The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre’s (MCEC) first Impact Report shows how it is tracking in terms of environmental, social and economic impact.
The venue has targets and performance measures across areas like climate change, waste and resource recovery, infrastructure, social procurement, equality, reconciliation and economic contribution.
MCEC CEO, Natalie O’Brien AM, said the centre has an important role in promoting sustainability, inclusion and economic growth in Victoria.
“As a major public asset and a leader in the events industry, MCEC can drive environmental change, amplify social impact through partnerships and inclusion strategies, and maximise our economic contribution through the events we host,” Ms O’Brien said.
“In 2022-23, we focused on some important projects to help achieve our sustainability, inclusion and social impact goals.
“We launched our Inclusion and Diversity Strategic Framework, started our Reconciliation Action Plan journey, launched a reusable coffee cup program and continued our support for prominent community organisations like OzHarvest and Yarra Riverkeeper Association.”
The Impact Report shows that in 2022-23, MCEC met its targets for CO2 emissions, water savings, support of ecosystem health, social procurement, use of local suppliers, employee engagement in community support activities, and economic contribution to Victoria.
The venue has also recently achieved Platinum Certification through EarthCheck, the world’s leading business advisory group specialising in sustainability and destination management for the travel and tourism industry.
MCEC’s Head of Advocacy, Impact & Reputation, Rohan Astley, said many customers share the centre’s goals of sustainability and corporate social responsibility.
“That’s why we provide resources to help them implement environmentally and socially conscious practices into their events,” he said.
“By working together, we can not only leave a lasting impression on event attendees, but also create a more sustainable future for the event industry and a positive impact for our community.”
