ICC Sydney awarded EarthCheck Environmental Certification

July 21, 2020

International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) is building on its commitment to sustainability by achieving the prestigious Silver Certification by EarthCheck – the world’s leading environmental certification and benchmarking program for the travel and tourism industry.

The Silver Certification recognises ICC Sydney’s commitment to driving positive environmental outcomes through its sustainability initiatives. Benchmarked against the sector, EarthCheck places the venue above best practice for energy consumption, water consumption, emissions and waste.

The certification is the latest endorsement of the venue’s sustainability achievements. In June this year ICC Sydney’s waste reduction program won the UFI Sustainable Development Award 2020. Aligned with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Production and Consumption, the venue’s refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle and recover waste methodology resulted in a 58% landfill diversion rate in 2019-20.

To target single-use plastics, ICC Sydney also became a signatory to City of Sydney’s Single-Use Pledge and in 2018 the venue joined the ‘Sydney Doesn’t Suck’ campaign. The combined effort has removed 520,000 individually wrapped mints from meeting rooms each year, prevented 88,000 straws from entering landfill annually and coffee cup lids have been replaced by an opt-in system at kiosks, which saw a 93% reduction in coffee cup lid purchases.

ICC Sydney Chief Executive, Geoff Donaghy advised that the certification recognises the venue’s commitment to operating in a socially and environmentally sound manner.

Donaghy notes “ICC Sydney is proud to have achieved the EarthCheck Silver Certification. As the recognised global benchmark for standards in sustainable travel and tourism, this is an important endorsement of our efforts to drive best performance across energy consumption, water use, GHC emissions and waste.

“Sustainability is a key priority for ICC Sydney and embedded across our organisation. We have implemented rigorous KPIs and work hand in hand with our clients, suppliers and wider communities to track the impact of events and ensure these leave a positive legacy.”

ICC Sydney’s Corporate Social Responsibility Executive, Katie Boone, said the certification is the culmination of years of proactive investment and property management at ICC Sydney.

Boone adds “to reach EarthCheck’s standard, which adheres to the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria, we’ve integrated sustainability into every part of the ICC Sydney's operations. This new milestone is a fantastic acknowledgement of the programs we have in place to give back to our local communities and better preserve the environment.”

To find out more about ICC Sydney visit https://www.iccsydney.com.au/

Image: In 2018 ICC Sydney announced more than a million plastic water bottles were saved through its partnership with Sydney Water, reflecting the venue’s ongoing commitment to reducing its ecological footprint.

By promoting the use of Sydney’s tap water at events and using co-branded, reusable glass bottles in all meeting rooms, the initiative has significantly decreased bottled water consumption on site while providing great tasting water to delegates and visitors. It has also saved the equivalent of 12,900 kilograms of plastic from being produced.

16th July 2020 - ICC Sydney’s Theatre to be renamed Aware Super Theatre

3rd July 2020 - ICC Sydney launches new hybrid event solutions to meet evolving client needs

24th June 2020 - ICC Sydney secures sustainable development award

11th June 2020 - ICC Sydney launches operating framework for safe reopening of events

1st June 2020 - ICC Sydney secures Best Major Event Venue Award

23rd March 2020 - ICC Sydney looks to the future as Coronavirus halts convention centres business

6th November 2019 - ICC Sydney introduces Edible Centrepieces to feed those in need

25th October 2019 - ICC Sydney sets global safety standard

19th October 2019 - ICC Sydney security team recognised with a national award

10th June 2019 - ICC Sydney recognised for championing sustainable practice

15th December 2018 - ICC Sydney exceeds sustainability targets

6th December 2018 - ICC secures Best Venue Team at the Exhibition and Event Association Australasia Awards for Excellence

27th July 2018 - ICC Sydney leads in events and venues sector plastic bottle waste reduction

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.