Sustainability
We are always working to find innovative ideas that provide better outcomes for our community, our customers and our environmental footprint. We will continue to deliver creative solutions for our customers and collaborate with industry partners to ensure Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre is a truly sustainable event destination.
Our sustainability targets
Eliminate unnecessary and problematic single-use plastics and divert 90 per cent of waste from landfill by 2025.
Be 100 per cent powered by renewable electricity by 2028.
Reduce our net carbon emissions to zero by 2030.
Improve biodiversity, habitats and ecosystem health in Victoria.
MCEC and the UN's Global Goals
The MCEC Sustainability Strategy is shaped by the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs are an urgent call to action for all countries - developed and developing - to improve human lives and protect the environment through sustainable development.
Our Sustainability Strategy addresses 14 of the 17 SDGs and aligns our business accordingly.
Key achievements 2016 - 2020
In 2020 we appointed a full-time sustainability manager to lead the design and implementation of new green initiatives.
In FY 2020/21 we recovered more than 17 tonnes food waste through meal donations to OzHarvest and onsite organic waste processing.
Between 2015 and 2019 we reduced our carbon emissions by 22 per cent per m2.
We’ve installed 36 permanent ‘food cubes’, growing herbs, citrus & flowers to supply our menus.
Our Exhibition expansion and Convention Centre have Green Star ratings of 5 and 6-stars, respectively.
In 2018-19 we diverted 62 per cent of all waste from landfill using 17 waste streams.
We installed an Energy Management System (EMS) in the Exhibition Centre that has resulted in a 30per cent reduction in energy use since 2016.
In 2019 we harvested over 3,100 kilolitres of rainwater and consumed 445 litres of water per m2 – an industry best.
Net Zero Carbon Events Pledge
We’re proud to join forces with the global events and meeting industry in becoming a signatory to the Net Zero Carbon Events Pledge, as announced at the Global Climate Summit COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland 2021.
The pledge commits the industry to achieve net zero by 2050, in line with the targets laid on in the Paris Climate Acord. But here at MCEC, we’re going one better, with a commitment to achieve net zero by 2030.
Case studies
Our Siddeley St carpark is being transformed into a 2,000m2 rooftop farm. Melbourne Skyfarm will feature sustainable and contemporary hospitality sites, environmental education as well as business conference facilities and event spaces. It will provide around five tonnes of produce each year, much of which will be donated to local food charities.
We offer a 100-mile Market Garden menu option, using main ingredients sourced exclusively from farms and markets within 100 miles of MCEC. Our coffee supplier, The Sustainable Coffee Company, is a Melbourne based roaster and the first Australian coffee company to be 100 per cent carbon offset from tree to cup.
As partners in the Melbourne Renewable Energy Project, we developed a wind farm in regional Victoria which has offset 15 per cent of our electricity consumption. We’re also a member of the Business Renewables Centre Australia who help facilitate Australia’s shift towards large-scale wind and solar energy.
Planning a sustainable event
Awards and Accolades
Best Corporate Citizen at 2018 Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia (EEAA) Awards for Excellence.
2018 Premier’s Sustainability Award – government category for Melbourne Renewable Energy Project.
Has been assessed as meeting gold certification (seven years) requirements of the EarthCheck company standard
The first convention centre in the world to be awarded a 6-star green star environmental rating.