The convention centre has become the regional leader amongst EarthCheck certified venues for waste recycling and has diverted nearly 93 tonnes of organic food waste from landfill to composting, which in turn has reduced GCCEC’s operating carbon footprint by 195.1 tonnes.
Having recently been recertified by EarthCheck at its highest level – Master certification – the centre has delivered 17 years of continuous sustainability improvements.
In the second year of delivery for its sustainability strategy, the venue recycled 150,000 bottles through the 10c container program, donating the earnings to charity.
In 2025, the centre raised $20,446 through the bottle recycling program and supported four charities, as chosen by their staff: Currumbin Wildlife Hospital, Bravehearts, Baby Give Back and OzHarvest.
GCCEC has also integrated an environment and health and safety platform into its operations, further boosting its ability to scale sustainability initiatives across the venue.
“GCCEC is tracking ahead of its sustainability targets, and that reflects the systems we have in place and the consistency and dedication of how they are applied across the business,” said GCCEC’s general manager, Nick Jeffrey.
“When waste is managed well at an operational level, it creates flow on benefits, from reducing landfill to improving reporting and supporting initiatives like our container recycling program.
“The results are underpinned by our facilities, operational and sustainability teams, whose day-to-day practices are central to delivering these outcomes.”
