Marina Bay Sands’ Sands Expo & Convention Centre has become the first venue to be awarded the Singapore MICE Sustainability Certification (MSC) at the highest tier of Gold.

Launched this January, the Singapore MSC certifies businesses for adopting sustainable event practices and raises sustainability standards across the business events industry, in support of the Singapore Green Plan 2030. It was developed by the Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (SACEOS), with support from the Singapore Tourism Board, and in consultation with SACEOS members and industry players.

The new framework builds on the first MICE Sustainability Certification introduced in 2016 – which Sands Expo had been recognised under – and aligns with the targets set out in the MICE Sustainability Roadmap. It incorporates international benchmarks and covers applicants’ management approach to various sustainability pillars, including Carbon, Waste, Energy, Water Management, Social, Human Resource Competency and Procurement.

Sands Expo is built to be sustainable, with the venue holding triple platinum certification from leading bodies such as the Building and Construction Authority, Events Industry Council, and US Green Building Council. It is also Singapore’s first fully offset MICE venue, allowing clients to organise environmentally-friendly events. Last year, the venue was home to over 2,440 events.

Beyond infrastructure, Sands Expo focuses on reducing waste and extending the lifespan of single-use materials. While the venue previously introduced circular bottles made with recycled polyethylene terephthalate, it has also invested in over 100 mobile water dispensers and plumbed-in dispensers to increase refill points and promote the use of reusable glasses and bottles. Visitors will also notice menu cubes and dietary indicators crafted from repurposed chopsticks during banquets, eliminating the need for paper products. These innovative products are created in collaboration with a local vendor, contributing to the recycling of over a million used chopsticks to date.

Chefs also frequently harvest fresh herbs and leafy greens from the onsite herb gardens and mobile hydroponic displays, which supports Singapore’s goal to strengthen food security and reduce carbon emissions from the transportation of produce. Post-event, unserved food is frozen in blast chillers and donated regularly to partners such as The Food Bank Singapore, or to communities in need. Since 2016, over 17,500kg of food has been donated.

Beyond these practices, Sands Expo offers dedicated Sustainable Event Advisory Services, customising sustainable solutions for clients. Last year, the team collected bottles from Vinexpo Asia, a global wine and spirits event, and diverted over 34,000 glass bottles to a glass recycling firm to be crushed, melted and repurposed into new products. In another example, over 2,000 radios and headsets were collected during the MDRT (Million Dollar Round Table) Global Conference 2023 and donated to the Migrant Workers’ Centre as gifts for the migrant worker community.

The venue’s MICE Team Members are trained to be sustainability champions, with the venue targeting to have 100 staff undergo the Events Industry Council’s Sustainable Event Professional Certificate programme this year.

Guided by the Sands ECO360 programme, Marina Bay Sands has also been recognised for its sustainability efforts. Earlier this year, ArtScience Museum was certified LEED Platinum by the US Green Building Council – the first museum in Asia Pacific to receive this highest level of recognition – while the property was accorded the Global Sustainable Tourism Council Industry Criteria for Hotels and Accommodations last year.