RANZCO is on a mission to make this our most sustainable meeting ever.

From the way we choose our venue partners, to the food we provide, we are taking a collective approach by encouraging and enabling all stakeholders with an opportunity to be involved.

What is RANZCO doing?

Planting Tree

In 2024, RANZCO delegates helped plant over 1,100 local trees in South Australia. Building on this success, RANZCO 2025 is proud to support TreeProject Victoria.

Together, we’re restoring indigenous vegetation and repairing Victoria’s ecosystems. Volunteers grow and care for native seedlings at home, which are then planted across the state.

How you can contribute:

  • $1,000 – Sponsor a Planting Day: Fund a day where up to 1,000 seedlings are planted across Victoria.
  • $500 – Restore a Degraded Ecosystem: Support reforestation to revitalise habitats and boost biodiversity.
  • $250 – Erosion Control Planting: Help landowners and Landcare groups stabilise soil and protect waterways.
  • $100 – Reconnect Habitat for Threatened Species: Bridge fragmented ecosystems by planting vegetation corridors.
  • $50 – Repair Eroded Waterways: Plant deep-rooted natives to stabilise riverbanks and improve water flow.
  • $25 – Revive Wetlands: Replant to cool the land, attract rainfall, and recharge vital wetland areas.
  • $10 – Capture Carbon: Offset your footprint by supporting trees that absorb carbon from the atmosphere.

Donate a tree (or ten!) via the Congress registration form and help restore healthy, sustainable and indigenous ecosystems to the Victorian landscape. You can also donate by visiting the Registration Desk.

What are YOU doing?

Transportation

  • Carbon offset your flights to and from Melbourne if travelling by air
  • Consider catching public transport to and from the venue
  • Book your accommodation within walking distance and take in the sights by walking to the venue
  • Why not cycle to the venue if you’re based in Melbourne?
  • Know others who are attending the Congress? Plan to carpool or Uber share.
Reuse water bottles

Food and drink

  • Bring your own refillable water bottle
  • Enjoy the Melbourne Convention Centre menu, with 95% of suppliers being locally sourced and 100% Australian.
Recycle your lanyard

While onsite

  • Use digital resources such as the Congress mobile app to gather information
  • Use the clearly labelled, separate waste bins
  • Recycle your lanyards at the end of the Congress by the Terracycle bins.

What is MCEC doing?

The Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre brings a lot to the party. MCEC’s currently have 36 food cubes set up in their courtyard growing herbs, citrus and flowers which can be used for our menus.

Waste Management

  • Reusables are the future: MCEC have replaced all disposable coffee cups across the catering areas with reusable cups. MCEC will also give you a discount at the café if you remember to bring your own reusable cup.
  • Organics recycling: Organics’ food waste bins can be found across the building – food water that cannot be rescued is processed in an onsite dehydrator and used to make organic compost and mulch for gardeners and farmers.
  • Rehome unwanted items: MCEC proudly partner with Bright Square to rehome any surplus products / items to charities that support vulnerable communities.
  • Waste reporting: MCEC’s waste management partner IKON has extensive experience in separation and recycling and can help to provide detailed post-event waste reporting for your event.

Energy, Water and Emissions

  • Renewable energy: MCEC currently purchase renewable energy equivalent to about 15% of the annual consumption and are working towards 100% renewable energy purchase as a priority.
  • 6 Green Star Green Building: MCEC has sustainable features such as natural light, sensor lights and solar heating.
  • Eco-control system: The Exhibition Centre has an energy management system with CO2 monitoring and variable speed drives.
  • Water conservation: MCEC harvests rainwater from the roof for cooling and irrigation.
  • Sustainability certified: MCEC is EarthCheck platinum certified and is only one of only 5 convention centres globally to be platinum or master certified.
  • Net zero mission: MCEC have measured the scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions and have developed a roadmap to support their net zero journey. MCEC are committed to halving emissions by 2030 and achieving net zero by 2050.

To read more on the MCEC sustainability strategies click here to learn more.

Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre

Signage and Stand Design

  • Go digital and cut print waste: use the-house digital displays and wayfinding.
  • MCEC avoid using materials that cannot be recycled, such as MDF (particleboard) and PVC.
  • MCEC build the modular stands for disassembly and makes sure the components can be reused year after year.

Local Food Policy

  • MCEC donate food that has not been consumed to their community partner OzHarvest. In 2024 they donated 3,200kg of food.

Event Styling and Merchandise

  • Reduce waste: MCEC have eliminated the distribution of note pads and pens.
  • Repurposing: MCEC design and create trade show stands to last by using reusable components that can be repurposed and recycled at end-of-life.