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.

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.

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.

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.

For nearly 50 years, the UQ Alumni Book Fair has been a shining example of community-driven sustainability. Run by dedicated volunteers, the annual event collects donated books from across Brisbane and beyond, giving them a second or third life while raising vital funds.

This year’s fair raised an incredible $250,000, which was reinvested into the university and community causes like flood recovery and library support. By promoting textbook reuse and reducing landfill, the group also supports organisations such as Correctional Services Queensland and international learning institutions. With weekly meetups and a strong culture of giving, the Book Fair continues to inspire education, connection, and environmental impact.

Launched in October 2024 by founder Melinda Adams, Harvest Cook Create is a thriving grassroots initiative that brings the community together to reduce waste and share homemade and homegrown treasures.

From surplus garden produce and baked goods to handmade crafts and upcycled creations, locals swap items with no money exchanged, just generosity and connection. Monthly events now attract 25–30 participants, and the group has grown to over 400 members in under a year. At its heart, the swap is about rethinking waste, giving new life to everyday items, and building a joyful, sustainable community, one jar of jam or macramé plant hanger at a time.

Suzon is a Brisbane-based “artivist” whose work blends art, science, and environmental activism through wearable art, bookmaking, photography, and immersive installations.

Her latest work, e-Galaxy, exhibited at the Queensland State Library in January 2025, transforms electronic waste into a captivating, interactive experience. Featuring miniatures, artist books, and video, the installation invites public participation while challenging throwaway culture and highlighting the environmental cost of our digital lives. All materials are locally sourced and returned to recycling partners after the event, continuing their journey.

Suzon’s work sparks reflection on sustainability through beauty, creativity, and community engagement.

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.

Sandgate Bottle & Can Exchange is a proudly family-owned container refund point that’s become a true sustainability hub for the local community.

Through the Containers for Change scheme, they’ve made recycling easy and rewarding, collecting over 13 million containers in the past year alone. More than 3 million of those came through their partnerships program, with funds donated to schools, charities, and community groups.

In 2025, they relaunched their schools program with new infrastructure and clearer processes, leading to a 300% increase in collections at some schools. Their work goes beyond recycling, supporting groups like Nourish Street and Rosies, and proving that environmental action can also strengthen the social fabric of Brisbane.

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.

Melissa’s mission is to transform fabric waste into beautiful, wearable pieces that inspire conscious living. Every item she creates is made exclusively from discarded and donated textiles, giving new life to materials that would otherwise end up in landfill.

By selling her designs at local Brisbane markets, Melissa avoids the traditional retail model, keeping her pieces affordable and ensuring sustainability is woven into every stage of the process. Her work sparks awareness, creativity, and conversation around sustainable fashion, offering unique designs that prove style and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand.

Diane, founder of Nothing New, turns second-hand garments and vintage fabrics into one-of-a-kind clothing pieces, sometimes even sourced from your granny’s linen cupboard!

What began as a post-retirement hobby has grown into a purposeful creative practice rooted in her lifelong love of sewing and concern for fast fashion’s environmental impact. Twice a week, Diane volunteers at a local charity shop, rescuing unsaleable textiles for repurposing.

Through market stalls and social media, she shares not just her garments, but the values behind them, encouraging others to rethink the true cost of clothing. Her upcycled designs celebrate individuality while promoting conscious, eco-friendly fashion.

This one-person startup is rethinking plant purchases by rescuing abandoned and pre-loved plants and rehoming them in handcrafted, heat-treated pallet pots, all from the back of a ute. The goal? Reduce landfill, carbon emissions, and green waste while giving people the joy of a green friend.

Each month, plants are saved from root-bound pots, landscaping changes, downsizing, or street abandonment. Instead of plastic pots, they’re placed in timber pallet boxes, some with jute handles, offering a sustainable, stylish alternative for eco-conscious buyers.

It’s a simple but powerful way to support net zero goals and promote circular thinking in everyday choices. One pallet and one plant at a time.

Kenmore State High School’s Environmental Club, The Kenmore Worms, is driving real change through hands-on sustainability projects. In 2025, students removed 140kg of rubbish from Moggill Creek, hosted a Fashion Swap that rehomed over 100 clothing items and planted 750 native plants to improve biodiversity and reduce runoff, with 70 more planned for Arbour Day.

The Worms also secured funding to install dual bin enclosures and launch a Containers for Change program, reducing landfill and generating funds for future environmental projects. This initiative is paired with a school-wide education campaign to teach students how to recycle effectively.

Each term, students take the lead in projects that protect waterways, reduce waste and promote sustainable living. It’s a powerful example of how student-led action can create lasting environmental impact, one creek, one classroom and one recycled item at a time.

Pallara State School is turning environmental education into everyday action. With over 1,350 students involved, the school’s sustainability program includes composting, worm farms, native gardens and productive gardening that supplies the tuckshop. Students collect food waste, recyclable containers, batteries and even used markers, learning by doing.

EcoMarines lead Wrapper-Free Wednesdays and ocean-friendly activities, while the Pallara Environment Education Program delivers lessons to younger students. Nestbox cameras and native bee hives help students explore local biodiversity and the role of pollinators.

These daily activities don’t just reduce waste, they build environmental awareness across all year levels. Students use real data from cleanups in subjects like Maths, English and HASS, linking sustainability to the curriculum. Pallara’s approach is practical, empowering and impactful, showing how schools can lead the way in shaping a greener future.

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.

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.

Avenues Early Learning Centre Runcorn Heights is embedding sustainability into everyday routines, with children leading the way. Each day, Kindy children act as Sustainability Officers, checking the weather, caring for plants and managing the worm compost bin. Food scraps are recycled, and worm juice is used in the garden or shared with families.

Creative reuse is everywhere: cardboard easels, rainwater collection and recycled materials turned into art. A fruit and vegetable swap helps families reduce food waste, while the centre’s Containers for Change program raises funds for the QLD Koala Society. Pre-loved clothing and toys are donated to 1World charity.

Learning often takes place outdoors to reduce energy use, and children explore recycling through projects and family adventures to local stations. Through daily action and community engagement, the centre is fostering environmental responsibility and showing that even small hands can make a big impact.

Little Birdie Hair Co is leading a zero-waste transformation in the hair industry, embedding sustainability into every service, supplier and system. Guided by its Green Promise, the salon has reduced colour waste from 37% to 12% using the Vish Colour System and installed Eco Heads to cut water use.

Hair clippings are composted locally, food waste is processed in a worm farm, and furniture is repurposed. The salon’s Eco Foils, made from recycled aluminium, support the Australian Koala Foundation with every box sold. Clients are rewarded for cycling to appointments and refilling retail products, while Eco Executives lead sustainability education across the team.

Each service also funds the planting of four native trees through Carbon Positive Australia, restoring land and offsetting emissions. Little Birdie Hair Co is proving that sustainable beauty is not only possible, it’s powerful.

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.

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.

Mother Duck Bracken Ridge is creating a cleaner, greener future through daily sustainability practices embedded across the centre. Children lead eco-friendly routines, caring for worm farms, compost bins, and bee hives, while families contribute through recycling stations, clothing exchanges, and the Containers for Change program, with funds donated to Warra Animal Shelter.

The centre reuses yoghurt pouches, transforms recycled materials into art, and harvests herbs for tea. Outdoor learning helps reduce energy use, supported by water-saving taps, energy-efficient lighting and reusable face washers. Partnerships with local councillor Sandy Landers and community charities strengthen the impact.

From infant rooms to kindy, children learn to care for the environment through hands-on experiences. Mother Duck Bracken Ridge is proving that sustainability can be woven into every part of early education, inspiring the next generation of environmentally conscious citizens.

Hyatt Regency Brisbane is leading with purpose, embedding sustainability into daily operations and earning EarthCheck Silver Certification in 2025. The hotel has eliminated plastic straws and dry-cleaning covers, and donates gently used towels, linen and lost property to Emmanuel City Mission.

Used soaps are recycled through Soap Aid, and bamboo room keys have replaced plastic, with guests encouraged to return them for reuse. Food waste is tracked and reduced using agile tech, while recycling partnerships cover bottles, cardboard, e-waste and batteries. All takeaway packaging is made from paper, straw, or wood and silver cutlery is used at events to avoid disposables.

The hotel also uses biodegradable cleaning supplies, recycled paper for internal documents and sustainable corporate gifts from local brands. Through thoughtful design and circular thinking, Hyatt Regency Brisbane is showing how hospitality can support both people and planet.

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.

Howard Smith Wharves (HSW) is rethinking hospitality through circular design and waste innovation. Over the past 36 months, the precinct has restored 1930s wharf materials into seating, bar fronts and playgrounds, reducing resource use and celebrating local heritage.

Across its 14 venues, brewery and hotel, HSW has implemented 18 waste diversion streams that now redirect over 96% of waste from landfill. These include food waste, glass, oyster shells, coffee cups, e-waste and soft plastics, each collected and treated separately for closed-loop outcomes.

HSW has also replaced single-use packaging with reusable seafood tubs, bulk wine and spirits and centralised brewing tanks, eliminating thousands of bottles and hundreds of truck movements annually. Through supplier collaboration, packaging take-back programs and precinct-wide coordination, HSW is proving that circularity isn’t just possible, it’s powerful.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Bloom Cycle is a Brisbane-based creative enterprise turning waste into wonder. By intercepting landfill-bound materials like timber offcuts, MDF and discarded acrylic from local manufacturers, they craft bespoke trophies, awards, and keepsakes that challenge the waste-heavy norms of traditional recognition products.

Their sustainable creations have been embraced by high-profile clients including ARIA, Government House Queensland and Melbourne Museum. Operating on circular economy principles, Bloom Cycle minimises resource use while maximising impact and storytelling. In 2025 alone, they diverted over 1,000kg of waste, delivered more than 120 awards and created inclusive employment opportunities for neurodivergent creatives.

Bloom Cycle doesn’t just make trophies, they redefine how success is celebrated, honouring both people and planet.

Project Yumi is a Brisbane-based not-for-profit committed to sustainability through circular economy practices.

By rescuing quality surplus resources such as school furniture, books, medical equipment and sporting goods, they’ve diverted over 500 tonnes of materials from landfill and redirected them to under-resourced communities in Papua New Guinea. In the past year alone, they’ve distributed 1 million resources, equipped 20 schools and engaged 189 volunteers in sorting and packing efforts. Their initiatives, including Project Skul and Project Meri, are supported by upcycling workshops, a paperless office and reuse of packing materials.

From recycling 3,000 plastic bottles to donating hundreds of clothing items, Project Yumi is creating meaningful change across borders while inspiring sustainable action at home.