WINNER

AES Jindalee has set a new standard for sustainability in emergency veterinary care. In partnership with Vets for Climate Action, the team undertook a comprehensive review of their hospital’s environmental impact - looking at everything from water and electricity use to waste, anaesthetic gas emissions, and procurement.

This led to the introduction of new recycling streams for clinical, organic, and electronic waste, as well as a switch to compostable alternatives for high-use items like absorbent pads. Sustainability is now part of daily life at AES Jindalee, with every team member involved in rethinking how resources are used and sourced.

Their innovative approach has not only reduced waste and resource use on site, but has also inspired a repeatable model now being adopted across AES’s national network of 10 hospitals and 830+ staff. AES Jindalee proves that even in a fast-paced, 24/7 emergency setting, climate-conscious care is possible—and can lead the way for others.

WINNER

My Green Stuff is a local eco-store making sustainability simple and accessible. They stock reusable products like coffee cups, lunch boxes, and bamboo toothbrushes—all to help reduce single-use plastic. They also stock a wide range of products made from recycled materials.

But they go beyond retail, acting as a community recycling hub for hard-to-recycle items including plastic bread tags, phone cases, old glasses, x-rays, old pens, blister packs, plastic milk bottle lids and even wine corks and screw tops. Partnering with organisations like Aussies Bread Tags for Wheelchairs, Rotate, Lions Club, Boe Design and Dan Murphy’s Recycling Program, My Green Stuff is turning everyday waste into new opportunities, proving that small actions can make a big impact.

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Jennifer Webber is a passionate volunteer who has transformed waste management at Soul Op Shop & Espresso. Faced with a high volume of unsellable donations, Jennifer developed a comprehensive recycling and waste diversion system that has kept approximately 3,000kg of waste out of landfill this year alone.

She created a centralised sorting station, built partnerships with specialist recycling organisations, and trained over 20 volunteers in sustainable practices, building long-term capacity within the team. Jennifer also introduced a coffee cup recycling program in the café, diverting over 1,000 cups in just six months. With over 500 hours of volunteer time contributed, Jennifer’s leadership is making sustainability second nature in her community.

WINNER

Reverse Garbage Queensland is a not-for-profit, worker-run cooperative based in Woolloongabba that champions sustainability through creative reuse. By collecting high-quality industrial discards like timber, metal, fabric, and plastics from local businesses, they divert around 50 tonnes of materials from landfill each year and make them available to the community at low cost.

But their impact goes far beyond reuse. Through over 100 workshops, educational tours, and pop-up events, they teach schools, early learners and the public how to turn waste into art, repairs, and practical creations. Their Reverse Emporium gift shop supports local artists using upcycled materials, and their mail-order kits bring reuse into homes across Queensland.

Reverse Garbage is a vibrant hub for environmental education, creativity, and community action.

WINNER

Driven by a passion for sustainability, Pam Ruggles, a Teacher Aide at Carina State School, founded the school’s first Environmental Club, turning a vision into action with strong community support and a successful grant. Pam established a composting hub accessible to both students and families, and led a series of impactful waste reduction initiatives.

In just two years, students have planted over 200 native trees, repurposed broken crayons into welcome gifts, and raised funds through Containers for Change to support their thriving garden. Through partnerships with Officeworks and Terracycle, the school diverted over 13kg of used pens from landfill. Pam’s greatest achievement? A dramatic drop in food waste, from 41% to just 1.1%, thanks to composting and education.

Pam's leadership has created lasting change and inspired a new generation of eco-conscious students.

WINNER

Claudia Williams is a multidisciplinary artist who transforms waste into wonder. For over 25 years, she’s inspired communities to see discarded materials as creative opportunities, crafting artworks, costumes and garments that celebrate reuse.

In the past year, Claudia has engaged over 1,000 participants through hands-on workshops at Brisbane Festival, Westfield Chermside and schools across Brisbane and Gladstone. Her programs, including work with The Smith Family, teach participants to source materials from places like The Nest Community and Reverse Garbage, building creative confidence and sustainable thinking.

Claudia’s work blends artistry, education, and environmental impact—proving that imagination is a powerful tool for change.

WINNER

Everton Park State School is making sustainability part of the everyday with its re-launched Waste Warriors program. Led by four EcoMarines Ambassadors and supported by staff, the initiative re-educated over 560 students on how to reduce, reuse, and recycle, all through daily action. One standout success was the introduction of waste-free lunches, which helped cut the school’s rubbish output to just two bags per week.

By promoting environmental responsibility and empowering students to lead by example, the program is helping reduce landfill, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and protect natural ecosystems. It’s a simple but powerful way to build long-term habits and create a cleaner, more conscious school community. One lunchbox and one student at a time, Everton Park is showing how small changes can make a big impact.

WINNER

Avenues Early Learning Centre Paddington is building a culture of sustainability through daily zero-waste practices involving children, educators, and families. With around 200 participants, the initiative encourages environmental awareness and positive habits that extend into homes and the wider community.

Families donate unwanted clothes and food to support those in need, while surplus materials from local businesses are repurposed for craft and play. Household items are reused creatively, helping reduce landfill and promote resourcefulness. Children engage in hands-on learning that shows how everyday waste can be transformed into something useful.

By embedding sustainability into daily routines, the centre is fostering conscious choices and community connection, proving that even small actions can make a big impact.

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Boe Design is reshaping how we think about waste with the Vera Panel™, a plywood alternative made from post-consumer recycled plastic. Produced at their solar-powered facility, Vera Panels have helped divert over 100,000 plastic bottle caps from landfill and are now used in large-scale furniture and construction projects across Queensland.

To scale operations, Boe Design has developed a machine-vision system that autonomously sorts plastic caps by material and colour, attracting interest from Intel Corporation. Their community initiative, Rubbish Club, has cleaned 167 city blocks with 418 participants, combining environmental action with social connection.

Through workshops, university partnerships and circular design education, Boe Design is building a culture where waste is seen as a valuable resource. It’s a powerful example of how innovation, community and sustainability can come together to drive real change.

WINNER

Love Me Again Market is a female-owned Brisbane business making circular fashion mainstream. Hosting weekly events in Milton and Morningside, and monthly in Hamilton, the market provides everything sellers need, racks, signage and change rooms, to make sustainable fashion easy and accessible.

With over 600 shoppers and 50+ sellers each weekend, the market has built a strong community of 45,000 followers. In FY24/25, it raised $18,765 for BeyondDV and donated 255 tubs of clothing to local op shops.

The Rent A Rack service allows sellers to consign items with ease, while the Charity Rack raises funds weekly. Love Me Again Market is changing the stigma around pre-loved fashion and proving that sustainability can be stylish, community-driven, and generous.

WINNER

W Brisbane is leading a hotel-wide sustainability program that blends luxury with environmental responsibility. From daily operations to long-term planning, the hotel has embedded waste reduction and resource efficiency across all departments.

Highlights include a Containers for Change program expected to divert 250,000 containers annually, and a partnership with OzHarvest to donate surplus food. Non-donatable food is processed onsite into organic matter for local farms. The hotel has eliminated single-use plastics at events, adopted non-toxic E-Water cleaning solutions and introduced linen-free conferencing and reuse programs to save water and energy.

Paperless systems, multi-stream recycling and upcycled tableware in the signature restaurant reflect a circular approach. Even the cocktail menu features repurposed ingredients for zero-waste luxury. Through education, innovation and collaboration, W Brisbane is showing how sustainability can elevate the guest experience — not compromise it.

WINNER

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary’s most impactful sustainability initiative is its closed-loop eucalyptus plantation and leaf reuse system. With over 100 koalas consuming up to 600 grams of leaf daily, the sanctuary harvests half a tonne of eucalyptus from its own plantations, home to more than 80,000 trees, eliminating the need for external sourcing.

Each day, uneaten leaves and branches are repurposed for animal enrichment or mulched to support garden beds, improving soil health and reducing water use. This circular approach ensures nothing goes to landfill and reinforces Lone Pine’s commitment to biodiversity and environmental responsibility.

In November 2024, Lone Pine partnered with By.Artisans to create a premium botanical gin using unused eucalyptus leaves, a creative extension of their sustainability efforts that connects conservation with community engagement.

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Finn Biogas is a Sumner-based engineering company turning organic waste into clean energy through innovative waste-to-energy solutions. Their newly launched Composting Trial Site showcases the Compost-o-Pods Micro system; a compact, in-vessel composting technology designed for rapid, efficient processing of food and garden organics.

Capable of handling around 200 tonnes of organic waste annually, the system includes advanced features like shredding, odour control, leachate management, compost screening and full process automation via an integrated SCADA system. It’s a smart, scalable solution for urban composting.

With this trial, Finn Biogas is proving that sustainability and engineering go hand in hand. Their work is helping communities rethink waste, turning what was once a problem into a clean, local resource.

WINNER

Eat Street Northshore, Queensland’s iconic dining destination, is redefining sustainability in hospitality. Operated by Northshore Street Food and Art Markets Pty Ltd, the venue features over 170 repurposed shipping containers and 60 unique traders, all committed to reducing environmental impact.

A key innovation is the on-site hydroponic farm, supplying fresh, insecticide-free herbs to vendors while cutting transport emissions. Since 2018, Eat Street has implemented a robust waste management strategy that includes compostable serveware, recycling programs, and creative reuse of materials like polystyrene boxes, glass jars and food scraps, all redirected to local gardeners, farmers and makers.

By removing general waste bins and educating vendors, the venue has significantly reduced landfill contributions. Eat Street Northshore proves that large-scale hospitality can deliver world-class experiences while leading with practical, community-driven sustainability.

WINNER

Meat at Billy’s, an independent Brisbane butcher with two stores and an online delivery service, is leading the way in sustainable food delivery.

In 2024, they launched The NoStyro Project to tackle the industry’s persistent problem of Styrofoam waste. At the heart of this initiative is the ChillyBilly, a reusable cooler made in Australia from recycled plastic, fully recyclable at end of life, and proudly featuring Meat at Billy’s signature colours. Unlike traditional coolers, the ChillyBilly is seamlessly integrated into every aspect of their business, making re-use simple and scalable.

Customers pay a small one-off fee, then swap their ChillyBilly at each delivery, eliminating single-use polystyrene from the process. This closed-loop system is a practical, innovative solution that’s turning a major waste stream into a zero-waste success story, proving that sustainability and convenience can go hand in hand.