Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC) strives to be a world leading socially and environmentally sustainable event facility, making a strategic commitment to build a sustainable future for our clients, our staff and our community, through a balance of environmental, social, economic and cultural factors.
Our determination to be a sustainable business is absolutely fundamental to the daily operations of our centre. We work tirelessly with clients, guests and suppliers to minimise the impact our events have on our environment.
EARTHCHECK PLATINUM CERTIFIED
Our EarthCheck Platinum Certification is the culmination of 11 consecutive years of rigorously audited best practice in sustainability, recognising the Centre’s strong leadership and innovation in several key areas of social and environmental actions.
Since joining the global EarthCheck program, BCEC has consistently performed as a leader in several key areas of social and environmental actions. From sustainable construction to energy and water conservation, responsible procurement, food distribution and participation in community initiatives, the sustainability message is reinforced and integrated through all aspects of the BCEC’s business and culture.
ecoBiz 3 Star Partner
In 2022 BCEC re-engaged in the ecoBiz program and developed a climate risk assessment. EcoBiz is a free program funded by the Queensland Government to support business improve their energy, water and waste efficiency.
SUSTAINABLE PROCUREMENT
BCEC champions local, sustainable and ethical produce and has an enviable reputation for culinary excellence and innovation. As an official #eatqld partner BCEC is passionate about the promotion of local and sustainable produce. Our dedicated team of chefs work closely with local farmers and producers to source the very best of our local seasonal produce.
BCEC sources 80% of produce from Queensland:
- Chicken from Queensland’s Scenic Rim
- Beef from the Darling Downs, Kilcoy and Dalby
- Fruit and vegetables from Queensland’s Scenic Rim, Lockyer Valley, Stanthorpe and the Wide Bay Burnett region
- Ethically caught seafood from the Sunshine Coast and Far North Queensland
ENERGY & WATER EFFICIENCY
764 panel 309.42 kilowatt solar system on our Grey street building, generating 40% of Grey street building’s power and 18 percent of the entire Centre’s power requirements
50% reduction in energy demand in the Exhibition Halls through installation of LED lighting, allowing daylight harvesting and manual control of lighting levels
Car park lighting upgrade with sensor control system, reducing power to 15% of prior levels
The Centre is an official QLD FluoroCycle Signatory. FluoroCycle is part of the National Waste Policy which seeks to increase the national recycling rate of waste mercury-containing lamps
Rainwater is captured from the Centre’s 37,500m2 roof and recycled for cleaning and irrigation. The process of blocking storm water drains and redirecting to collection containers retains 2,260 kilolitres of rainwater as well as preventing pollution from entering the storm water system
WASTE REDUCTION
Linens, cottons and uniforms that are beyond their use-by date go to BlockTexx, a textile recycling facility. The end product is returned back to varying industries for use in textiles, packaging, building products and even pharmaceuticals.
Our organic food waste dehydrator reduces 54,000kg of food waste annually, turning 200kg of organic waste at a time into 20kg of SoilFood™, a nutrient rich safe to handle soil enhancer. This is donated to the City Parklands Services and used in the South Bank and Roma Street Parklands
Food wastage is minimised by working with clients to engineer suitable menus and obtaining up-to-date attendee numbers
Waste separation options provided both front and back of house
More than 30 different separation streams utilised to redirect venue and client waste from landfill including batteries, e-waste, glass, metal, plastic, polystyrene and timber
Use of Biopak products made from plants for all food service disposables
PARTNERSHIPS
An active partner and supporter of Tangalooma EcoMarines, an initiative aimed at encouraging care of waterways and marine environment protection among school children. Dedicated to protecting our spectacular Moreton Bay, EcoMarine ambassadors help to create awareness of local environmental issues that affect the marine habitat and wildlife population of the Bay through both education and action
Containers for Change is the Queensland Container Refund Scheme introduced to help reduce litter and recycle some of the three billion beverage containers that are generated in our state each year, with 10c given for each eligible container that is returned. As part of this initiative, BCEC has rolled out Containers for Change bins in front-of-house and back-of-house locations for guests and staff to redirect beverage containers from our usual recycling streams. The funds raised through this initiative are donated to charities close to the hearts of BCEC staff, or redirected to develop sustainable initiatives within the Centre.
Community Discount program supporting local charities holding events at BCEC
The Centre hosts an annual Salvation Army Community Christmas Lunch for families of the Salvos many communities offering a little hope and cheer to those most in need at Christmas time. With the help of our suppliers and other supporters, the Centre has partnered with the Salvos for more than 10 years, providing a traditional Christmas Lunch for 500 adults and children.
