Any business wanting to switch on savings should get on to Actsmart quick sharp.

More than 17 businesses, of all shapes and sizes, proved the value of making that simple connection at last week’s Actsmart Business Sustainability Awards.

This is the eighth year these awards have been held to recognise outstanding sustainability contributions by businesses accredited by Actsmart. The achievements of the winners presented proved how businesses are improving their bottom line with better waste management and recycling, as well as more efficient energy and water use—in some cases by whopping amounts.

 

 

Actsmart is the ACT Government’s sustainability hub. It runs free programs to help businesses save money by becoming more environmentally responsible. Its experts visit businesses onsite, conduct thorough assessments and advise on actions to take.

The Actsmart team also works alongside businesses to help them become accredited, even providing free staff training, signage and other services.

Many recommendations are no-cost, low-cost and easy to implement. Others require more funds but promise reasonable returns on investments. And Actsmart offers rebates of up to $5,000 for some activities.

 

 

Simon Corbell, Minister for the Environment and Climate Change, ACT Government, says the awards demonstrate the win-win of Actsmart programs—reducing costs for business and improving sustainability. ‘Recycling and reusing are important, but smarter energy and water use help business reduce resource consumption and save money,’ said the Minister.

So who were the winners from this year’s Awards, held last Thursday at the National Arboretum? Twelve businesses won across eight broad categories. The competition was stiff, leading members of the judging panel to also give out five highly commended awards.

Here are some of The Shaker’s top picks—for the diversity of the business organisations involved and the range of measures implemented.

 

Photo by Martin Ollman

 

Energy and Water Star award. This award went to two businesses. The Smith Family upgraded a heating and cooling system, receiving a $5,000 rebate from Actsmart. The upgrade will lead to an energy saving of $6,500 and more than 20 tonnes of CO²  a year. The Spence Family Bakery also received an Actsmart rebate, replacing its 25-year-old, energy wasting oven and saving an estimated $3,000 and more than 9 tonnes of CO₂  a year.

Biggest Recycler Large Event award (more than 1000 patrons). This award went to the Canberra Balloon Spectacular 2016, which attracted more than 40,000 visitors and, through the Lions Club of Belconnen, provided breakfast. It’s only natural to generate heaps of waste when you’re dishing up 3,050 sausages, 614 dozen eggs and 464 loaves of bread. Over the nine days of the festival, in partnership with Wasteaway, the event recycled 714 kilograms of mixed recycling, 153 kilograms of organics, 148 kilograms of cardboard and 30 litres of cooling oil.

Corporate award. This award was given to two organisations that have made sustainable management business practices the cornerstore of their business development strategy. Some of the Brema Group’s building sites generate 6,000 tonnes of rubble but only send 3% to landfill.

 

Manuka Oval - operated by Brema Group

 

Biggest recycler (awarded to a business with largest volume of waste diverted from landfill). This went to Mooseheads, a bar in the city, which has implemented full recycling services and now diverts 86% of its waste from landfill.

Fifty-seven applicants were judged by the ACT Government’s Environment and Planning Directorate and Toby Roxburgh, a member of the ACT Climate Change Council, and Dr Maartja Sevenster, a supply chain sustainability consultant with 15 years’ experience in Europe and Australia and a member of the Canberra Business Chamber’s Sustainability Task Force.

If your business wants to see if it can save money while reducing its impact on the environment, take the first step by contacting Actsmart.

www.actsmart.act.gov.au