The International Convention Centre (ICC) Durban has been granted full membership of the Heritage Environmental Rating Programme - Southern Africa's only tourism-based environmental management system.

This means that all future events at ICC will be as ''green as possible".

Membership of the body requires the ICC to reduce and manage its impact on the environment by introducing initiatives such as resource management, procurement practices, human resource development, marketing and operational performance.

Chief Executive Officer of the ICC, Miller Matola said; "This is an exciting challenge for us and shows ICC Durban’s commitment  to reduce its negative affect on the environment. One of the most encouraging aspects is that all ICC staff - not only the management team - are committed to going green and setting ourselves up as our industry's environmentally-conscious front runners. There are concrete expectations and clear guidelines ensuring  our endeavours will be monitored and measured. ... and believe me we're up for it." 

One of the first high profile events to feel the impact of the "green machine" will be this year's Tourism Indaba. Greg McManus, managing director of the Heritage Environmental Rating Programme, said his organisation would assist in "greening'' the 2008 Indaba.

"This will not only help position the ICC as a responsible business venue, but will also play a major role in ensuring the centre's team make Indaba as environmentally  correct  as possible,  setting a benchmark for other travel and tourism-related events in South Africa,'' said McManus. 

The ICC Durban was developed and is owned by the city of Durban at a cost of R280 million (Euros 29 million), the local community takes great pride in ‘their’ building that has attracted so many exciting and influential people during the major events staged over the past ten years. It was officially opened on August 8 1997 by President Nelson Mandela who acknowledged this during his inaugural speech;