2011 Finalists

2011 finalists

Congratulations to the finalists in the 2011 Premier’s Sustainability Awards. They’ve taken a creative approach to improving business efficiency while reducing their everyday environmental impact.

Built Environment Award

  • antarctica Group Pty Ltd Architects

In May 2010, Melbourne architectural practice, antarctica, designed a new indoor warm water facility at Knox Leisureworks which combines a suite of environmentally sustainable technologies, from sophisticated energy micro-generation and heating systems to solid, simple principles of good insulation and natural ventilation.

  • VicUrban, Burbank

VicUrban and volume builder Burbank partnered to develop Habitat21 – Centre for New Living, a ground-breaking demonstration centre showcasing six architect-designed, 7 Star energy efficient homes – 30% smaller than the average volume built product. Habitat21 is a place to experience new approaches to architect-designed housing that support more compact, affordable and sustainable living.

Community Award

  • EW Tipping Foundation

EW Tipping Foundation’s SustainAbility Stars is a hands-on program focussing on social and environmental outcomes that achieve reductions in utility consumption and waste while making a difference in the lives of people with a disability. The program empowers people with a disability and their support staff to lead change in the community by participating in their household sustainability program.

  • Heyfield Community Resource Centre

The Heyfield Community Resource Centre is committed to progressing Heyfield to a “Sustainable Smart Town”. It has been successful in engaging over 25% of the township in a sustainable program for a year resulting in them becoming more aware of sustainability and the environment, and installing solar power.

Large Business Award

  • AGL

During 2009/2010 AGL launched the Applied Economic and Policy Research Working Paper Series. Designed to provide critical analysis of energy market trends and policy settings for industry stakeholders and policy makers, the education and engagement tool has been successfully used with employees, industry stakeholders, governments and non-government organisations.

  • Grocon

Grocon, has embedded Corporate Sustainability throughout the company and within all it does by its four core values: safety, (environmental) sustainability, community and innovation. The values are realised in the projects it delivers, thereby extending to its customers, tenants, industry partners and the general public who use the buildings in one way or another every day.

Local Government Award

  • Manningham City Council

Manningham City Council’s ‘Doncaster Hill Innovative Water Solutions’ project demonstrates the strategic ‘Manningham approach’ to engage partners and implement sustainability within the Doncaster Hill Principal Activity Centre. The project’s Integrated Water Management Plan responds to local planning and infrastructure needs and broader environmental outcomes.

  • MWH, Latrobe City Council

In 2009, Latrobe City Council commissioned MWH to develop a strategy to enable the region to optimise its transition to a low carbon economy. In April 2010, the Council adopted and began implementing the carbon reduction policy to provide the greatest opportunity for a successful community outcome.

Product or Services Award

  • Closed Loop

Closed Loop manufacture purpose built, high quality recyclable packaging. Their Closed Loop programs maximise landfill diversion by taking their packaging back to be remanufactured into new end use products. In 2010-2011 Closed Loop launched waste conversion technology that allows onsite accelerated composting for food waste and biodegradable packaging, reducing volume by up to 90% in 24 hours.

  • Instyle Contract Textiles

Instyle Contract Textiles is a textiles supplier committed to reducing their environmental impact. Their initiatives include the release of LIFE Textiles®, Australia’s first sustainable textile collection to address the entire production lifecycle, sourcing wool from non-mulesed sheep and developing a polyester substitute for screen fabrics made from wood pulp.

Small Business Award

  • Espresso Syndicate

Espresso Syndicate integrates sustainability into its business every day, delivering premium coffee while minimising their environmental impact. Believers in organic farming practices, they only buy coffee which meets their criteria for social and environmental responsibility, quality and unique flavour.

  • Original Foods Sustainable Catering

Committed to a whole-of-business focus on sustainability, Original Foods Sustainable Catering provides nutritious, whole foods and uses suppliers who grow and raise pure, unadulterated ingredients and who similarly understand the importance of reducing their environmental footprint.

State Government Award

  • Department of Health

A suite of initiatives are underway across the Department of Health to embed sustainability within the delivery of health services. From 2005/06 to 2009/10 it is estimated that energy intensity across the public health care portfolio reduced by 3.3% per square metre and 6.6 % per separation. Water use across the health portfolio reduced by 14 %.

  • Eastern Health

Eastern Health identified the need to quantify and reduce waste for both environmental and economic reasons. Through identification and streaming over and above landfill and co-mingle recycling, a strategy was developed to allow Eastern Health to maximise the re-use of otherwise discarded materials, stream to specialist recycling providers and minimise landfill.

Tertiary Education Award

  • Sunraysia Institute of TAFE

The SuniTAFE philosophical approach to sustainability was developed in consultation with the management team in 2009 – Acting today: conserving tomorrow. The TAFE recognises its responsibility to provide education and training in the conservation of natural resources. Under the umbrella of the ‘Sustainability at SuniTAFE initiative’ significant outcomes for the Institute and the regional community have been achieved.

  • Wodonga Institute of TAFE

Wodonga Institute of TAFE recently undertook an multi-disciplined and multi-faceted holistic approach to achieve the sustainability goals and objectives identified in its strategic planning. This initiative led to a more sustainable campus and to vital additional executive support and leadership, allowing the establishment of its Centre for Sustainable Skills (CSS) to easily facilitate and measure its success in embedding sustainability.

Past Winners

View past winners and learn how winning a Premier’s Sustainability Award helped their business.