Carbon neutral event underscores commitment to Sustainability
2010-05-07 - More than 1,300 delegates attended ABB’s two-day Automation and Power World technology event in Johannesburg last year, many flying in from Africa, the Middle East, India and Europe and the main cities in South Africa.
The conference and exhibition area consumed electricty from diesel generators and delegate accommodation wolfed down further energy. The caterers sourced large quantities of foods including 500kg of free range chicken and more than 300kg of organic vegetables for delegate meals. All these activities combined to make up an estimated 206 metric tons of carbon dioxide.
To emphasise the commitment to sustainability that already exists within the ABB Group, ABB South Africa ran its first carbon neutral event last November during Automation and Power World in Africa 2009 and the inauguration of its new modern green building head office, manufacturing and logistics centre at Longmeadow, Johannesburg. The carbon reducing programme has proved to be a success not only because of lowering the event’s impact on the environment but also for the learning that took place in the company and among suppliers for future events.
ABB implemented four overall general event strategies at the event, developed by the Green Desk for ABB. These were waste management, green cleaning, sustainable food and beverages and green conference materials. Planning for the carbon neutral project took place several weeks before so that the event could benefit fully from the green methodologies that were to be implemented.
Before the event ABB and the Green Desk met with event suppliers to inform them of requirements and procedures. Suppliers were enthusiastic to get involved as they saw their participation as an opportunity to learn directly about event greening. Before and during the event, the carbon neutral objectives were clearly and regularly communicated to everyone involved as well as to delegates attending the event.
In the Automation and Power World 2009 post event report, the main sources of CO2 emissions, consolidated using the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, were travel by delegates (89.3%) and energy use (9.7%). This unavoidable carbon consumption will be counterbalanced with a renewable energy project in a rural community.
The report also found that the event greening strategies developed against international best practice, reduced the event’s overall environmental impact regarding waste, water and air pollution. An overall recycling rate of 72% was achieved during the event, which is excellent when compared to other green events. Left over food was donated to the Foodbank. ABB will aim for a higher recycling rate in future.
The green cleaning was implemented in line with the environmental strategies and was successful largely because of strong commitment from ABB’s cleaning services company. Bins strategically placed by EnviroServe in and around the venue at Longmeadow clearly communicated the recycling message.
The House of Bonne Cuisine (HOBC), part of the Compass Group, the caterer for ABB's event and the inauguration, was delighted to be involved in providing green menu choices, says Jonathan Chatikobo of All Leisure Events, also part of the Compass Group. The menu selection was based on sustainability principles. It ensured that all seafood was sourced according to the Southern African Sustainable Seafood Initiative (SACCI) green list species which are neither endangered nor sourced outside of immediate South African fishing waters.
An important part of the local supply was to source food, including fresh fruit and vegetables, within a 200 km radius of ABB's Longmeadow campus and where possible included SMMES (Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises) which uplift local communities.
ABB has set in motion a project with the WWF to offset the carbon emissions for the event with a rural project in KwaZulu-Natal that will use hybrid solar and wind power to provide electricity to a Noah (Nurturing Orphans of HIV/AIDS for Humanity) Ark that cares for orphans of the pandemic. Renewable energy will power refrigeration of fresh foods, pump water and run an administration computer. The project will also help lower Noah’s carbon footprint.
ABB’s carbon neutral event, with the assistance of suppliers who took it as an opportunity to expand their green knowledge, was a clear success and will be used as a baseline for future ABB events. The learning from the green event programme will continue to influence change throughout the company and its wider ambit to ensure the sustainability of corporate and marketing events.