The Helsinki Exhibition & Convention Centre believes that its aim of generating only five percent unsorted waste is realistic for next year. The amount of unsorted waste has dropped dramatically from 2007 levels, when some 44 percent of waste ended up unsorted in landfills. In 2011, the corresponding figure was only six percent.
The Centre was the first Finnish exhibition and conference centre to receive an ISO 14001 environmental management certification for its environmental management system. On the basis of an environmental survey, three primary environmental goals were set for its operations: reducing the waste load, optimising energy consumption and promotion of the use of public transport. Moreover, all co-operating partners are expected to act responsibly and commit themselves to the environmental management system.
Energy consumption and waste create the highest environmental load at the Centre. In recent years, particular attention has been paid to waste sorting, and this has resulted in a remarkable reduction in the amount of unsorted waste.
"Today, sorting of waste is possible at all facilities of the Centre. In addition, we have managed to control energy consumption regardless of major investments in new premises," said Lasse Willberg, Property Manager at the Centre.