Celebrating Kingston’s outstanding business community
Published on 29 August 2024
Kingston’s outstanding business community was the toast of the evening as the best of the best were celebrated at the Kingston Sustainable Business Awards gala event last night.
Six outstanding businesses took home trophies. There were 21 finalists for the awards, showcasing the broad dedication and commitment of the Kingston business community to sustainable practices.
Mayor Jenna Davey-Burns said Kingston is the only council in Victoria that delivers an awards program primarily focussed on sustainability in business and we are proud to have incredible businesses in our city who are paving the way for a sustainable future.
“We have a remarkably innovative and diverse business community and it’s vital we recognise and applaud those businesses and individuals making the world a better place.
“Last night was a terrific celebration and acknowledgement of those leading the way in environmental and ethical practices and a great chance to hear about the innovation and leadership all our finalists are bringing to their work.”
Supported by Community Bank Parkdale, the event demonstrated Kingston's commitment to sustainability across all sectors and featured a keynote address from the CEO of Sustainability Victoria, Matt Genever.
Every aspect of the evening exemplified sustainability, from the use of eco-friendly materials, to reduced carbon footprint, taking a digital approach, to local sourcing.
Winners of the Kingston Sustainable Business Awards 2024
Small and Medium Business Leadership - Not a Trace
Not a Trace is a 100% Australian-owned family business, established in 2009, which produces gluten-free and nut-free biscuits that rival mainstream offerings. They are a women-led business which actively promote gender equality and diversity, with nearly 70% of their workforce being women, over a third aged 45+, and 80% from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
They have made significant strides in sustainability, including reducing their CO2 emissions by 13% in FY22/23 and are on track to achieve net zero emissions by 2027. Not a Trace is the first food manufacturing business in Australia to sign the UN's Women's Empowerment Principles. They have Sedex SMETA 4 Pillar certification which shows their dedication to environmental performance, alongside labour standards, health and safety, and business ethics.
Product Innovation and Technology – Casafico
Casafico has pioneered sustainability in construction by crafting premium building products. Unlike traditional methods, they minimise environmental impact by sourcing aggregates from recycled materials like polystyrene, glass, and paper, diverting tons of waste from landfills.
Their range offers an eco-friendly alternative for the construction industry, proudly manufactured in Kingston for over two decades. This family business prioritises innovation and community engagement. They also focus on training the next generation, ensuring a sustainable future for the industry.
The Casafico range is made up of walls, blocks, panels and coating materials, ultimately to be used in collaboration with one another to construct an entirely sustainable dwelling. They accept waste from various sources and pioneer new materials like texture coatings, venetian plaster and building blocks made from recycled glass.
Waste Reduction and Recycling Solutions - Soap Aid
Soap Aid was founded in 2011 and is Australia's only charity and social enterprise with a dual humanitarian and environmental mission to recycle waste soap and save lives. Soap Aid is a circular economy soap recycling program that engages with accommodation providers across Australia and New Zealand.
They collect used soap to sort, clean and reprocess it into fresh, hygienic soap bars for distribution to vulnerable communities. So far, they have distributed 3 million bars of soap worldwide which is equivalent to 300 tonnes of soap saved from landfill.
Diversity and Inclusion - Emma Jae Custom Laser Designs
Emma Coates, owner of Emma Jae Custom Laser Designs, has won the Diversity and Inclusion Award for her dedication to supporting neurodivergent individuals through innovative, personalised educational tools. Emma’s firsthand experience inspired her to create products like the Desk Visual Schedule, which helps students manage their daily routines with reduced stress and anxiety.
Her commitment to inclusivity and sustainability is evident in her use of durable, custom-made materials, ensuring each product meets specific needs while minimising waste. Emma aims to see her tools in every school, empowering neurodivergent children to thrive educationally and socially.
Young Changemakers and Innovators - Razi Pilli
Razi Pilli is a young changemaker influencing organisations in the social enterprise sector. Razi is a Social Enterprise Development Officer, working with businesses to understand the benefits of becoming a social enterprise.
Razi is also a self-defence instructor for a social enterprise. He teaches people to keep themselves safe by avoiding, preventing, and if needed, escaping from violence. His teaching has helped many with their mental and physical health and he supports an inclusive culture in his teaching.
Towards Net Zero – Caspak
Caspak minimises food waste and reduces carbon emissions by producing eco-friendly packaging solutions. They work with their customers to develop sustainable packaging solutions that extend shelf-life and reduce food waste. Their recent solutions include a recyclable and compostable bamboo fibre tray.
Sustainability was also at the forefront of the design of their new purpose-built facility in Braeside, installing a massive 130-kilowatt solar PV system and incorporated technology, such as automatic lighting and sensor taps to help conserve resources and further build on their commitment to reduce their overall impact to the environment. They have also installed electric charging stations in the building.