Now in its 21st year, Victoria’s annual sustainability awards program celebrates the achievements of businesses, local governments and communities leading the way in sustainability.

The Premier’s Sustainability Awards has six categories that are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Categories include:

• Circular Economy Innovation
• Future Energy
• Waste and Recycling Solutions
• Healthy and Fair Society
• Thriving Environment
• Sustainable Places.

Among the nominees include Victorian Chamber members (in alphabetical order): Earthwatch Institute, Fresh Select, Racking Supply Australia and Sisterworks.

Earthwatch Institute

Category: Thriving environment

Earthwatch Australia’s Kids Teaching Kids Distinctive Areas and Landscapes (DAL) program works with students and teachers across Victoria promoting environmental behaviour change and sustainability action projects that protect the environment and environmentally and culturally significant spaces.

Students are brought together through field-based experiential learning and networking at regional conferences to present environmental peer-teaching workshops and do citizen science, championing 129 environmental action projects across regional Victoria.

Fresh Select (Aust) and Nutri V

Category: Circular economy innovation

Nutri V, a collaboration between fresh-produce supplier Fresh Select and the CSIRO, turns surplus vegetables that would otherwise go to waste on farms into vegetable powders and snacks, giving food waste a second life and farmers an additional revenue stream.

In just the first five months of operation, Nutri V diverted 18 tonnes of vegetables from landfill and added 150,000 serves of vegetables into the supply chain.

Racking Supply Australia

Category: Waste and recycling solutions

Racking Supply Australia’s EcoRackRevive repurposes commercial pallet racking and shelving, diverting steel and wood from landfills and recycling to extend the lifespan of racking materials by reclaiming and reselling them, minimising the need for new production and reducing waste.

EcoRackRevive creates a market for repurposed racking and shelving and encourages businesses and individuals to embrace sustainable waste management. It formed strategic partnerships with recycling facilities and businesses that enhance the project’s efficiency and impact, taking a collaborative approach to sustainable waste recovery and reduction.

SisterWorks

Category: Waste and recycling solutions

SisterWorks’ Upcycled Banners Project is a collaboration with the City of Melbourne, Kathmandu, Gazman, Vandal, and Good Thing Productions that upcycles advertising banners into tote bags to be resold to the public, promoting sustainable waste practices.

This project also teaches migrant, refugee, and asylum-seeker women employability skills and helps them gain valuable Australian work experience in a safe environment. The project also raises awareness among the organisations that donate the materials and the customers that purchase the upcycled products.

The Premier’s Sustainability Awards ceremony will be held on Thursday 23 November in Melbourne. For further information visit Premier’s Sustainability Awards 2023 finalists.

Victorian Chamber advocacy

At the Victorian Chamber, we are committed to work in partnership with the business community and state government to achieve the state’s ambitious goal of 95 per cent renewable energy use by 2035.

This year we launched a campaign to support businesses’ transition to a net-zero economy, Achieving a Net-Zero Economy: Roadmap for Victorian Businesses.

By providing businesses with the support they need, we can create a more sustainable future and unlock new economic opportunities for our state.