MCEC’s participation in the RMIT Impact Academy culminated in a final showcase at the end of May, with students presenting their impact-driven solutions to industry clients and the Academy cohort.
MCEC joined forces with students from RMIT University in an effort to eliminate single-use plastics from their events and onsite cafes by 2025.
Using a circular economy approach, the RMIT students designed a closed loop system and developed a proposal to replace MCEC’s disposable coffee cups and drink cups with reusable and sustainable alternatives.
As part of the RMIT Impact Academy program, six students in multi-disciplinary teams, including degrees in marketing, economics, finance and information systems, immersed themselves in the real-world task of tackling environmental challenges through a 10-week program with MCEC’s sustainability manager, Samantha Ferrier.
“Our team at MCEC was really excited to see the solutions that the students came up with because eliminating unnecessary single-use plastic is something we’ve been working toward for some time,” says Ferrier (pictured right). “It’s important that the events industry is doing what we can to prevent waste by redesigning the system and ensuring that materials are kept in use for as long as possible. I always looked forward to our weekly catchups because it was exciting to hear how the student team had progressed. It’s an area I’m very passionate about, so it’s fun to bounce ideas around with others who are enthusiastic.”
In an average year, MCEC welcomes 2.67 million visitors, 1 million of these are event attendees.
The venue’s catering has already eliminated plastic straws and plastic water bottles and significantly reduced consumption of plastic takeaway containers and packaging at events by offering reusable alternatives.
Single-use items that remain a challenge to eliminate include drink cups and coffee cups as well as plastic containers and takeaway packaging sold from cafes and retail outlets.
In line with the National Packaging Targets, which will ban the sale of Single-use straws, cutlery, plates, drink-stirrers, expanded polystyrene food and drink containers, and cotton bud sticks in Victoria by February 2023, MCEC has set a goal to eliminate problematic and unnecessary single-use plastic packaging by 2025.
The program aimed to help unlock the students’ entrepreneurial talent while they create value and have an impact on real-world MCEC clients. The students provided insights, prototypes and meaningful solutions to social and environmental challenges.
Senior Advisor, Sustainable Development RMIT University Renzo Mori Jr (pictured left) says it is a mutually beneficial program. “Student-industry partnership is crucial to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Such partnership can put the knowledge learned in the classroom into complex real-world situations, which is critical to the innovative thinking needed to achieve the SDGs. Student-industry experience plays a fundamental role in ensuring that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development.”
The next step is for MCEC to delve deeper into the recommendations, develop proof of concepts and conduct trials based on the proposed models.
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre is the home of unconventional. As they explain, “At MCEC we do things a little differently. We bring fresh ideas and imagination to every event. We happily turn concepts on their head to make each experience momentous. We welcome events of all shapes and sizes, from meetings and conferences to exhibitions, concerts and galas, whether in-person, virtual or hybrid. And our city is our inspiration. Melbourne is on show at MCEC – in the architecture and design, food and hospitality, location and views. Discover the difference at MCEC.” For more info, visit mcec.com.au
