2008 winners
- Corporate Sustainability Award
- Industrial Eco-efficiency Award
- Innovation in Sustainable Technologies Award
- Minister's Award for ClimateSmart Leadership
- Rural Sustainability Award
- Sustainability Partnerships Award
- Sustainability in the Built Environment Award
- Resource Industries Sustainability Award
- Premier's Award for Leadership in Business Sustainability
Corporate Sustainability Award
ALDI Australia - Loganholme
View a video presentation about the finalists of this category [3.3 MB]
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Environmental innovation is evident in almost every aspect of ALDI's business, from store design through to transportation and supplier arrangements. The retailer offers only polypropylene bags for purchase - preventing the disposal of around 150 million plastic bags - and uses coin-operated trolleys to minimise theft and dumping. Fresh produce, soft drinks and vegetable oils are transported and displayed in recyclable crates. To reduce energy use, stores and warehouses minimise air loss through double-brick or insulated panels, entry/exit airlocks, suspended ceilings, freezer lids and chiller curtains. Stores run on one-third of the normal lighting levels outside store hours.
Industrial Eco-efficiency Award
Buderim Ginger Limited - Yandina
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This Sunshine Coast ginger producer has developed an innovative automated process to significantly reduce its water usage, wastewater, and gas consumption during the ginger cleansing process. Since this new system began full operation in late November 2007, Buderim Ginger has saved about 30,000 litres of water, 18,000 litres of wastewater, and 330,000 litres of gas, and is anticipating further savings in 2008. Buderim Ginger preserves the early harvested ginger in vats for periods of 12 months or more, in a solution of town water and sodium metabisulphite. The sulphite is then removed. In the past that involved using large amounts of water. The new process uses oxygen to remove the sulphite, allowing the water to be re-used.
Innovation in Sustainable Technologies Award
RedFlow Pty Ltd - Seventeen Mile Rocks
View a video presentation about the finalists of this category [2.4 MB].wmv
Brisbane-based RedFlow Pty Ltd has created an environmentally friendly zinc-bromine battery that, when combined with photovoltaic solar panels, creates a source of renewable energy that is available on demand. Current battery technology suffers limitations in service life, amount of charge, maintenance, weight and cost, which limits the benefits available to end users of renewable energy. RedFlow has created a battery that is 1/6th the weight of conventional lead-acid batteries, with lower production costs. The battery does not contain toxic heavy metals, is non-perishable, and can be refurbished to extend its life. On average, each household that installs a RedFlow system will immediately reduce its greenhouse gas generation by 20 percent.
Minister's Award for ClimateSmart Leadership
News Limited - Murarrie, Brisbane and Cairns
View a video presentation about the finalists of this category [2.1 MB].wmv
News Limited, publisher of Queensland's largest circulating newspaper, is committed to addressing its impact on climate change by lowering energy use and becoming carbon neutral by 2010. At News Limited's two Brisbane-based print centres, major energy savings are being achieved through new chillers and installing building management software. Improvements across the entire business, from air conditioning and lighting to IT and transport, are improving its energy efficiency and reducing the company's carbon footprint. Over the next four years, all company vehicles will be replaced with lower-emission vehicles and the relocation of the Bowen Hills operations to a "greener" alternative will maximise energy efficiency.
Rural Sustainability Award
Groves Grown Tropical Fruit - Yeppoon
View a video presentation about the finalists of this category [2.7 MB].wmv
The Groves family orchard, on the northern outskirts of Yeppoon, are managing and expanding production of their mangoes, lychees and caranbola (star fruit) in an environmentally friendly way. Ian and Sandi Groves have implemented a 100-percent ground cover policy, wind-break trees, run-off catchment ponds, under-tree drip irrigation to minimise water usage, and total enclosure netting techniques - a non-lethal method to protect crops from flying foxes and other wildlife. To prevent air pollution, chemical fertilisers are applied through the drip irrigation system where possible.
Sustainability Partnerships Award
Wide Bay Water and Dhugamin CDEP Pty Ltd - Hervey Bay
View a video presentation about the finalists of this category [3.2 MB].wmv
This project to produce eucalyptus oils from native trees in Hervey Bay is a partnership between the Dhugamin Community Developments Employment Project (CDEP) Corporation Pty Ltd, the Department of Primary Industries (DPI), and the Wide Bay Water Corporation (WBW). The joint project involves WBW's wastewater re-use and carbon offset schemes and the Dhugamin's experience in community farming, to develop a thriving 'Eucoil' business from plantation trees on land donated by WBW. The oil may help to reduce or eliminate parasites in goats, cattle and sheep, using a process developed by DPI scientists. The water re-use scheme has increased local sugar cane yields, is offsetting WBW's carbon footprint, has enhanced community relationships, and is helping preserve local water quality.
Sustainability in the Built Environment Award
Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd and Leighton Properties Pty Ltd - Brisbane
View a video presentation about the finalists of this category [3.5 MB].wmv
Leighton's Green Square project in Fortitude Valley includes 17,000 square metres of A-grade commercial offices, high-technology utilities, community facilities, a childcare centre, basement car parking and a residential precinct, surrounding a retail plaza. The $120 million Green Square South Tower is the first commercial building in Queensland to be awarded a 5-star Green Star rating from the Green Building Council of Australia, receiving a 5 Green Star rating for Office Design in July 2006. The South Tower design is forecast to achieve yearly water savings of 33.8 megalitres, energy savings of more than 410,000 kilowatts an hour, and greenhouse gas emission savings of about 390 tonnes a year.
Resource Industries Sustainability Award
Consolidated Rutile Limited - Dunwich
View a video presentation about the finalists of this category [3.2 MB].wmv
Consolidated Rutile Limited (CRL) is continuously rehabilitating land at its North Stradbroke Island sand mining operation achieving a self-sustaining ecosystem similar to pre-mine conditions. Operating on the island since 1966, CRL progressively rehabilitates more than 75 hectares each year and has more than 4,000 hectares of land already under rehabilitation. CRL is the first mining company in Queensland to include rehabilitation criteria in its Environmental Authority. The criteria ensure all levels of the organisation use rigorous, well-tested processes and procedures to minimise environmental risk, and ensure a sustainable ecosystem once mining operations have ceased.
Premier's Award for Leadership in Business Sustainability
Mr Martin Albrecht AC
As CEO of Thiess, one of Australia's largest construction, mining and services companies, Mr Albrecht spearheaded projects that demonstrate the company's commitment to sustainability, including the building of their Southbank headquarters which set new design benchmarks. Mr Albrecht was integral to establishing and developing the International Riverfoundation and Brisbane's annual River Symposium and is a passionate proponent of innovation for sustainable water use and protecting and restoring rivers and waterways. A pioneer and advocate of geothermal energy, Mr Albrecht is chairman of Geodynamics Limited, which is developing hot fractured rock geothermal energy projects to produce sustainable, zero-emissions energy. In 2002, he received his Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) for service to the construction industry, to the engineering profession, and to the community in the areas of education, corporate social responsibility and industrial safety.
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Last updated: 16 April 2009