The Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre has become one of the first venues in the world to earn the prestigious Green Globe Silver Certification – an achievement that recognises its environmental leadership in the business events sector.

Only two years ago the Centre became the first venue in Australia and one of the first in the world to achieve the initial Green Globe benchmark status.

The international Green Globe Silver Certification follows a rigorous audit of the Centre’s environmental programs, assessing the Centre’s overall sustainability policy as well as its compliance measures and performance.

Centre Chief Executive Ton van Amerongen said that as a leader in environmental practices, the Centre had delivered amazing results in waste reduction and lower energy usage over the past six years. “We’ve been working closely with our industry partners and clients also to reduce the environmental impact of events held at the Centre. Our dedicated programs and initiatives such as our Green Event Ideas planning brochure have set a benchmark in the industry.”

Stewart Moore, CEO of EC3 Global, which manages the worldwide Green Globe program, said the Centre was a prime example of an organisation committed to environmentally sustainable tourism. “The commitment they have shown by participating in the Green Globe program and the achievements they have made within the program set an example for other businesses to follow,” Mr Moore said.

Recently the Centre signed up for the 18-month New South Wales Government Sustainability Advantage Program in order to identify new measures that will help the venue and its clients work toward a better environment.

The Centre continues to be recognised by industry peers, receiving the Exhibition Events Association of Australia’s inaugural Best Green Initiative Award 2008 as well as consecutive wins in MEA’s NSW Corporate Social Responsibility Award 2007 and 2008, acknowledging the continued success of the Centre’s Ecowise environmental program and its ongoing focus on working with clients to raise environmental standards.