The Climate Choices Business Awards, awarded today, recognise Canberra businesses for their sustainability achievements.

“These awards celebrate community leaders in climate action, recognising their efforts and the work they do to inspire others to make change,” Shane Rattenbury, ACT Minister for Water, Energy and Emissions Reduction, said.  

“Every business, no matter how small, can take meaningful steps to respond to climate change. These actions often also result in cost savings on energy bills.

“From circular-economy champions to early adopters of Zero Emissions Vehicle technology, Canberra businesses are taking action on climate change in innovative and proactive ways.”

The 2023 Climate Choices business award winners are:

• Zero Emissions Early Movers – Nordic Blinds

Nordic Blinds use a fleet of three vehicles to service Canberra, Sydney, and the region. At home, the vehicles are charged from solar panels. Staff advocate the benefits of electric vehicles 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 needed to buy an electric vehicle. ActewAGL Retail would like to see a quarter of Canberra households driving an EV by 2030.

“ActewAGL is proud to have produced the first-of-its-kind evHub to support customers in the transition to zero emissions driving and is proud to be contributing to a more sustainable transport future for our local region,” said Rachael Turner, ActewAGL’s general manager retail. “Our community goal of seeing a quarter of Canberra households driving an EV by 2030, and providing the means and solutions for Canberrans to get there, demonstrates the important role we, as a local organisation, play in enabling a sustainable future for our community.”

• Energy Star – The RUC Turner Bowls Club

The RUC has refurbished its energy and water systems to reduce its environmental impact. The business 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 Sgroi 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 electric vehicle ready. They share 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 – 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

Mr Diesendorf 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.

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

Mr Diesendorf 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.

Mr Diesendorf Thor donates 10 per cent 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, Mr Diesendorf’s commitment to sustainability is evident in all aspects of his business.

(Descriptions taken from ACT Government’s Climate Choices website.)

The annual event received a record number of nominations from a diverse group of businesses, Mr Rattenbury said.

“The quality and quantity of nominations show that Canberra businesses are thinking seriously about how they can provide products and services to the community in a more sustainable way.”

“Many of the businesses who nominated for awards … have participated in the ACT Government Sustainable Business Program. The program is designed to help businesses move towards environmentally sustainable practices, such as reducing energy and water usage.

“I look forward to continuing to support ACT businesses that are making inspiring changes to reduce their impacts on the environment.”