The MICE industry in Singapore has taken an important step towards a more sustainable future with the launch of the MICE Sustainability Roadmap at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre on 1 December 2022.

Over 100 industry players gathered to witness the launch of the roadmap which has been in development since August 2022, when the MICE Sustainability Committee (MSComm) was set up by STB and SACEOS to raise awareness of sustainability efforts and best practices, rally the industry to adopt sustainable practices, and deepen sustainability competencies.

The commitment to sustainability comes on the back of strong MICE recovery following the reopening of Singapore’s borders in April this year and a growing demand for sustainable business travel. More importantly, the industry recognises the key role it plays in reducing the impact of MICE events on our environment.

3 targets of MICE Sustainability Roadmap:

1. Develop a set of sustainability standards by 2023 that the industry can readily apply and aim to be internationally recognised by 2024.
2. For all six purpose-built MICE venues and 80% of applicable SACEOS members to obtain internationally or nationally recognised sustainability certification – or both – by 2025.
3. For the Singapore MICE industry to start tracking waste and carbon emissions by 2023, to reduce waste as aligned with the Singapore Green Plan by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 in line with the national net-zero target.

Download the MICE Sustainability Roadmap here.

Alvin Tan, Minister of State, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Trade and Industry delivered the opening address and emphasised the need for Singapore to meet the increasing demands for sustainable events. He is confident that the roadmap will sharpen the industry’s competitive advantage and establish Singapore as the leading sustainable MICE destination in Asia Pacific.

The roadmap aims to set out tangible targets, develop national standards and raise certification rates – with the goal for the industry to become carbon neutral by 2050. Singapore will continue to lead the way in new sustainable business models while incorporating sustainability in the DNA of the MICE industry.

Sukumar Verma, SACEOS Vice President for Industry & Enterprise and Co-Chair of the MICE Sustainability Committee also gave his remarks and highlighted the key role that the industry play in supporting the Singapore Green Plan 2030. As large-scale events continue to make a comeback and bring our communities together once again, the spotlight is on how events can be more sustainable and reduce its impact on our environment.

Moreover, with an evident shift in demand for greener options among customers, event attendees, there is a critical need for the MICE eco-system – from EOs to venues and suppliers – to come together to chart towards a more sustainable industry. He reinforced the industry’s commitment to becoming more sustainable and reducing our impact on the environment. To this end, many MICE players are incorporating and prioritising sustainability in a way that is meaningful for their business proposition.

The Roadmap will ensure that MICE players forge ahead in pursuing attainable and relevant sustainability goals that are tracked at appropriate milestones, with STB and SACEOS leading the charge and providing support as needed to further develop a sustainable business events landscape in Singapore.

As part of the launch, SACEOS also announced a MICE Sustainability page which serves as a one-shop-stop to provide industry players with the latest information, resources and initiatives on MICE sustainability.

What’s next

SACEOS is committed to supporting the industry in their sustainability journey by empowering, engaging and educating our members in the following areas:

Standards

Singapore standards on Waste Management is expected to be ready by the end of 2022, and the Carbon/Energy mitigation standard, expected to be ready by mid-2023. . These standards are voluntary, and intended to be guidelines and best practice documents to help industry.

Measurement

The Measurement subcommittee, led by SACEOS VP for Digital & Innovation Veemal Gungadin, looks at the development of measurement methodologies, focusing on waste to aid in 3rd party certification of MICE Venues and suppliers, aligned with roadmap targets.

Certification

A refresh of the SACEOS MICE Sustainability Certification will be ready by end of 2023

Education

This will be a critical component to enable and empower our industry to  gain knowledge and be informed on Sustainability.  Plans are underway to develop courses, workshops and resources to raise awareness and on-board all-of-industry, no matter which stage.

We welcome feedback from the industry on how we can better support you in your sustainability journey and look forward to working closely with you as we plan towards a more sustainable future together. If you have further enquiry and feedback, please reach out to the SACEOS Secretariat at [email protected].