2011 Excellence in Sustainability Award Winners

2011 Business Sustainability Award Winner

The GPT Group

“Australian companies are generally recognised for their global leadership in sustainability, including the GPT Group for its role in delivering and managing Australian property. It is always humbling to be recognised for excellence and we are extremely pleased to receive the 2011 Business Sustainability Award from the NSW Government Office of Environment and Heritage.”

Michael Cameron - CEO and Managing Director

The GPT group are a one of Australia’s largest property trusts who strive to create and sustain environments that enrich people’s lives.

GPT have shown outstanding leadership in addressing all aspects of sustainability across their corporate vision, planning, implementation and engagement with stakeholders.

In 2010, GPT saved over $13 million in resource costs through their sustainability initiatives despite growing their portfolio. The majority of the GPT group's office portfolio boasts a NABERS energy average of more than 5 stars - the highest of all ASX-listed Office Trusts. GPT has received international recognition for the second year running in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index.

2011 Business Sustainability Award - Highly Commended

Focus Press

Focus Press is a Sydney based printer that has become an industry leader in environmentally responsible and sustainable print solutions that have been adopted within the industry.

Focus Press has set the benchmark for Carbon Neutral printing in Australia and provides a full range of carbon measurement, reporting and offset services. In 2010 Focus Press has achieved a number of resource savings including reducing waste to landfill by 23 per cent and decreasing energy use by nearly 30 per cent. Focus Press also achieved Gold Partner status in the Office of Environment and Heritage’s Sustainability Advantage Program.

 

 

 

 

 

2011 Business Sustainability Award - Highly Commended

InterfaceFLOR

InterfaceFLOR are Australia’s largest manufacturer of modular carpet who aim to have a negative impact on the environment by the year 2020, guided by their Mission ZeroTM principals.

In 2010, the organisation converted their manufacturing facility in Picton to 100 per cent Green Power, reducing their impact on non-renewable energy sources by 37 per cent, while increasing output by 34 per cent.

InterfaceFLOR also invented Australia’s first modular underlay for carpet tiles made from 88 per cent recycled content.

 

 

 

 

2011Small Business Sustainability Award Winner

Instyle Contract Textiles

“After integrating a 'whole of company' approach to sustainability at INSTYLE almost a decade ago, it is wonderful to see that our genuine efforts in innovative environmental product design and reducing our company's environmental impact are recognised at the NSW Government Green Globe Awards.”

Tracy Mak - Environmental Manager

Instyle Contract Textiles continues to be an industry leader with their ‘whole of company’ approach to sustainability, product design and advocacy programs. Over the last 12 months, INSTYLE have maintained their long-term sustainability initiatives while continuing to challenge current practices within the textile, building and interiors industry.

By switching to EthEco® wool from non-mulesed sheep raised on holistically-managed farms, they are the first interior textile company worldwide to address both ethical and environmental considerations in its wool sourcing.

INSTYLE also released a new high performance fabric - CRYPTON Green made from post-consumer recycled polyester and continues to invest in new innovative environmentally responsible products.

 

2011 Public Sector Sustainability Award Winner

Department of Family and Community Services – Housing NSW

“Being awarded a coveted Green Globe Award would formally recognise Housing NSW’s leadership and contribution to improving environmental sustainability in the social housing sector.

Receiving this award would acknowledge Housing NSW’s environmental programs including water and energy reduction initiatives to reduce our carbon footprint and minimise financial impacts to the some of the most vulnerable in our community.”

Mike Allen - Chief Executive

Housing NSW is one of the largest providers of social housing in the world. They have set out to be a leader in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change in a way that promotes social equity and financial responsibility.

In a first for a social housing project in Australia - new residential developments in Lilyfield and Redfern have achieved a 5 star Green Rating.

By retrofitting existing dwellings with rainwater tanks, climate-friendly hot water systems and ceiling insulation, NSW Housing is increasing comfort levels and helping tenants save water, energy and money off utility bills.

Housing NSW’s corporate policy includes purchasing a minimum of 12 per cent Green Power and switching 76 per cent of it’s fleet to E10 fuel. They are also achieving a NABERS rating of 4.5 stars on almost all of their office buildings over 1000 square metres.

Visit www.housing.nsw.gov.au for more information.

2011 Built Environment Sustainability Award Winner

Investa Property Group

“At Investa we’ve achieved commercial success by treating environmental and business priorities as one and the same. The Green Globe Awards, perhaps more than any others we’ve come across, take a similar approach. They are extremely credible. And because they recognise leadership and innovation, you know that if you win one you’re moving ahead on a more sustainable footing.”

Craig Roussac, General Manager, Sustainability, Safety and Environment

Investa Property Group is one of the Australia’s leading property companies across the commercial, industrial and residential sectors. In 2009 after six years of continuous improvement in its key environmental performance, Investa decided it was time to re-energise and commit to research and further environmental action.

As a result, in the last 12 months Investa have implemented four key initiatives that have continued to innovate and push the boundaries of sustainability business practice worldwide.

This includes:

• Green Buildings Alive - an interactive website to share, scrutinize and analyse real building performance data and foster worldwide discussion about built environments, technology and sustainability
• amendments to it’s Green Lease which were legislated in NSW Local Government Amendment (Environmental Upgrade Agreements Act 2010)
• conducting trials to explore the potential to save energy and improve occupant comfort by adapting summer temperature set points in heating, ventilation and air-conditioning and
• launching Australia’s first commercial building tri-generation precinct in North Sydney.

Investa’s environmental initiatives have resulted in better performing assets, improved productivity and higher returns for its investors.

2011 Local Government Sustainability Award Winner

Willoughby City Council

“Winning a Green Globe Award is a great achievement for the City of Willoughby and fantastic recognition of the partnership Willoughby City Council has with its diverse community. Willoughby’s talented and committed staff are innovative and dedicated to improving the environment together with residents and business owners.”

Nick Tobin, General Manager, Willoughby City Council

Willoughby City Council is committed to striving towards sustainability by providing leadership and working with the community to foster a vision of a sustainable local government area.

The Willoughby City Strategy incorporates the principals of sustainability and recognises the importance of protecting the local environment and minimising the city’s ecological footprint. The Council will achieve its target for a 50 per cent reduction in energy use and will provide 2.1 per cent of its energy through solar power.

The Council have made significant water and energy savings through retrofitting popular community facilities.

In a first for an Australian local government, the Council installed a 165kW co-generation system at the Willoughby Leisure Centre which will save 600 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions and around $40,000 a year in energy bills.

Potable water use has been reduced by installing rainwater tanks capable of capturing over 20,000 litres of water at their community sites. An integrated water management system at Council’s new performing arts, library and retail facility The Concourse is saving 80 per cent on typical water consumption for a building of this type, the equivalent of 33 Olympic swimming pools of drinking water each year.

2011 Community Sustainability Award Winner

OzHarvest

"OzHarvest is honoured to participate in the Green Globe Awards. To have our environmental impact in NSW recognised and validated is truly rewarding. We proudly display our 2011 award for all to see!"

Ronni Kahn, OzHarvest founder and CEO

OzHarvest is a charitable organisation that rescues food from restaurants, food outlets and corporate kitchens that would otherwise be thrown away and delivers it free, on the same day, to charities that feed the disadvantaged and homeless.

The economic, social and environmental consequences of saving excess food going to landfill are significant. OzHarvest endeavour to evenly distribute food to 245 charities in Sydney and a further 35 in Newcastle, rescuing approximately 20 tonnes of food from landfill each week.

The organisation estimates it has saved 4,000 metric tons of carbon pollution – the equivalent to taking around 1,000 cars of the road, by saving food from landfill.

The food donations are not only nutritious but it also allows charities to re-direct funds into other essential services.

2011 Community Sustainability Award - Highly Commended

Starfish Enterprises Network – Farming the Sun

"Winning a Green Globe award for Farming the Sun is most significant as recognition for the leadership and action by the New England community in taking up solar energy and supporting the greater shift to sustainability. Farming the Sun has been remarkable for being a shared initiative by a large diversity of people, businesses and government."

Adam F Blakester - Community Entrepreneur & Social Change Strategist

Farming the Sun, coordinated by Starfish Enterprises is Australia’s largest community solar initiative. The project has been coordinated by two community members Elizabeth Gardiner and Adam Blakester demonstrating what can be achieved with community commitment, vision and enthusiasm.

Through this collaboration of community networks and supportive suppliers, the initiative has delivered $6.5 million of solar technologies to the New England region at significantly reduced costs. The take up of new solar technologies includes 525kW of solar power – including the largest system in the region of 30kW, 124 evacuated tube solar hot water systems and 14 solar thermal heating and cooling systems to date.

The project has also provided a new green economy in green skills and jobs to the region.

Plans are now underway to adapt this model for other regional areas in NSW and establish an eight turbine wind farm providing enough power for 10,000 homes in the New England region.

 

2011 Community Sustainability Award - Highly Commended

The Point Preschool

The Point Preschool is a not-for-profit community-based preschool providing an educational preschool program for children aged three to six years. The Preschool have embedded sustainable practices in their teaching, learning and actions driven by their commitment to protect our children and our planet.

The Preschool operates in a green building and have implemented a number of sustainable practices including virtually zero waste generation. The Preschool have outstanding engagement with families and the local community and have been the recipients of a number of awards including the 2011 WWF Earth Hours People’s Choice Award.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2011 Regional Sustainability Award

Joint-winner Starfish Enterprises - Farming the Sun

"Winning a Green Globe award for Farming the Sun is most significant as recognition for the leadership and action by the New England community in taking up solar energy and supporting the greater shift to sustainability. Farming the Sun has been remarkable for being a shared initiative by a large diversity of people, businesses and government."

Adam F Blakester - Community Entrepreneur & Social Change Strategist

Farming the Sun, coordinated by Starfish Enterprises is Australia’s largest community solar initiative. The project has been coordinated by two community members Elizabeth Gardiner and Adam Blakester demonstrating what can be achieved with community commitment, vision and enthusiasm.

Through this collaboration of community networks and supportive suppliers, the initiative has delivered $6.5 million of solar technologies to the New England region at significantly reduced costs. The take up of new solar technologies includes 525kW of solar power – including the largest system in the region of 30kW, 124 evacuated tube solar hot water systems and 14 solar thermal heating and cooling systems to date.

The project has also provided a new green economy in green skills and jobs to the region.

Plans are now underway to adapt this model for other regional areas in NSW and establish an eight turbine wind farm providing enough power for 10,000 homes in the New England region.

The University is also continuing its highly successful annual CSU Sustainability Grant Process offering $100,000 for staff and student sustainability projects.

Joint-winner Charles Sturt University

“Winning a Green Globe Award provides recognition for all the staff and students at Charles Sturt University who have worked hard to change to more sustainable practices. The Award would help raise awareness of our sustainability initiatives, and assist us in generating more support for these initiatives, both within the University community and throughout the regional communities in which we operate.

Ian Goulter - Vice Chancellor and President

Charles Sturt University (CSU) is the largest inland university in Australia with campuses located at Wagga Wagga, Bathurst, Albury-Wodonga, Orange and Dubbo, along with a number of smaller sites.

The University has shown outstanding commitment to sustainability in establishing targets and strategic plans to reduce the impact of its operations across each campus. They actively engage with staff, students and the wider community to reduce their own environmental footprints.

In 2010, the University achieved a number of their targets including reducing potable water use by 47 per cent and improving its fleet fuel efficiency by 34 per cent. They also completed 3 major building projects targeting a 5 star Green Star Rating and established a $3million internal loan scheme to provide ongoing funding for energy and water saving initiatives.