MACAO, June 8, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- For the second straight year, Newsweek magazine has named Sands China Ltd. as one of the top green companies in the world.
Sands China's global ranking jumped to No. 62 in the magazine's 2016 Green Rankings, up from last year's ranking of 99. The June 2 ranking makes the integrated resort developer the second-highest rated hospitality company in the world for two years running.
Newsweek's annual Green Rankings examines the world's 500 largest publicly-traded companies, ranking them on corporate sustainability and environmental impact. It is one of the world's most recognised assessments of corporate environmental performance. Major international corporations on the list include Nike, Siemens, Microsoft and Apple. Sands China's parent company, Las Vegas Sands Corp., was also ranked globally again this year, at No. 74.
As in 2015, Sands China is the only company from Macao represented in this year's rankings, placing second globally in the Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure category. In addition, Sands China is ranked highest among the list's 65 companies from mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.
"Sustainability remains a fundamental part of Sands China's culture," said Mark McWhinnie, senior vice president of resort operations and development. "We are honoured and encouraged by this second consecutive year of recognition by Newsweek. Besides the very tangible and measurable effects we are seeing at our properties, this global ranking is another welcome confirmation that our Sands ECO360° strategy is an effective one."
Newsweek's assessment included examining Sands China's efforts toward responsible gaming, the customer experience, and generating a positive impact on society and the economy. Sands China's ongoing commitment to the community includes organising regular community events through the Sands China Care Ambassador programme, which often reaches out to the segments of society most in need.
Sands China has numerous sustainability measures in place under the Sands ECO360° global sustainability strategy. The use of LED lights and the optimisation of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems saved a total of 46 million kWh of electricity in 2015 – enough to power more than 115,000 households every month. Water savings in 2015 reached 90 million gallons – equivalent to 136 Olympic-sized pools.
The company reduced general waste by 10 per cent in 2015, and its recycling rate has improved from 2 per cent in 2012 to 13 per cent in 2015. Several initiatives have contributed to this success, including team member campaigns like the Clean Plate Challenge and Clean the Office, and the company's use of innovative food waste digesters, which convert large volumes of waste into bio-water. Sands China also processes its properties' landscaping waste into compost with a wood chipping machine.
In recognition of efforts such as these and others, Sands China holds several environmental awards and certifications. In April 2014, The Venetian® Macao became the first entity in Macao and one of the first two integrated resorts in Asia to receive the prominent ISO 20121 Event Sustainability Management System certification. In 2015 it received an ISO 9001:2008 certification for the quality management system of its convention and exhibition services. Five hotels at Sands China properties are winners of the Macao SAR government's Macau Green Hotel Award, all in the highest category of Gold: Sands® Macao; The Venetian Macao; Conrad Macao, Cotai Central; Sheraton Grand Macao Hotel, Cotai Central; and Holiday Inn Macao Cotai Central. These and many other awards continue to highlight the success of Sands China's ongoing sustainability efforts.
Newsweek's 2016 Green Rankings is based on eight performance indicators: energy productivity, greenhouse gas productivity, water productivity, waste productivity, green revenue, sustainability pay link, sustainability board committee, and audited environmental metrics. More information is available at www.newsweek.com/green-2016/top-green-companies-world-2016.
About Sands China Ltd.
Sands China Ltd. (HKEx: 1928, Sands China or the Company) is a Cayman Islands registered company and is listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited. Sands China is the largest operator of integrated resorts in Macao. The Company's Cotai Strip portfolio is comprised of The Venetian® Macao, The Plaza™ Macao and Sands® Cotai Central. The Company also owns and operates Sands® Macao on the Macao peninsula. The Company's integrated resorts contain a diversified mix of leisure and business attractions and transportation operations, including large meeting and convention facilities, a wide range of restaurants, shopping malls, world-class entertainment at the Cotai Arena and The Venetian Theatre, and a high-speed Cotai Water Jet ferry service between Hong Kong and Macao. The Company's property development projects on Cotai have the goal of transforming it into Asia's premier entertainment and business destination. Sands China is a subsidiary of global resort developer Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE: LVS).
For more information, please visit www.sandschinaltd.com.
Media contacts:
Corporate Communications, Venetian Macau Limited
Mabel Wu
Tel: +853 8118 2268
Email: mabel.wu@sands.com.mo
Simpson Lei
Tel: +853 8118 2054
Email: simpson.lei@sands.com.mo
