2026 Bluebell Sustainable Business Award Winners
10 Sep 2026
The winners of the 2026 Bluebell Sustainable Business Awards have been announced.
ACT businesses are important climate action leaders in our community and play a vital role in helping to meet the ACT’s emissions reduction target of net zero emissions by 2045.
The Bluebell Sustainable Business Awards recognise the achievements of Canberra businesses, organisations and event organisers who are making an outstanding contribution to climate action in our community.
The awards celebrate achievements across 9 award categories. See the list of winners below.
| Categories | Winner | Project |
|---|---|---|
| Circular Economy Award | Bond Hair Religion | Leading circular economy practices in the hair and beauty industry by diverting more than 16 tonnes of salon waste from landfill, protecting waterways through specialised chemical recovery programs, and transforming used materials into valuable new products and community benefits. |
| Sustainable Event Award | The Forage | Reducing event waste through compostable packaging, food waste recovery and vendor sustainability requirements. Engaging vendors and patrons in responsible waste practices while working towards a fully compostable event. |
| Zero Emissions Transport Award | IES Automation | Supporting zero emissions transport through a growing electric vehicle fleet powered by a fully electric office, on-site solar generation and smart energy management systems. Over 18 tonnes of CO2 emissions offset over the past year with reduced reliance on grid electricity. |
| Energy Transition Award | National Museum of Australia | Transitioning a major cultural institution away from fossil fuels through the electrification of commercial kitchen and hot water systems, as well as major electrical infrastructure upgrades. Delivering significant emissions reductions while maintaining operational performance and visitor experience. |
| Community Impact Award | Woden Valley Early Learning Centre | Fostering community-led sustainability through clothing reuse programs, environmental education, and advocacy for children's connection with nature. Building community capability through free resources, training and practical sustainability initiatives. |
| Sustainable Small Business of the Year | Sweet Bones Bakery Cafe | Demonstrating sustainable small business leadership through community food waste composting, packaging reduction initiatives and creative food repurposing practices. Supporting local suppliers and empowering customers to adopt low-waste, sustainable lifestyles through education and community programs. |
| Corporate Climate Leader Award | Canberra Southern Cross Club | Modelling sustainable hospitality at a large scale through renewable energy, waste reduction, water conservation and responsible sourcing initiatives across multiple venues. Using its scale and influence to drive climate action among staff, members, suppliers and the wider community. |
| Corporate Climate Leader Award | Two Before Ten | Embedding sustainability throughout all stages of business, from the adaptive reuse of buildings and sustainable fitouts to responsible sourcing, urban farming and circular economy initiatives. Leading emissions reduction through waste diversion, regenerative food production and practical climate action. |
| Innovation Excellence Award | Little National Hotel | Innovating sustainable hospitality through the Lower Emissions Stay program, which rewards guests for opting out of daily housekeeping and single-use amenities to reduce water, energy and waste. Combining guest engagement, operational savings and university-led research to create a scalable model for lower-emissions accommodation. |
| Minister’s Award for Leadership | Chris Dennis (Two Before Ten) | Demonstrating outstanding sustainability leadership through urban farms that turn 10 tonnes of organic waste into compost annually, responsible sourcing initiatives and circular economy practices that prevent thousands of single-use products from entering landfill. Creating environmental and community benefits through practical, business-wide climate action. |
The ACT Government offers a range of programs for businesses to help you save money and reduce emissions. Learn more about how you can make your business more sustainable.
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