Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show
Demonstrating event sustainability since 2022
The Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show (MIFGS) is the largest flower and garden show in the Southern Hemisphere. Hosted in the heritage listed Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens, MIFGS featured the best landscape and floral talent from Australia and around the world alongside an extensive array of garden retail products. Since 2022, Closed Loop have been the chosen event waste management provider to propel MIFGS’ sustainability profile.
What we achieved in 2024
"Thanks to the Closed Loop team and their expertise in sustainable event waste management for helping us execute our sustainability programming and goals. We enjoy working with the team on Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show and look forward to continuing to innovate and elevate sustainable practices together!"
- Brad King
Operations Director, IMG
Creating impact since 2022
Closed Loop proudly continues to support MIFGS as their chosen sustainable event waste management solution provider, making 2024 our third consecutive year of collaboration. Through a continuous process of refining our strategies based on specific needs and insights, we have achieved a record-high waste saved from landfill rate of 85.6% this year.
Waste saved from landfill (2022 to 2024)
Tailored waste solutions
MIFGS is a unique event with exhibitors, stallholders and visitors creating a range of event waste such as construction materials for displays and stalls, landscaping waste such as soil and rubble, specific exhibitor waste such as soft plastics used for bouquets as well as common visitor and attendee waste such as food and beverage waste.
Circular economy solutions
With an understanding of waste streams, we organised and managed local reuse, compost and recycling solutions.
Exhibitor education
Together with MIFGS, we complied a comprehensive guide on materials and waste streams. Collaboration with stallholders was well received and assisted with reducing contamination and organising BOH areas.
Signage
Clear signage were utilised at the bins to help attendees dispose of their waste responsibly. In addition, they are given information on how the waste they generate is treated.
Sustainability educators
In addition to the signages, interactive educational sessions were conducted to inform attendees about waste diversion and resource recovery.
Dedicated hand-sorting system
To further maximise waste saved from landfill, our dedicated team hand-sort all the generated waste to ensure as much as possible is recovered.
Supporting other causes
Through the container deposit scheme, we facilitated the return of over 26,000 eligible containers, raising more than $2,600 for Beyond Blue, the official charity partner of MIFGS 2024.
How we create value from waste
One key component to achieving a sustainable event was working with event organisers and understanding waste types, we organised and managed a number of suitable and local solutions to minimise the overall footprint of the event which included:
- Paper cups were recycled and turned into roads and lightweight concrete with Simply Cups
- Organic waste including flower and garden waste, coffee grounds, food waste, wood and timber were turned into compost with Van Schaik’s Bio Gro
- Comingled waste was recycled locally
- Eligible containers were returned to CDS VIC and proceeds were donated to Beyond Blue, the official charity partner of MIFGS 2024
- Glass was made into new bottles
- Soft plastics were made into oil
MIFGS: Growing Sustainability
The team at MIFGS are making a conscious effort to move towards a more sustainable event every year. Here are some of the initiatives and what they are doing to make it happen:
- strongly discourage the use of floral foam within displays
- promoting the use of a digital show maps and programs to reduce printing and landfill from disposed maps
- creating a reusable map (printed on Monza satin) to reduce printing requirements and promote reuse
- awarding trophies that are produced from sustainable beechwood material
- preparing hydration stations to promote refilling of water bottles for free instead of single-use plastic water bottles
- replacing petrol buggies with electric ones
Gallery
Bins in Great Hall of Flowers.
Green bins for exhibitors.
Bins for hand-sorting at back of house.
Paper cups collected to be recycled with Simply Cups.
Organic waste generated at the event.
Comingled recycling collected.