Sustainable events guide

What you can do

• Food and beverage

  • Choose lower-impact: add more vegetarian and vegan choices and locally sourced food and beverage options.

  • Accuracy matters: order the right amount of food for your guests.

  • Reusables are key: returnable cups and eco lunch boxes should replace single use packaging.

  • Eco-friendly hydration: choose water coolers or carafes; or water bottle refill stations.

  • Get exhibitors on board: ask them not to bring bottled water or materials that can not be recycled.

  

• Waste

  • Recycle: we provide clearly colour-coded bins for multiple streams.  Guide your guests to use organic and recycling bins correctly.

  • Back of house recycling: if you need us to help you recycle timber, clear soft plastic, metal or e-waste, let us know pre-event, and make sure your waste is sorted correctly.

  • Smart packing: avoid bringing items that can not be recycled - this includes MDF and particleboard; PVC; and any soft plastic that is not clear.

  • Think ahead: create reusable signage without printed dates so you can take them with you.

  • Single use ban: avoid bringing ANY single use branded items - this includes lanyards, unnecessary packaging.

  • The future is digital: avoid printing brochures, booklets and signage; and go digital instead.

  • Repurpose: take leftover goods and supplies for reuse after your event - don't leave them behind.

  • Eco friendly hydration: rent a portable drinking station for water bottle refills.

  • Get everyone on board (before the event): make sure your exhibitors know to use ONLY reusable or recyclable materials.

  • Take back: we are unable to store left behind items for you - please be prepared to take your goods away with you.

  

• Event styling and merchandise

  • Go digital: Choose digital giveaways and brochures over physical handouts.

  • Fair trade: Choose recycled materials for any necessary giveaways, focusing on items of value and utility for guests.

  • Repurpose: Design reusable lanyards and collect after the event.

  • Use technology: Embrace digital apps instead of printed programs.

  • Say no: Create a ban on balloons.

  

• Signage and stand design

  Embrace digital: reduce and aim to eliminate printed material by choosing digital.

  Design for reuse: plan to take signage, merchandise and stand components away with you for resuse - not printing specific dates and locations is a good start.

  Recycled materials: choose recycled and recyclable materials for stands and signage; avoid MDF or particleboard, and PVC.

  Build to disassemble: make sure your stand is built to disassemble and that components are recoverable/ reusable.

  Get everyone on board, before the event: make sure your exhibitor's stand are reviewed and approved to ensure sustainable material use and responsible waste management.

  

• Transport

  • Go green: Encourage and prioritise public transport, walking, and cycling (minimise driving).

  • Easy directions: Provide clear transport details and recommended routes for easy access to MCEC. Find out how to get to MCEC .

  • Focus on transport: Schedule events with public transport in mind.

  • Share rides: Embrace ride-sharing options.

  

• Energy, water and emissions

  • Save power: Request power be turned off overnight in the Exhibition Bays.

  • Reduce lighting: Choose to cut lighting in exhibition bays to 25% or 50%.

  • Unplug: Power down unused appliances and equipment.

  • Think ahead: Opt for fewer logistics suppliers to reduce truck movements.

  • Be energy efficient: Maintain our energy-efficient 21-degree event spaces; avoid onsite temperature changes that stress our system.

  • Offset journeys: Reduce delegate travel emissions by calculating carbon footprint and buying carbon offsets from groups like Carbon Positive Australia . Plant trees through them too.

  

• Marketing and communications

  • Green marketing: Share your commitment to sustainability across marketing.

  • Communicate: Send a pre-event email to tell attendees about your sustainable choices and initiatives at the event.

  • Go digital: Use e-tickets, apps, and online info to save paper.

  • Track and improve: Use platforms like Trace by isla to measure your impact and report on emissions and waste.

  • Ask and learn: Get guest feedback on how to boost sustainability in future surveys.

  • Embrace online: Say no to print and yes to social media for event marketing.