Sustainability Initiatives

We’re proud of these Sustainability initiatives:

Resources & operations

• From 1 July 2020, we have committed to 100% green electricity for the term of our next two-year energy contract. We are also working with our landlord Fed Square on future options to participate in a Power Purchase Agreement, whereby a consortium of participating organisations fund the establishment and ongoing operation of a renewable energy facility such as a solar or wind farm.
• As part of the renewal project, the retail team has created a range of consumables focused on reducing, reusing and recycling. The range has switched single-use plastics for sustainable options and we are actively seeking sustainable merchandise from local suppliers ensuring they remove single-use plastics from their products. When we reopen our café operation we will eliminate single use plastic.
• The Collections team deaccessioned 5,800 redundant videotapes during the second half of the 19-20 financial year, freeing up 200 lineal metres of storage for recent acquisitions. Crucially, all components including tapes, paper sleeve and plastic cases were separated for recycling.
• We endeavour to source environmentally sustainable materials for use in our exhibition displays. Where exhibition display materials cannot be re-purposed for future use they are recycled, donated to community and regional galleries around Victoria via the Museum Accreditation Program, or otherwise disposed of responsibly. We re-use a modular wall system to reduce waste during exhibition changeovers and minimise environmental damage by using low-VOC paints, low emission MDF etc.
• We track our environmental impact including electricity, paper, waste and gas and benchmark against KPIs for reduced usage
• As we review long-term storage options we continue to seek the most environmentally responsible solutions where practical
• We use 100% recycled office paper, printing is automatically set to double-sided, and we recycle ink and toner cartridges
• Food and organic waste recycling exist within our office spaces and as part of our on-site café operation with waste product fed into Fed Square’s biogas plant
• We’ve introduced a rainwater supply to flushable public toilets at our Fed Square site
• We make a concerted effort to responsibly dispose of non-landfill resources.

Technology

• Powered technology in our exhibition spaces is programmed for automatic shut down
• Virtualisation Technology is used extensively to reduce the number of physical servers required
• All office computer replacements are at least Energy Star 5.0 Compliant with 90% efficiency power supplies
• Computers and mobile phones are recycled
• We reduce road and air couriering of digital assets by using a secure file transfer system to move very large digital files locally and across the world
• We reduce paper and courier transport by sharing Board and Audit Committee documentation using a specialised digital meeting support system
• We utilise rechargeable options and donate equipment rather than dispose whenever possible
• We’re energy conscious when selecting what hardware to use.

Programming & people

• We collaborate with Fed Square as part of the Greener Building Program
• We produce Education programs that engage with and promote environmental sustainability
• As part of our renewal project, we engaged contractors who endeavour to recycle as much electrical and non-landfill appropriate materials as possible
• We have previously supported the Sustainable Living Festival
• We partner with the Environmental Film Festival Australia.