SUSTAINABILITY & THE CONFERENCE

The conference has adopted the principles of the Australian and New Zealand Government Framework for Sustainable Procurement as document by the Australian Procurement and Construction Council (www.apcc.gov.au):

1. Adopt strategies to avoid unnecessary consumption and manage demand
2. In the context of whole-of-life value for money, select products and services which have lower environmental impacts across their life cycle compared with competing products and services.
3. Foster a viable Australian and New Zealand market for sustainable products and services by supporting businesses and industry groups that demonstrate innovation in sustainability.
4. Support suppliers to government who are socially responsible and adopt ethical practices.

In keeping with these principles, the following management practices have been implemented.

Venue Management

The venue contract includes commitment toHilton Brisbane will undertake the following practices:

• Refrain from using any disposable items such as cups, plates and cutlery;
• Refrain from using any single-serve products such as butter, spreads, milk, sugar;
• Purchase environmentally preferred supplies such as recycled paper, phosphate free detergents etc;
• Purchase local produce where possible;
• Use energy efficient lighting and appliances throughout the hotel where possible;
• Use certified Green power electricity for the conference rooms as a minimum;
• Encourage water conservation in hotel rooms through signage and a towel reuse system;
• Provide recycling services in conference rooms, hotel rooms and hotel office and kitchen areas;
• Provide the option of organic local produce in event planning, and;
• Provide catering with an aim of minimising food wastage.

Suppliers

All significant conference suppliers are being asked to address the following questions as part of their quote for services, with consideration of these responses a significant factor in supplier selection:

• Does your organisation have an Environmental Policy (or equivalent)? If so please forward or provide web address.
• Does your organisation actively seek to minimise environmental impacts from its operations (eg recycling practices, water and energy efficiency)? If so please provide details.
• Does your organisation consider environmental impacts when making purchasing decisions (eg buying recycled paper or reusable items)? If so please provide details.
• Does your organisation contribute positively to the environment in any other ways (eg philanthropic contributions, fleet efficiency, carbon emission offsets)? If so please provide details.
• In the provision of the services sought for the National Sustainable Procurement Conference, what techniques do you propose to use to minimise the environmental impact of this event (eg reusable signage materials, non-disposable packaging or padding material, carbon offsets)? Please provide as many ideas as possible, and indicate where additional expense may be incurred.

Event Planning

The following practices are being undertaken to further minimise the environmental impact of the conference:

• Teleconferences and electronic communications in place of face-to-face meetings wherever practicable;
• Electronic promotion and marketing rather than printed materials except where deemed unavoidable;
• Only essential materials to be given to delegates at conference;
• 100% certified Greenpower used by conference organisers for all operations, and;
• Carbon offsets purchased for conference speaker and conference organiser travel.