Local businesses recognised with Climate Choices business awards

Category

Business/Event

Zero Emissions Early Movers

Nordic Blinds

Nordic Blinds have a fleet of three vehicles which they use to service Canberra, Sydney and the region. At home, the vehicles are charged from solar panels. Staff advocate the benefits of EVs to their customers. Nordic Blinds offsets travel miles from their imported blinds and recycle their packaging. They aim to reduce the carbon footprint of the business in all areas of its operation.

Zero Emissions Early Movers

ActewAGL Retail

ActewAGL Retail aims to make finding, financing, and charging an EV as easy as possible. Their online EV Hub is the first of its kind in Australia. It brings together all the information you need to buy an EV. ActewAGL Retail would like to see a quarter of Canberra households driving an EV by 2030.

Energy Star

The RUC

The RUC has refurbished its energy and water systems to reduce its environmental impact. The business has installed rainwater tanks to provide water for irrigation and toilets. It generates its own electricity with a 100KW solar system. In the future, the power supply could help the club transition off gas. The RUC has upgraded to more efficient lighting, cool rooms, and heating and cooling. The business is also looking into installing EV chargers.

Waste Minimisation

Thor’s Hammer

Thor’s Hammer diverts hundreds of tonnes of timber from demolition sites each year. They transform the waste into a resource which they can upcycle into furniture. They even upcycle the waste they create in the workshop, right down to the wood shavings. They use recyclable and recycled packaging for their environmentally sustainable products. Beyond their core business they have implemented organic waste management in their office.

Sustainable Event

Conservation Council ACT – CBR360 Circular Economy Symposium

This event exemplified circular economy principles in action. Organisers avoided event-specific merchandise and opted for electronic rather than printed materials. The locally sourced catering was free of plastic. These choices minimised waste from the event. Food waste from the event was composted locally. Attendees were encouraged to use active and public transport to get to and from the event. These measures reduced emissions from the event. Organisers partnered with local companies as much as possible to support the event.

Sustainable Small Business of the Year

Car Mechanical Services

Raffy and her team at Car Mechanical Services have implemented various sustainability initiatives. Their Friday pizza nights are a social occasion where mechanics dismantle car parts for recycling. They are a plastic- and disposable-free workplace. They even provide a drop-off point for many recyclable items. To prevent plastic oil containers being made and going to landfill, the business provides refills for customers. The business is adapting its workshop and training staff to be EV ready. They're sharing their innovation with others in the automotive industry.

Corporate Climate Leader

Urban Education Early Learning Centre

The Urban Education Early Learning Centre (ELC) puts sustainability at the forefront of everything they do. They have upgraded their heating and cooling system, saving money and carbon emissions. They use biodegradable wipes and modern cloth nappies. This has saved thousands of disposable nappies from landfill. The Centre also runs programs that support and encourage collaboration with the local community.

Innovation Excellence

Anglican Diocesan Services

Anglican Diocesan Services built a mobile health clinic to support young people in Canberra. The mobile clinic, constructed in a commercial van, is the first of its kind in Australia. An innovative setup powers the clinic’s equipment with a battery and inverter/charger system. The system allows the clinic to operate without producing any greenhouse gas emissions.

Anglican Diocesan Services has also established a Climate Committee and is developing a Climate Change Action Plan. These initiatives will help achieve the Anglican Church’s commitment of zero emissions by 2040.

Minister’s Award for Leadership

Thor Diesendorf, Thor’s Hammer

Thor established his business with a simple mission: to make high-quality furniture and increase the community's appreciation of recycled timber. This mission has grown a circular solution that diverts more than 1,000 tonnes of timber waste from landfill each year.

Thor's business also diverts its own timber waste from landfill. Environmentally friendly fire briquettes are made with shavings from the workshop floor.

Thor is working to electrify his business. He has installed a 60kW solar system. Forklifts in the workshop are electric and the timber is dried in a solar-powered kiln.

Sustainable packaging is made from particleboard reject sheets and second-hand pallets. Pallet wrap is made from compostable potato starch instead of plastic.

Thor donates 10% of profits to a range of charities. He chooses charities that are committed to environmental restoration and climate action.

From products to processes and profits, Thor’s commitment to sustainability is evident in all aspects of his business.