The Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) has disclosed its carbon emissions record for the last decade in its inaugural Impact Report – revealing a 60 percent reduction in carbon emissions Scope 1 and 2 since 2013, a 41 per-cent reduction in both electricity and waste production, and a 46 percent reduction in water usage.
Marshall Dallas, CEO of the EICC, said: “We are focused on promoting a more responsible events industry, and the advent of the Impact Report fits squarely with this strategy and the related importance of being transparent about our sustainability record. The overall reduction in emissions is an even greater achievement when you consider that the conference centre hosted double the amount of events in 2023 compared to 2013.”
Event Impact Reports produced by the EICC on request for events held at the venue detail energy usage, waste generation, economic, and social impact – reports that enable clients to set data-based targets for future events.
The reports are one of the three key pillars of the EICC’s ‘Step Change’ sustainability programme, alongside a ‘Desk to Door’ travel planner, and a pioneering partnership with RSPB Scotland, with an in-house team led by Rob Turnbull, Sustainability Manager.
In August last year, the venue partnered with You.Smart.Thing, an online travel platform that provides personalised low carbon travel plans. Since establishing the partnership with You.Smart.Thing, the EICC has recorded that 85 percent of delegates using the platform opted for sustainable travel methods en route to conferences and events at the venue.
Nationally, the EICC partners with operators committed to net zero goals, while locally the venue encourages the use of Edinburgh Trams, Lothian Buses, and Central Taxis, a carbon neutral taxi company.
Through its Climate Action Contribution initiative with RSPB Scotland, the EICC has secured £38,000 to date, via client events, with funds going directly to peat-land restoration in the north of Scotland.
Another partnership with Olio, led by the EICC’s catering partner Leith’s, has enabled any surplus food to be redistributed to local community groups in and around Edinburgh.
Marshall Dallas added: “A commitment to the environment and society, in addition to our economic impact, is front and centre for our team as we strive to reach net zero by 2030 and to be one of the most sustainable conference centres worldwide.”
Earlier this year, the EICC announced a string of recent awards relating to its sustainability efforts. Most recently, at the Business Travel Awards Europe, the venue won the Achievement in Sustainability – Meetings & Events category. The EICC was a finalist, and the only conference venue selected, in the Innovation in Sustainability award at IMEX Frankfurt alongside TED and the Water Environment Federation. At the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce Awards, the EICC also won Net Zero Champion and Inspiring Champion awards, with the latter award for the venue’s partnership with RSPB Scotland.
In February, the EICC reported record revenue of £12.8 million and record profit of £2.6 million for the year to 31st December 2023.
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