The business events industry’s impact is far reaching, contributing to the economy, communities – local, professional and global – and the environment. As a sector, we have a responsibility to push the boundaries on sustainable practices across our ecosystem, including suppliers, venues, operators and how we promote, advocate and include others, to ensure our legacy is positive and long-lasting.
The Australian business events industry is rising to the sustainability challenge. The significant innovation taking place across the country is occurring because business events people are putting up their hands to say, “We can do better,” and having a red-hot go at making real change.
This entrepreneurial spirit, backed by strong partnerships between likeminded organisations demonstrating true leadership, is coming to the fore with major allocations of funding, time and human resources.
However, there is still so much to do, and the sharing of learnings and challenges is a key component to building momentum. The Australian Business Events Association’s Sustainability Special Interest Group – which is chaired by ABEA board director Samantha Glass, who is ICC Sydney’s director of corporate affairs, communication and sustainability – is where members come together to swap stories, ideas and solutions, and help out each other with contacts, insight and information. In turn, they are impacting the conversation about sustainability via the sharing of information through our Knowledge Program.
Here is a round-up of notable sustainable innovations currently happening among the large-venue Australian Business Events Association members. These projects are in various stages of maturation, but all share a desire to make a real difference.
Adelaide Convention Centre
In October 2023, Adelaide Convention Centre became the world’s first convention centre to earn the prestigious EarthCheck Master certification. Having been a part of EarthCheck’s global initiative since 2007, it achieved a 99 per cent diversion-from-landfill rate – a figure no other convention centre in Australia has achieved. The venue’s greenhouse gas emissions are 72 per cent lower than the national convention centre average, and its potable water consumption is 73 per cent below the regional average.
Adelaide Oval
This iconic venue recently hosted Dinner with Purpose as part of the Tasting Australia festival. One hundred per cent of proceeds from the event was donated to OzHarvest’s initiatives feeding vulnerable communities. Attendees raised enough for 60,000 additional meals for South Australians in need.
Adelaide Oval’s ongoing partnership with OzHarvest sees its kitchens donate rescued produce and share kitchen space for the food rescue organisation’s Cooking with a Cause program.
Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre
BCEC has integrated Queensland Government’s Containers for Change (CFC) recycling scheme into multiple departments throughout its venue. The initiative marked the largest-ever commercial partnership with TOMRA – the leading company of the state government’s Return and Earn scheme.
CFC incentivises individuals to return containers for recycling by providing a monetary refund for each deposit. In BCEC’s case, all funds are directed to local charities, and so far, 500,000 glass and plastic containers have been diverted from landfill.
Brisbane Economic Development Agency
BEDA is fostering a First Nations Relationship Building Program, which has been developed with local First Nations communities and operators. The program highlights the importance of social responsibility in sustainability, while protecting the natural environment through the establishment of experiences that share the rich culture, art, storytelling, performance and food history of the Brisbane area.
In 2023, Brisbane became the first Australian city to be awarded the UN Sustainable Development Goals Gold Certificate. The Queensland capital is now one of just six cities globally to achieve this level of certification.
Darwin Convention Centre
The Northern Territory venue led the Carbon Assessment Research Project, and looked at tools to track carbon footprints, make improvements and monitor progress within organisations. The centre has ongoing innovations which ensure minimum energy consumption, including an integrated digital-based lighting system for stepped dimming control, and energy efficient timers.
ICC Sydney
ICC Sydney (pictured, at top) commissioned research from McCrindle and launched its report, RESPECT: Shaping events for success, which highlights the industry’s eagerness for inclusivity relating to disability, communities and cultural spaces, different genders, sexualities, and the showcasing of local culture.
The launch of ICC Sydney’s Six Trends Shaping Future Events sheds light on the changing dynamic of Australia’s events landscape, while promoting focus areas of the venue’s Legacy Program: “First Nations, Inclusion & Belonging, Environmentally Sustainable Events, Innovators & Entrepreneurs, and Creative Industries”.
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
MCEC overhauled its management of organic waste with the installation of a WasteMaster machine that dehydrates organic waste into residue. To date, the venue has saved more than 127,000 tonnes of food waste from landfill; sent 51,000 tonnes of repurposed residue to anaerobic digestion to create green electricity; and reduced greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to powering more than 20,000 homes with green electricity for a day.
Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre
The Perth venue has targeted several areas to improve sustainability, including LED light replacement, saving 30 per cent electricity; waste management; providing meals to OzHarvest; and engaging with the Containers for Change program, of which proceeds go to charities nominated by clients.
