The Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre (SCEC) has become one of the first venues in the world to earn the prestigious Green Globe Silver Certification, an achievement that recognises its environmental leadership in the business events sector.
The international certification follows a rigorous audit of the Centre's environmental programs, assessing the Centre's overall sustainability policy as well as its compliance measures and performance.
Centre Chief Executive Ton van Amerongen said he was extremely proud of the Centre's new silver certification, which comes only two years after the Centre became the first venue in Australia and one of the first in the world to achieve the initial Green Globe benchmark status.
"We have been a leader in environmental practices since 2003 and have delivered amazing results in waste reduction and lower energy usage through our dedicated programs which have come to serve as a benchmark in the industry. Plus, we've been working closely with our industry partners and clients to reduce the environmental impact of events held at the Centre."
"Over the last six years we have increased our recycling volumes by 184 per cent a year and last year we recycled almost 50 per cent of our exhibition waste stream. In addition, we led the market in such initiatives as our Green Event Ideas planning brochure, launched for clients in late 2007."
"To have our efforts acknowledged with Silver Certification - the highest level of the Green Globe program - is a fantastic result," he said.
Stewart Moore, CEO of EC3 Global, which manages the worldwide Green Globe program, said the Centre was a prime example of an organisation committed to environmentally sustainable tourism.
"The commitment they have shown by participating in the Green Globe program and the achievements they have made within the program set an example for other businesses to follow," Mr Moore said.
Recently the Centre signed up for the 18-month New South Wales Government Sustainability Advantage Program in order to identify new measures that will help the venue and its clients work toward a better environment.
The Centre continues to be recognised by industry peers receiving the Events Association of Australia's inaugural Best Green Initiative Award 2008 as well as consecutive wins in MEA's NSW Corporate Social Responsibility Award 2007 and 2008, acknowledging the continued success of the Centre's Ecowise environmental program and its ongoing focus on working with clients to raise environmental standards.
Image: Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre
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