Gold service, green attitude secret to success

The Adelaide Convention Centre has become the first convention centre in Australia to obtain Green Globe Silver Certification. Here it shares why it decided to pursue environmentally friendly practices, the processes it followed and some of its amazing success.

On any day somewhere in the world, there is a conference being held on sustainability and the environment.

Rather than just host these conferences, the Adelaide Convention Centre’s senior management and board members decided to adopt the practices that were being discussed by experts from around the globe.

And so began a journey that has reinvigorated the Adelaide Convention Centre, its staff and visitors with new practices that benefit all humanity.

Adelaide Convention Centre Chief Executive Alec Gilbert says one of the first things that changed was that tired old chestnut: “We have always done it that way”.

“By encouraging our staff to take ownership of firstly the potential of change and finally the fruits of change, the process was not as daunting as it first appeared,” he says.

“The motivation to change was inspired by the need to adopt sustainable practices, reduce costs and make the operations and the whole Adelaide Convention Centre a true leader in the worldwide meeting and events industry.

“Underpinned by our Gold Service, Green Attitude philosophy, not only are these new practices reducing our impact on the environment, but they make good business sense with the costs of waste disposal, water consumption, energy costs and other services continuing to rise.”

A few years back, the Adelaide Convention Centre began an extensive audit of all operations to ascertain the changes that were needed and what could be achieved.

Mr Gilbert then encouraged staff to adopt new ways of thinking and to introduce more environmentally safe practices.

Initiatives such as the installation of Biobin – an organic waste management system that initiates the composting process and also manages any odours – and a solar-powered, gigantic worm farm, has had a dramatic impact on waste.

Since the system has been adopted the Adelaide Convention Centre is composting eight tonnes of food scraps per month while the Biobin contents are mixed with shredded green garden waste and through a business partner, Peats Soils, the compost is sold to the public.

In just two years, 90% of all waste from the Centre is recycled, reused or composted – just one of the reasons why Adelaide Convention Centre has become Australia’s first convention centre to achieve Green Globe Silver Certification.

Other initiatives include the recycling of paper and cardboard to ensure that none ends up in land fill while even more creative measures were put in place for food. Surplus food is recreated under the strictest health and safety guidelines into dishes that are then donated to Foodbank, a community based program helping to feed the underprivileged.

In other parts of the Centre, water metres and electricity metres were installed to measure consumption within the building and based on these audits, changes were made that have resulted in significant reductions in energy use.

New procedures to save water by using alternative cleaning products that do not damage the environment were introduced, the number of chemical products used in cleaning were reduced while water sensor savers and new plumbing devices were installed in the toilet systems.

The Adelaide Convention Centre has extended the recycling and re-use of anything and everything – even leftover candle wax which is donated to church groups which use them in services and ceremonies.

Glass bottles, plastic bottles, corks and bottle tops go to the Scout and the Guides who recycle all the products, keeping the money raised, while the offices of the Convention Centre use only recycled paper, re-cut scrap paper for notepads and ensure all printing is double sided.

Every little bit helps and Centre staff have stepped up to the mark and joined with Trees for Life to propagate and care for seedlings, with the first batch used in a revegetation program at a local reservoir.

The Centre has also developed three new sustainable meetings packages that ensure even the smallest of gatherings go for green.

For the first time, the carbon emissions of each event will be calculated allowing accurate carbon offsetting as part of Adelaide Convention Centre’s push to become the most environmentally responsible convention centre in Australia.

“Reducing carbon emissions is a major priority for the Adelaide Convention Centre and these new meetings packages will continue to diminish the carbon footprint left by meetings and events in Adelaide,” Mr Gilbert says.

In 2008, around 270 tonnes of carbon were offset by the Adelaide Convention Centre and there is no doubt that this figure will be exceeded in 2009, with offset carbon emissions at 150 tonnes so far this year.

“It’s been a difficult but a rewarding journey that has applied the same professionalism and creative thinking that we use to help our clients stage inspiring meetings and events to other aspects of our business,” Mr Gilbert says.

“Not only have we reduced waste going to landfill by a wonderful 70%, reduced water and energy consumption and reduced carbon emissions, we have still managed to be the nation’s best convention centre, living up to our reputation as Australia’s convention city.”