Sustainable Business Awards

This award recognises businesses and initiatives that demonstrate efforts in reducing waste generation, promoting recycling, and implementing solutions for sustainable waste management practices. Businesses entering this category must showcase their implementation strategies and measurable results in minimising waste and resource recovery. Entries may encompass accomplishments in recycling and reprocessing systems, including mechanical and organic (composting) recycling methods, as well as implementing sustainable packaging solutions.

Finalists:

Camp Epic Marketing Solutions Private Limited - Mordialloc

The Mordi Canteen is a beacon of sustainability in the Kingston community. It redefines the café experience with a deep commitment to environmental responsibility. Our dedication to recycling, composting, and upcycling has minimised our environmental footprint and inspired our customers to adopt sustainable practices.

Complete Colour Printing Pty Ltd - Cheltenham

For 32 years, Complete Colour has been at the forefront of onshore environmentally responsible print technology in Australia, producing high-quality print in-house for our clients. Our focus is on delivering only the best in service, quality, and value in the most environmentally sustainable way possible within the industry. We strive to continually improve our performance and minimise environmental impact.

Purple Pear - Highett

Purple Pear is all about pallet recovery and redistribution. We pride ourselves on utilising timber material until it cannot be used. From that point, we then shred the material to prepare it as timber mulch, returning it to the start of the cycle. Our motto is "Wood is wood until it is not".

Soap Aid - Moorabbin

Soap Aid, founded in Melbourne in 2011, is Australia's only charity and social enterprise with a dual humanitarian and environmental mission to recycle waste soap and save lives. Our "Hotel to Hands Program" soap recycling program engages accommodation providers across Australia and New Zealand, collecting their used soap. Soap Aid sorts, cleans, and reprocesses it into fresh, hygienic soap bars for distribution to vulnerable communities with hygiene education.

This award recognises businesses that excel in supporting diversity and inclusion through workplace initiatives and/or programs. These businesses demonstrate the values and benefits of an inclusive workplace and work to achieve a more inclusive environment for staff and customers. Businesses nominated for this award have taken action to reduce barriers, enhance participation and ensure information, services and facilities are accessible and inclusive to everyone in our community. Workplace diversity and inclusion may refer to gender, age, LGBTIQA+, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD), people with a disability and First Nations engagement.

Finalists:

Live Safe Education - Moorabbin

LiveSafe Education provides personal safety education and self-defence training. Our social purpose is to make the physical and mental health benefits of our training accessible to everyone, regardless of income or psychological challenges. With each purchase, you're getting practical and effective personal safety training and contributing to allowing us to provide this same training to those who need it.

Not a Trace - Mordialloc

Not a Trace was established in 2009 and is a 100% Australian-owned, female-led family business with a mission to produce gluten-free and nut-free biscuits that rival the mainstream offering. We are proud that nearly 70% of our workforce comprises women, over a third of employees are aged 45+, and 80% come from CALD backgrounds. We are evidence that diversity and inclusion at all levels work and can be successful. Everyone is welcome at Not a Trace.

Party Higher - Moorabbin

Party Higher is dedicated to creating inclusive and accessible event experiences for all. Our initiative focuses on providing services that cater to all abilities, including the diverse needs of individuals from the Deaf, Blind, and Neurodiverse communities, ensuring their full participation in events. At Party Higher, inclusivity is not just a goal but a guiding principle that drives everything we do, making events truly accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

Emma Jae Custom Laser Designs - Chelsea Heights

Emma Jae Custom Laser Designs is familiar with uniqueness and neurodiversity. We are all about embracing uniqueness. We focus on "Custom", which is more than just a word; it's a commitment to tailoring every creation to suit your style and needs. We believe in celebrating the diversity of every human and crafting designs that resonate with your personality. We strive to support the individual. Simply put, we want children to feel supported with our educational tools.

This award recognises outstanding achievements by small to medium businesses that integrate environmental and/or social sustainability principles and practices into their business activities and policies. Entries into this category showcase their multifaceted contributions towards sustainability (and/or achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal). Examples include ethical sourcing, community engagement, circularity and biodiversity.

Finalists:

Braeside Brewing Co - Mordialloc

Braeside Brewing Co. is continually striving to improve its role in the environment through several initiatives, such as moving from labelled cans to printed cans (reducing paper waste), growing our own hops (reducing logistical and farming impacts), and recycling our spent grain to be used as cattle feed. As we grow our business, it is also our responsibility to be more environmentally sensible. 

Camp Epic Marketing Solutions Private Limited - Mordialloc

The Mordi Canteen is a beacon of sustainability in the Kingston community. It redefines the café experience with a deep commitment to environmental responsibility. Our dedication to recycling, composting, and upcycling has minimised our environmental footprint and inspired our customers to adopt sustainable practices.

Deidaa Pty Ltd - Carrum

At Deidaa, spreading the word about sustainability and artisan-made products goes hand in hand with creating and marketing eco-products. Learn with Samita, Deidaa's YouTube channel, decodes sustainability and enables consumers to make an informed choice, ultimately reducing the global impact of fast fashion. Deidaa products are made with natural materials, and the range of handcrafted clothing and household items are manufactured ethically and responsibly, minimising waste and pollution.

Geofabrics Australasia - Braeside

Geofabrics has been in the business of geosynthetic engineering and building critical infrastructure across Australasia for over 40 years. We collaborate with social enterprises and are committed to supporting local communities, creating jobs for Australians, and working with government agencies to drive positive environmental outcomes beyond our operations. We aim to help safeguard our environment for future generations.

Not a Trace - Mordialloc

Not a Trace was established in 2009 and is a 100% Australian-owned, female-led family business with a mission to produce gluten-free and nut-free biscuits that rival the mainstream offering. We are proud that nearly 70% of our workforce comprises women, over a third of employees are aged 45+, and 80% come from CALD backgrounds. We are evidence that diversity and inclusion at all levels work and can be successful. Everyone is welcome at Not a Trace.

This award celebrates organisations who are working towards net zero through improving efficiency, renewable energy production and carbon emission reduction. This can be through implementing innovative strategies, technologies, policy changes and supply chain transparency.

Finalists:

Amidata Limited - Highett

Amidata is an IT infrastructure services provider focusing on minimising hardware proliferation in businesses' premises. We efficiently use outside air to cool our systems, and the resultant hot air cools our offices. We also use refurbished computer hardware wherever possible to minimise the impact on landfills and mining raw materials.

Ego Pharmaceuticals - Braeside

Ego is working towards net zero emissions. On our journey, we have realised net zero is actually much more realistic and achievable than some people would have us believe. Being an energy-intensive manufacturing site means we're in one of the more difficult industries to move to net zero. We can show that it's not impossible and that Australian manufacturing can be competitive and sustainable. The future is bright, and it's exciting!

Fibrisol Service Australia Pty Ltd - Heatherton

Fibrisol Service Australia is the industry leader in providing innovative food ingredient solutions. The Heatherton manufacturing facility produces food ingredient blends for the meat, poultry, and seafood industries, as well as the dairy and bakery industries. In July 2023, a 100kW solar power generation system was installed to provide 25% of the site's electricity requirements.

Caspak Products Pty Ltd - Braeside

A core value of Caspak is sustainability, not just from an energy and product point of view but also in minimising food waste and reducing carbon emissions. We pride ourselves on using innovation (including a purpose-built facility and collaboration with our business partners to develop sustainable packaging solutions that extend shelf-life and reduce food waste, considering our impact on the environment along the way.

This award celebrates businesses who develop innovative products and technologies that have the potential of significantly addressing climate change mitigation, adaptation or resilience. Examples include solar panel production, energy storage solutions, water conservation and green building technologies, amongst many more. Start-ups are welcome to enter this category if they have preliminary results.

Finalists:

Quality Energy - Moorabbin

Quality Energy specialises in tailored energy solutions. We assist businesses in understanding their energy needs to help reduce running costs and the environmental impact of their operations. Our expertise lies in guiding companies through the complexities of power quality and energy efficiency management. With a dedicated team, we take pride in delivering tangible, long-standing results for our clients, driving our success over 35 years of service to businesses across Australia.

Casafico - Braeside

Ricc Mucci and his father founded Casafico two decades ago to tackle the waste crisis. Today, Casafico accepts waste from various sources and pioneers new materials like texture coatings, Venetian plaster and building blocks made from recycled glass. Our range offers a lighter, faster, and eco-friendly alternative, proudly manufactured in Kingston. With plans for mobile plants and a second factory, our legacy of sustainability and community impact continues to grow, ensuring an industry's sustainable future.

This award recognises young changemakers and innovators who have devised forward-thinking solutions that align with sustainable strategies and outcomes. These individuals can have their own business or initiative or be working for an employer on an initiative they have implemented in the last 2 years. Showcase how your passion and hard work have contributed towards progressing environmental and/or social sustainability.

Finalists:

Sarah Kokkinos - Mentone

Sarah Kokkinos is a young change-maker in the circular fashion industry. She saw a gap in the market for saving clothing in great condition from going to landfills, all while wanting to create a safe space where young females could find affordable outfits.

Hunter Markets is now renowned for being a fantastic place to shop secondhand. The passion Sarah has poured into her business is shown by the number of shoppers welcomed into her space on the weekends.

Razi Pilli - Moorabbin

As a self-defence instructor, I teach people to keep themselves safe, to avoid, prevent, and, if needed, escape from violence. My teaching has prevented violence and done wonders for mental and physical health. I am proud of the inclusive culture my teaching style has facilitated. I am also a Social Enterprise Development Officer working to protect the community we have built and ensure it is recognised as a good, wholesome place. Through this work, I seek to ensure its financial viability and sustainability.

Any business with an initiative that meets the award Eligibility Criteria is welcome to submit a nomination. This includes businesses of all sizes, educational organisations and not-for-profits.

Any individual can be nominated for Young Changemakers and Innovators category with an initiative that meets the award eligibility criteria.

Nominations for this year have now closed. 

An initiative is a specific project, product, program, system, mechanism, mindset or process implemented that has resulted in sustainable business practices.

The award winners will receive a trophy and certificate and numerous opportunities to market their businesses and initiatives.

Yes. Businesses of all sizes are eligible. Our nomination process is fair, transparent and independent of the business size.

The awards are free to enter.

2023

See the 2023 media release for more information on last year's winners.