCC’s Sustainable Shipping Campaign

Access targets, actions, and useful documents to transition to environmentally responsible freight operations. Find out more here.

Avoid the materials listed on GCC’s banned packaging materials list at all costs.
‍
Explore options for reusable packaging and crating. See GCC’s packaging guidelines for suggestions.

Unless the work will be on permanent display, consider giving it a crate-for-life or prioritising reusable crates.
‍
Petition shipping partners to provide standardised emissions data on quotes and invoices, in line with GCC Sustainable Shipping Campaign.
‍
No newly purchased and or/single-use packing materials should be used when transporting or storing works. Inform shippers, art handlers and any other relevant person of this request.
‍
If necessary (and the material sensitivities of the artwork allow), any newly purchased packing materials should be made from paper-based packing materials and reused following this project.
‍
Where possible, prioritise non-air freight and consolidated shipments. This will vastly reduce the emissions associated with this project.
‍
I/We accept adapted lead times and earlier collection deadlines in order to allow for low-emission freight routes.

In 2021, Berlin-based artist Vera Kox prepared her glazed ceramic pieces for display at Kunstverein Reutlingen in Germany. Seeking more sustainable alternatives to traditional packing materials like Tyvek®, plastic films, and foam, Kox aimed to use naturally derived and reusable materials. She substituted wooden crates with thick cardboard boxes lined with PUR foam and cotton sheets. Though PUR foam isn't typically eco-friendly, it absorbs shock during transit. Cotton sheets protected artworks from dust and abrasion. Kox opted for shredded cardboard filler instead of foam, ensuring stability without risking damage from pH sensitivity. Additionally, using recycled or organic cotton minimised environmental impact. Strategic use of braces or tension straps further secured artworks during transport.