Adelaide Convention Centre Reaffirms Sustainability Leadership

The Adelaide Convention Centre leads the Australian business events industry in minimising waste to landfill, potable water consumption, energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, now becoming the first convention centre in the world to achieve the EarthCheck Master status.

Adelaide Convention Centre has cemented its global sustainability leadership position in the business events space by becoming the world’s first convention centre to achieve EarthCheck’s coveted Master status – a 15-year commitment to best practice in business and environmental sustainability.


EarthCheck is the world’s leading business advisory group specialising in sustainability and destination management for the travel and tourism industry. Adelaide Convention Centre has actively participated in the global EarthCheck programme since 2007, consistently performing at above best practice in several key areas of social and environmental actions. In its most recent EarthCheck audit, the Centre demonstrated its ongoing sustainability leadership by being identified as the leader in the Australian business events industry when it comes to not only minimising waste to landfill, but also potable water consumption, energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. 


"Achieving EarthCheck certification is no easy feat as it requires total and ongoing dedication from the entire team. The passion and commitment demonstrated by the Adelaide Convention Centre team is not only evident in our interactions with them, but in the improvement of their results, year on year," says Stewart Moore, CEO and Founder of EarthCheck. "Since joining the global EarthCheck programme, Adelaide Convention Centre has consistently performed at above best practice in several key areas and are leading by example."

The venue’s 2022/2023 EarthCheck audit highlights included:

• Adelaide Convention Centre achieved a greater than 99% diversion from landfill rate, the 
highest recorded rate of any convention centre in Australia; 

• Adelaide Convention Centre’s average Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions are 72% lower than the 
Australian convention centre average, and more significantly, 60% lower than the next best 
recorded competitor within the Australian region; and, 

• Adelaide Convention Centre’s average potable water consumption was measured at 73% lower 
than the Australian convention centre regional average, and 47% lower than all other recorded convention centres in Australia. 


"At Adelaide Convention Centre, sustainability is embedded in everything we do, from our food and design to our practices and our people. We’re obsessed with energy and water conservation, responsible sourcing and minimising waste to landfill, and work closely with our clients on sustainable event management, including minimal impact exhibitions, to help reduce their event footprint for a better tomorrow, says Martin Radcliffe, General Manager at Adelaide Convention Centre. "The convention and event organisers we work with are highly motivated by supporting the environment and local communities, and it’s critical that we continue to go about our business sustainably. As part of our commitment to this area, we recently employed a dedicated ESG Manager to oversee the delivery and implementation of our sustainability strategy, and I’m enthused where this work can take us in the coming years."

Eliminating waste to landfill 


As part of Adelaide Convention Centre’s commitment to ongoing innovation in this space, the venue recently installed Adelaide’s first WasteMaster – an innovative on-site food and organic waste recycling system, which converts food waste to high value uses, including energy production, fertiliser and compost. Since the WasteMaster’s May 2023 installation, it has processed more than 43 tonnes of organic waste and produced more than 15 tonnes of nutrient rich fertilizer. 


Adelaide Convention Centre also operates a comprehensive food redistribution programme, which has seen the venue donate more than 200,000 unused meals to support local community organisations OzHarvest, Foodbank and Faithworks.
 


Reducing energy consumption 


Since 2018, Adelaide Convention Centre’s energy consumption has reduced more than 40%, thanks a variety of different activities, including a staged transition to LED lighting. Currently 70% of lighting fixtures across the venue are LED, with a target to achieve 100% LED lighting by 2027. 


Commitment to supporting local 


Adelaide Convention Centre’s sustainability efforts extend to supporting local producers, with 97% of produce sourced from South Australian suppliers. This commitment to supporting local not only ensures visiting delegates enjoy a ‘taste of South Australia’ and supports local business but ensures that goods and services procured by the venue have reduced mileage and transport GHG emissions. Adelaide Convention Centre has also demonstrated it is socially sustainable through development of partnerships with local First Nations producers to plant, grow and supply native ingredients specifically for the venue’s Honest Goodness menu.

To learn more about Adelaide Convention Centre’s sustainability initiatives, click here