2025 SUSTAINABILITY & IMPACT REPORT
A YEAR OF SUSTAINABLE GROWTH
The Phoenix Convention Center remains committed to advancing sustainability, strengthening operational efficiency, and creating meaningful impact for our community. In 2025, our team made significant progress by enhancing building performance, expanding waste reduction efforts, and deepening partnerships that support environmental stewardship and social wellbeing. These acomplishments reflect the dedication of our staff and our shared commitment to continuous improvement.
This report highlights the progress we’ve made and serves as the foundation for developing innovative solutions that further reduce our carbon footprint and elevate sustainable practices within the events industry. We look forward to building on this momentum and continuing to shape a more resilient, efficient, and sustainable future for Phoenix.
2025 ACHIEVEMENTS
MARCH
PCC recognized as finalist in Circular Economy Solutions for the Arizona Forward Environmental Excellence Award
PCC and Aventura Catering formalized a food donation program of hot prepared food
PCC announced partnership with Bold Reuse, PepsiCo, and Aventura Catering to eliminate single-use waste
MAY
Sustainability staff earned EIC Sustainable Event
Professional Certification
SEPTEMBER
Completed three ADA assessments of PCC facilities
82% of PCC staff contributed $15,000 to Phoenix non-profits
AUGUST
Published the Phoenix Convention Center
Sustainability Guide
Repurposed and donated over 100 pieces of old PCC furniture and office supplies
The Phoenix Convention Center is proud to partner with local organizations to ensure materials and food leftover from events at our facility find a new life in the community.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), established in 2015, serve as a guiding framework for the Phoenix Convention Center to align its operations and event management practices with global standards for social, environmental, and economic sustainability.
SDG 1: NO POVERTY
Provides employees up to $7,500 annually for professional development and tuition, and supports broader charitable giving and community service initiatives.
SDG 6: CLEAN WATER & SANITATION
Provides clean, filtered drinking water across campus and supports sustainable water and sanitation management.
SDG 2: ZERO HUNGER
Excess event food is donated to local nonprofits supporting community members facing food insecurity.
SDG 7: AFFORDABLE & CLEAN ENERGY
Purchases renewable energy certificates to offset unavoidable emissions.
SDG 3: GOOD HEALTH & WELL-BEING
Employees have access to health and safety programs, a free downtown health clinic, and support for helping clients integrate wellness practices into event activities.
SDG 4: QUALITY EDUCATION
Donates leftover event and office supplies to Treasures4Teachers and educates attendees on sustainability through digital content and guided tours that highlight key initiatives and inspire action.
SDG 5: GENDER EQUALITY
Promotes gender-balanced panels and maintains an inclusive facility supported by a diverse staff.
SDG 8: DECENT WORK & ECONOMIC GROWTH
Practices ethical supply chain management and procurement, with our Food & Beverage partner sourcing certified fairtrade products.
SDG 9: INDUSTRY, INNOVATION, INFRASTRUCTURE
Promotes use of Downtown Phoenix lightrail system and bike share program as safe, reliable transit options for attendees. Partners exclusively with local vendors, businesses, and hotels to support downtown growth.
SDG 10: REDUCED INEQUALITIES
Creates a welcoming, inclusive and accessible environment for everyone to be able to fully participate in events.
SDG 11: SUSTAINABLE CITIES & COMMUNITIES
The City of Phoenix and the Phoenix Convention Center operate as a sustainability focused destination with a climate action plan and measurable outcomes that strengthen community resilience.
SDG 12: RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION & PRODUCTION
Eliminates singleuse waste through reusable serveware in the Downtown PHX Kitchens Food Hall and supports a circular economy by donating, reusing, recycling, and upcycling event materials.
SDG 13: CLIMATE ACTION
Encourages lower emission transportation and food choices, diverts high methane food waste through donations and composting, and reduces emissions through LED upgrades and enhanced building automation.
SDG 14: LIFE BELOW WATER
Only purchases seafood from responsible fisheries and reduces use of single use plastics to keep them out of the ocean.
SDG 15: LIFE ON LAND
Installed a Monarch Butterfly Pollinator Garden to help promote healthy ecosystems and biodiversity.
SDG 16: PEACE, JUSTICE, AND STRONG INSTITUTIONS
Ensures 100% of PCC staff complete human trafficking training to recognize and report potential signs.
SDG 17: PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE GOALS
Achieves high sustainability impact through strong partnerships with clients, service partners, local nonprofits, the City of Phoenix, and downtown businesses.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
174 Events
494,330 Attendees
The Phoenix Convention Center experienced a notably busier summer compared to 2024, hosting 174 events and welcoming increased attendance throughout the year. Even with higher utilization of our facilities, we achieved reduction in overall utility consumption in several areas. This reflects our ongoing commitment to responsible operations, vigilant monitoring, and the integration of emerging technologies that support smarter, more efficient resource use.
WASTE DIVERSION
610,000 kWh
Renewable Energy Purchased
The formalization of a prepared food donation program in 2025 allowed the Phoenix Convention Center to significantly reduce compost volume, driven by the donation of 33 tons of packaged and prepared food to Phoenix Dream Center and St. Mary’s Food Bank. Building on this progress, the PCC remains committed to increasing our overall waste diversion rate through staff training, attendee education efforts, and collaboration with event organizers to improve proper waste sortation.
961TONS Landfill
33 TONS Food Donations
10,000 LBS
145 TONS Mixed Recycling
100+ Retired Assets Repurposed
16.62 TONS
Compost (Food & Landscape)
17,556 LBS
Waste Oil Collected & Converted to Biodiesel
TEAM AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
The Phoenix Convention Center Sustainability Committee is made up of employees from across all divisions and sections, ensuring cross-collaboration to address inefficiencies and carry out sustainability initiatives seamlessly in procurement, sales, event operations, major events, event and janitorial services, marketing and communications, and program management.
PCC Giving includes providing free event space and services on Thanksgiving and Christmas to The Salvation Army, supporting their efforts to offer hot meals, clothing, haircuts, and other essential resources to community members in need. In 2025, 82% of PCC employees contributed an impressive $15,000 to our Community Service Fund Drive, directly supporting programs that expand access to health services, address homelessness, and create educational and job opportunities for Phoenicians.
2026 GOALS
Increase event organizer engagement in PCC’s sustainability programs and practices
Commitment to Accessibility PCC conducted ADA assessments across our facilities to guide improvements that create a more accessible environment and experience for all guests. In 2025, 100% of frontfacing staff and 75% of all PCC employees completed Autism Awareness or Autism Certification training, strengthening our ability to serve every visitor with care and inclusivity.
Sustainability tours, each hosting 25–40 event attendees, were offered throughout the year to showcase PCC’s initiatives and provide a behind the scenes look at how our teams successfully deliver sustainable events and operations.
Expand digital signage to significantly reduce temporary and disposable materials across the PCC campus
Enhance ADA signage and implement facility and program improvements that strengthen accessibility and inclusivity
Reach a
25%
Host a Zero Waste mega event achieving a diversion rate of 90% OR HIGHER
waste diversion rate through increased repurposing, recycling, and composting initiatives
