ICC Sydney and SWIFT Pioneer Industry Leading CSR Program at Sibos

19 Dec 2018

International Convention Centre (ICC Sydney) has revealed the impact of its industry leading Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program executed at Sibos, the world’s premier financial services event, which has exceeded ambitious sustainability targets.

In a record result for an event of its size and scale, a waste diversion rate of 62.5% was achieved, including 88% of materials being diverted from landfill during the event bump out and 15,200 plastic water bottles being saved.

ICC Sydney’s partnership with OzHarvest and Mathew Talbot hostel resulted in 855 kilograms of food being saved across a one-week period, representing the equivalent of 2,564 meals being donated to community members in need and 1120 tonnes of fertilizer being produced from organic waste matter.

The multi-faceted program was designed by ICC Sydney’s dedicated CSR team in partnership with event organisers, SWIFT, to reduce the ecological footprint of Sibos at all stages of event delivery as well as support community engagement. This included organic waste and recycling processing initiatives, minimisation of plastic water bottle consumption, excess food donations and the establishment of the first Sibos Charity Market Day.

Here, event exhibitors collectively donated 150 items to seven local charity organisations to be repurposed for their communities, from astro turf to umbrellas and potted plants.

ICC Sydney CEO, Geoff Donaghy said the outstanding results are a key example of driving best practice and showcasing both ICC Sydney’s and the entire city as a sustainable destination.

“Hosting Sibos at ICC Sydney was an operational triumph in all respects including meeting the event’s sustainability targets. It required meticulous planning for many months and we are delighted to report these targets were exceeded.

“With our Legacy Program in place, and our strong partnership with BE Sydney, we have the tools, connections and frameworks to support event organisers to deliver on their social, environmental and economic goals and drive meaningful results, just as we have at Sibos 2018.”

Head of Sibos, Chantal Van Es said supporting the host city’s local communities and environment is an essential part of the Sibos philosophy.

“Every year we strive to create a positive legacy that lasts for generations to come.”

“The ICC Sydney team have done an outstanding job helping us to realise this vision and connect us with local charities and businesses to reduce the environmental impact of Sibos and maximise the social and economic benefits for all.”

Donaghy said corporate social responsibility is a core pillar of ICC Sydney’s operations and underpins the venue’s business management framework.

“We take our responsibility to act in a socially conscious and environmentally sound manner very seriously and are immensely proud to have been recognised with some of Australia’s – and the world’s – highest sustainability ratings.

“As an industry, we have more work to do and we are looking forward to collaborating with partners, clients and delegates to collectively reduce the footprint of our operations year-on-year and make a positive contribution to the broader community beyond the city’s borders.”

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