Sandton Convention Centre focuses on sustainability
SANDTON – The convention centre has adopted a number of sustainability initiatives to ensure that they are environmentally friendly.
Sandton Convention Centre which is host to upward of 500 000 thousand people annually, is on a consistent sustainability drive to reduce its overall carbon footprint.
Shaun Bird, the general manager of Sandton Convention Centre, said, “Environmental sustainability at every level is key for us. As part of the Tsogo Sun group, we adhere stringently to our environmental policy and we are committed to integrating best environmental practices into our core business strategy and achieving balance between economic, social and environmental results.”
Waste management starts on-site with a waste separation area that is manned full-time, separating the waste into recyclable – paper, carton, tins, plastic, glass, aluminium, and fluorescent light bulbs – and non-recyclable material. A specialist outsourced waste company then collects and manages all the waste effectively.
Electricity and water usage is managed with a range of systems and sensors to ensure reduced consumption throughout the building, such as lights out when not in use, environmentally friendly dry cleaning of carpets, a building management system that ensures air conditioners and chillers switch off at certain temperatures, automated water control sensors, escalators switching off when not in use, and careful attention to potential wastage at every water or electricity point. When furniture and furnishings are replaced, the discarded items are donated to under-privileged crèches and schools to ensure ongoing re-use of items.
Bottled spring water for conference delegates and other visitors is now being provided in glass rather than plastic bottles, ensuring a reduction in single-use plastic bottle consumption.
In the Sandton Convention Centre kitchens, executive chef and president of the SA Chefs Association, James Khoza is also intensively managing sustainability. He notes that with Tsogo Sun’s strategy to ensure high standards of sustainability in the kitchens throughout the group, Sandton Convention Centre has put various practices in place which include using all off-cuts of food, using only biodegradable packaging and purchasing local, in-season ingredients.
Bird added, “These multi-faceted sustainability initiatives are having a positive impact on our business and on the environment, while also ensuring that our collective mindset at Sandton Convention Centre is becoming more and more aware of the need to be vigilant and to be constantly on the lookout for new and better ways to reduce our footprint on this earth. Environmentalist and businessman Jochen Zeitz reminded us that ‘sustainability is no longer about doing less harm. It’s about doing more good.’ We’re committed to that – and to ensuring that every delegate, exhibitor, and visitor experience here is world-class.”
Details: Sandton Convention Centre 011 779 0000.
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