Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre has launched a partnership with the local Canterbury Community Garden Association to supply the “soil food” generated by its food dehydrator to the organisation.
The 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP27, kicks off this week in Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt. With news reports in the coming weeks likely to be focused on all things sustainable, M&C Asia takes a look at some of the latest green developments around Asia.
Te Pae Christchurch reuses waste products
Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre has launched a partnership with the local Canterbury Community Garden Association and the Just Dirt Trust to supply the ‘soil food’ generated by its food dehydrator to local gardeners.
The dehydrator has the capacity to process 200 kilograms of food waste a day and works by heating the Centre’s excess food (food that is unsuitable to be donated to Foodbank Canterbury) to a set temperature over nine hours, reducing the food to a soil-like consistency which is rich in nutrients.
Te Pae Christchurch General Manager Ross Steele said: “Sustainability is a key tenet of operations across the Centre, and something we committed to very early on in our journey. It’s fantastic to see weekly pick ups of soil food underway and to hear about the benefits local gardeners are finding as they use the soil food.”
KLCC gets its own composting machine
Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre has reduced its overall food waste by 30% since installing its own food composter machine.Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) recently invested in its own food composter machine to expand its waste management efforts. The venue said that since including composting as part of its process, it has recorded a 30% decrease in the overall food waste disposed of.
According to KLCC’s general manager, Alan Pryor, the venue is also collecting more data, through which it can better study delegates’ consumption behaviour.
“This enables us to plan food production more efficiently and cater to customer-based cooking, which results in reduced food waste and less food cost,” said Pryor. “One of the long-term plans of the composter is to also provide non-chemical-based fertilisers to the 50-acre KLCC park adjacent to the Centre.”
Penang’s first Crowne Plaza will be part of a sustainable development
IHG Hotels & Resorts is bringing the first Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts to Penang, which will be part of a sustainable high-end mixed-use development, called Straits City, located at the waterfront of Butterworth Penang.
Envisioned as the ‘Future City’, the expansive development incorporates green technologies to promote a more sustainable living and spaces designed to encourage interaction, communication and creation. The 343-room hotel, spread across 23 floors, will have MICE facilities and is expected to open in 2024.
PATA appoints sustainability expert
Megan Epler Wood will be working with PATA to progress a more resilient and sustainable Asia Pacific travel ecosystem.PATA, the Pacific Asia Travel Association, has appointed a special advisor on sustainable tourism development for destinations, business, and civil society.
Thought leader, pioneer, teacher and ecotourism industry leader Megan Epler Wood will be working with PATA to progress a more resilient and sustainable Asia Pacific travel ecosystem.
PATA CEO Liz Ortiguera said: “We are honoured to have Megan as PATA’s special advisor. Destination leaders across the Asia Pacific region have a keen interest in advancing their resilience and sustainability while engaging in the positive social, cultural and economic benefits delivered through travel,”