A SCIENTIFIC conference in Kuching is serving as the testing ground for a new food waste reduction initiative that organisers hope could set a benchmark for the meetings industry.
Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak) this week launched its Zero Food Waste to Landfill programme during the four-day International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) 51st World Polymer Congress (MACRO 2026), marking what it describes as East Malaysia’s first business events pilot project aimed at achieving international certification for measurable food waste prevention.
The congress, which concludes on July 31, has attracted more than 800 delegates and is being used as a live test of whether food waste management practices can be incorporated into a large-scale international conference without affecting the delegate experience. Organisers say the project is intended to provide a model for future events hosted in the state.
The pilot is being delivered through a partnership involving the Malaysian Institute of Chemistry (Institut Kimia Malaysia), Borneo Convention Centre Kuching, The Waterfront Hotel Kuching and Conference Partners Asia.
BESarawak is working towards The Pledge on Food Waste Certification, an international standard that measures food waste prevention and diversion. The initiative covers both conference venues, with measures spanning menu planning, portion management and the recovery of surplus ingredients where food safety requirements allow.
Organisers have also introduced a system to track compliance throughout the event. Every stage of the pilot has been logged on a monitoring platform and is being independently assessed, with the findings due to be released publicly after the congress.
The programme reflects a broader push by the Sarawak Government to integrate sustainability goals into economic development initiatives.
This initiative is proof that Sarawak’s business events sector can lead by example, developing practical solutions that support a circular economy and encourage more responsible consumption.”
– Hii Chang Kee, chairman of BESarawak
“It is the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 in action, showing that economic growth and environmental responsibility can move forward together in Sarawak’s business events industry,” Hii Chang Kee, who is also Sarawak’s Deputy State Secretary (Operation), said.
For the organisers of the congress, the project also highlights growing expectations that sustainability measures should extend beyond research agendas to the practical operation of international events. According to BESarawak, the initiative demonstrates that environmental considerations should be reflected not only in scientific programmes but also in the way conferences are organised.
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Dr Soon Ting Kueh, president of the Malaysian Institute of Chemistry and adviser to MACRO 2026, said: “Scientific excellence must be matched by responsible action. We are proud to work with our partners to show that meaningful sustainability can be integrated into business events, and we hope this inspires delegates and future scientific meetings to adopt more sustainable practices.”
BESarawak’s ambitions extend beyond a single event. The organisation sees the congress as an opportunity to demonstrate that food waste prevention can be built into large meetings and conventions in a practical and measurable way.
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“Achieving The Pledge on Food Waste Certification will prove that sustainable food waste management can be built into large-scale business events successfully. More than that, it will give future conferences a practical model to follow – setting a new benchmark for sustainable business events in Sarawak,” said Jason Tan, BESarawak chief executive.
The initiative also aligns with three United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: Zero Hunger, Responsible Consumption and Production, and Climate Action. BESarawak hopes that by testing and measuring food waste reduction at a high-profile international congress, it can strengthen Sarawak’s position as a destination that links business events with sustainability objectives.
