WATER STEWARDSH I P Our strategy to preserve one of the planet’s most precious natural resources focuses on pursuing water efficiency, reuse and recycling, and protecting the water ecosystems surrounding our resorts. We are dedicated to using water wisely and safeguarding the waterways in our regions. Water is one of the resources most critical to our business. From showers in hotel rooms and drinking fountains in offices to our 200-plus restaurants that use water to clean, cook and serve guests, water is integral to delivering service to all who enter our resorts. Further, water is fundamental to building operations, from cooling systems to landscaping. Similar to energy, water consumption is strongly tied to guest visitation and hotel occupancy, which remained below normal levels last year due to the pandemic’s continuing impact. The pandemic also has necessitated practices that require more water for cleaning and sanitizing. Though water usage decreased by 31% in 2022, we remain vigilant in our strategies to conserve water and protect local waterways. Our AT A GL ANCE P I L L AR Planet APPROACH Water Stewardship Water Efficiency Upgrade fixtures and systems; enact water-conservation policies Water Reuse Increase use of nonpotable water Ecosystems Engage local communities to reinvigorate biodiverse ecosystems 2025 TARGETS 3% Reduction in potable water use per square foot from a 2019 baseline 202 2 PERFORMANCE 31% Reduction from baseline Achieved1 pathway to future progress includes enhancing accountability, driving behavior change and exploring other advanced infrastructure solutions to improve efficiency and increase reclamation. Accomplishments While we target water conservation projects in all segments of our business and with local communities, we made marked headway in a few key areas this past year. Internal practices: Reducing the water footprint in our restaurants was a significant focus. Efforts included integrating water-efficient fixtures and appliances and pinpointing areas for better water management. Marina Bay Sands installed water-efficient dishwashers in convention and hotel areas, as well as expanded its water-smart management program to 10 food venues. CATALYZ I NG COMMUN I T Y WATER I N I T I AT I VES Sands’ unique collaboration with Clean the World on the Drop by Drop Project supports water conservation programs via grants to local environmental organizations. In 2022, third-year grant recipient University of Saint Joseph (USJ) Macao continued its Drop by Drop work to preserve local wetlands through community-based education and awareness activities and scientific studies of mangroves’ ability to sequester carbon and remove microplastics from freshwater and marine waterways. USJ conducted exhibits and workshops to engage community members and assist teachers in educating students about the role mangroves play in ecological preservation. The next phase of mangrove studies focused on citizen-based research using local volunteers to collect soil and data samples for microplastic assessment and a field study utilizing smart wave sensors to understand the protection mangrove forests offer in response to severe weather events. In addition, USJ’s annual mangrove planting with Sands China TeamMembers established 1,000 seedlings along the coast of Taipa, Macao. 64 More information and data on water stewardship can be found in the Appendix on page 64. Practices include identifying water misuse – such as taps left running, leakages and damaged fixtures – and improving cleaning procedures to minimize consumption. Education and Engagement: With 36,000 global TeamMembers and over 4,000 suppliers and partners, providing water conservation education and engagement programs to the people who work for and with us can reverberate into our communities, impacting water use and protecting local waterways. In support, Sands China hosted its annual Green Products Roadshow onWorld Environment Day, enabling TeamMembers to purchase eco-friendly products from local SMEs, including purchases of water-savings products for home use. The company also provided free booth space for vendors to sell water-efficiency products at the annual Sands Shopping Carnival. 1 The operational downturn associated with the global pandemic positively impacted this result. 2022 ESG REPORT 18
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