Marina Bay Sands in Singapore has achieved level one certification to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard. Following the Green Mark Gold Award in 2012, the achievement marks the first event and conference venue outside the U.S. to be certified under a new international sustainability standard in the industry.
The venue standard is one of nine standards introduced by the meetings, conventions, exhibitions, and events industry in 2012 to provide event planners and suppliers specifications for producing sustainable events. Composed of performance standards in nine individual sectors, the standards were initiated by the Green Meetings Industry Council (GMIC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA).
“We congratulate Marina Bay Sands in attaining the APEX/ASTM standard,” says Serene Tan, regional director of the Americas for the Singapore Tourism Board. “Sustainable event planning is a trend we see growing and we look forward to working closely with our industry partners to make Singapore the choice destination for sustainable events in Asia.”
The certification stems from a number of sustainable features in its meeting facilities-including resource conversation with equipment and lighting management systems and recycling, composting, and charity donation programs. The resort’s indoor air quality management, responsible purchasing of reduced packaging and sustainable office supplies, and sustainable banquet practices have also contributed to the certification.
In early 2013, Marina Bay Sands launched the Sands ECO360° Meetings Program to provide environmentally preferable choices and options to meeting planners and clients. Green meeting options include community volunteering programs, post-event donation program to local charities, property tours, carbon offsets, and sustainable food options. The green event concludes with a Sands ECO360° Event Impact Statement, which consolidates the sustainable event metrics such as energy and water consumption, recycling rate, carbon emissions, and highlights of sustainable initiatives.

“Marina Bay Sands is proud to be the first Asian venue to attain the ASTM Venue certification. This is a significant achievement that recognizes our extensive and ongoing commitment towards sustainable practices in our daily operations,” says Mike Lee, vice president of sales for the Marina Bay Sands.
