Sustainability

At MCEC, sustainability is a key focus. So, we take serious action to reduce our environmental impact. Our pursuit for sustainable events includes initiatives with organisations that share our values. It’s how we can make a real difference for our community, city and environment.

An enduring vision for events

The tangible targets in our sustainability strategy help us in our goal to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

These include diverting 90% of waste by 2025 and becoming fully powered by renewable electricity by 2028. We’re also cutting out single-use plastics and sourcing more sustainably. And our valued partnership with OzHarvest supports people in need by rescuing excess food from our kitchen and events.

Our strategy is based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and aligns with 14 of their 17 goals. Find out more about our mission for the planet below.

Download our Sustainability Strategy for July 2021 - June 2026

Our priority areas

Why sustainability is so important to us

As we set our sights on a greener future, we've established various targets and initiatives to transform our operations. From reducing our environmental footprint to optimising the energy efficiency of our buildings, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do.

Read on for high-level summaries of our focus areas, recent achievements and goals.

If you want to see how we're performing, check out our progress report below.

Download our Impact Report 2022 - 2023

Our priority areas

Why sustainability is so important to us
As we set our sights on a greener future, we've established various targets and initiatives to transform our operations. From reducing our environmental footprint to optimising the energy efficiency of our buildings, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do.
Read on for high-level summaries of our focus areas, recent achievements and goals.
If you want to see how we're performing, check out our progress report below.
Download our Impact Report 2022 - 2023
We are actively taking action to combat climate change and its impacts by implementing a pathway to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions and aligning our target to science.
In 2021-2022, during the COVID-19 lockdown, we experienced a 26% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to 2019. Renewable energy certificates accounted for 20% of our total electricity consumption, reflecting our commitment to sustainability. The reduced venue activity played a part in reducing our energy consumption.
Our initial goal is to achieve a 25% reduction in our venue's CO2 emissions by 2026, measured against the levels recorded in 2019.
We have also publicly demonstrated our dedication by signing the Net-Zero Carbon Events Pledge. This global initiative, launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP26 in November 2021, aims to address climate change within the events industry. As signatories, we have committed to developing a clear roadmap for reducing carbon emissions by 2030, with the ultimate goal of reaching net zero by 2050.
We care deeply about preserving precious resources and preventing pollution. That's why we are minimising waste and promoting responsible consumption and production. As we strive for a circular economy, designing out waste, using resources efficiently, and making responsible choices are part of our goal to preserve resources and reduce our impact on the environment.
In 2022, we diverted 40% of waste, including 38,762 recycled coffee cups, and donated 10.7 tonnes of food to OzHarvest , helping people in need. Additionally, to recover valuable resources, we processed 47 tonnes of food waste, producing 2.6 tonnes of rich organic soil by dehydrating food waste.
By 2025, we aim to eliminate single-use plastic packaging at events, achieve zero organic waste, and recover 90% of all waste. We will also integrate further environmental criteria into our procurement process and regularly share our progress through our annual sustainability report.
We want to transition to clean, renewable energy and be mindful of how we use energy. In 2021, we reduced our consumption to below 2019 levels, with renewable energy accounting for 20% of our total electricity consumption.
Looking to the near future, we're aiming to achieve 75% renewable electricity by 2025 (and 100% by 2028).
We’re investigating our capacity to increase onsite solar generation. Plus, we'll conduct an energy audit to see where we can make energy efficiencies, then take appropriate action.
We're committed to conserving precious resources. So, we limit our consumption of drinking water, use it efficiently and harvest rainwater for reuse.
In 2022, we consumed 242 litres of water per square metre, which is an industry best. And we harvested over 4,765 kilolitres of rainwater for our cooling towers and irrigation.
But that's not all. In future, we'll analyse site-wide consumption to see whether we can save more water, then explore and implement measures.
Our goal is to help improve and protect biodiversity and our ecosystem. We'll do this through initiatives that connect our employees, visitors and community with the natural environment.
We minimise the impact of our operations on the local environment by mitigating pollution.
We have partnered with local organisations, including Melbourne Skyfarm and Yarra River Keeper Association, to increase local biodiversity and protect our natural waterways.
Our support for Melbourne Skyfarm includes promoting its development, seeking co-benefits, and fostering community education opportunities. Notably, Melbourne Skyfarm is affiliated with OzHarvest, strengthening our sustainability efforts and addressing food waste challenges.
We're already leading the way in building resilient infrastructure, and it remains a steadfast commitment.
We continue to promote inclusive, innovative, and sustainable building designs. All new builds must meet at least a 5 Green Star Rating for Design and As Built. Environmental sustainability is a core consideration in both design and operation.
We will explore increasing onsite solar generation and upgrading building assets for improved energy efficiency. By 2026, we aim to enable 75% of people to commute to work using active and sustainable transportation.