Sustainable Business Awards
Next date: Wednesday, 28 August 2024 | 12:00 AM
Nominations for the Kingston Sustainable Business Awards 2024 are now open!
The Kingston Sustainable Business Awards recognise and celebrate the efforts made by businesses in Kingston to make the world a better and safer place.
Established as a platform for our business community, they’re an opportunity to showcase and celebrate achievements in a broad range of sustainable initiatives. Presented across six categories, the Awards enable businesses to select the category or categories that align best with their specific activities, initiatives and objectives.
We are pleased to announce Community Bank Parkdale as our major sponsor for the awards.
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Key dates
Nominations open: Monday 25 March 2024
Nominations close: Tuesday 30 April 2024
Awards Presentation Gala Event: Wednesday 28 August 2024
Categories
Category 1: Waste Reduction and Recycling Solutions
This award recognises businesses and initiatives that demonstrate efforts in reducing waste generation, promoting recycling, and implementing solutions for sustainable waste management practices. Businesses entering this category must showcase their implementation strategies and measurable results in minimising waste and resource recovery. Entries may encompass accomplishments in recycling and reprocessing systems, including mechanical and organic (composting) recycling methods, as well as implementing sustainable packaging solutions.
Category 2: Diversity and Inclusion
This award recognises businesses that excel in supporting diversity and inclusion through workplace initiatives and/or programs. These businesses demonstrate the values and benefits of an inclusive workplace and work to achieve a more inclusive environment for staff and customers. Businesses nominated for this award have taken action to reduce barriers, enhance participation and ensure information, services and facilities are accessible and inclusive to everyone in our community. Workplace diversity and inclusion may refer to gender, age, LGBTIQA+, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD), people with a disability and First Nations engagement.
Category 3: Small and Medium Business Leadership
This award recognises outstanding achievements by small to medium businesses that integrate environmental and/or social sustainability principles and practices into their business activities and policies. Entries into this category showcase their multifaceted contributions towards sustainability (and/or achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal). Examples include ethical sourcing, community engagement, circularity and biodiversity.
Category 4: Towards Net Zero 2030
This award celebrates organisations who are working towards net zero through improving efficiency, renewable energy production and carbon emission reduction. This can be through implementing innovative strategies, technologies, policy changes and supply chain transparency.
Category 5: Product Innovation and Technology
This award celebrates businesses who develop innovative products and technologies that have the potential of significantly addressing climate change mitigation, adaptation or resilience. Examples include solar panel production, energy storage solutions, water conservation and green building technologies, amongst many more. Start-ups are welcome to enter this category if they have preliminary results.
Category 6: Young Changemakers and Innovators
This award recognises young changemakers and innovators (under 30 years old) who have devised forward-thinking solutions that align with sustainable strategies and outcomes. These individuals can have their own business or initiative or be working for an employer on an initiative they have implemented in the last 2 years. Showcase how your passion and hard work have contributed towards progressing environmental and/or social sustainability.
Nomination form
Submit a nomination online, which can be saved at any time to complete later on.
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Referral form
If you know of a business, organisation or Young Changemaker paving the way for a more sustainable future, you can refer them for the Awards. They will receive an email informing them of the referral and details on how to submit their nomination.
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Nomination vs referral
A nomination is when you submit an award nomination for your own business/organisation (categories 1 to 5) or for yourself as an individual (category 6).
A referral is when you submit an online referral for a business/organisation that is not your own (categories 1 to 5) or for another individual (category 6).
Please note: Referring someone for an award does not automatically enter them into the awards. They will still need to formally apply themselves by filling out the online nomination form.
Eligibility
- Businesses/organisations must be registered within the City of Kingston, hold a registered ABN and have all required licences and permits relevant to their industry.
- Previous year's nominees and finalists are eligible to apply again.
- Previous year's winners are ineligible to apply for the same winning category again but can apply for a different category.
- A business can be nominated for one or more categories; however, each submission must be for an initiative related to that particular category. If a business wins a particular category, they will be ineligible to win in another category.
- For Young Changemakers and Innovators category, the nominated individual must be under 30 years old.
Judging panel
The judging process will be conducted by the Banksia Foundation, who have 35 years in conducting sustainability award programs. Banksia network of judges independently score and critique entries in categories relevant to their expertise. The Banksia Foundation's credibility rests on the fact that the judging process is independent, apolitical and not under the auspices of any organisation or association.
Frequently asked questions
Who is eligible to be nominated?
Any business with an initiative that meets the award Eligibility Criteria is welcome to submit a nomination. This includes businesses of all sizes, educational organisations and not-for-profits.
Any individual (under 30 years old) can be nominated for Young Changemakers and Innovators category with an initiative that meets the award eligibility criteria.
Can I nominate my own business?
Can I refer another business or individual for an award?
Yes, you can refer another business or individual for an award by filling out the online referral form.
Can a business be nominated under multiple categories?
Yes. You can nominate a business under one or more categories; however, each submission must be for an initiative related to that particular category. If a business wins a particular category, they will be ineligible to win in another category.
What is an initiative?
An initiative is a specific project, product, program, system, mechanism, mindset or process implemented that has resulted in sustainable business practices.
What are the prizes?
The award winners will receive a trophy and certificate and numerous opportunities to market their businesses and initiatives.
Are small businesses eligible?
Yes. Businesses of all sizes are eligible. Our nomination process is fair, transparent and independent of the business size.
Is there a cost to entry?
The awards are free to enter.
Who are the previous winners?
2023
See the 2023 media release for more information on last year's winners.
When
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Wednesday, 28 August 2024 | 12:00 AM