Categories and online nomination
Entries have now closed.
The 2012 Premier’s Sustainability Awards program included 11 award categories targeting community and industry achievements.
The pinnacle award, the Premier’s Award, is presented to the most outstanding nomination across all award categories. This award is decided by the official judging panel. Applicants were not able to apply for this award.
All 2012 award categories had specific criteria upon which they will be judged.
Community achievements
Community Award
This award is given to a Queensland school or community group for raising awareness about climate change, and for the measurable efforts it has made to reduce its impact on the environment (e.g. saving energy and fuel, reducing waste, and saving or capturing water). The award also recognises environmental education programs or activities that further promote sustainable living practices that help mitigate climate change.
A school includes staff, students, parent groups, local organisations and businesses that support their local school. State and non-state, primary and secondary schools are eligible to apply for this award.
A community group is defined as a group of interacting people generally in social units larger than a household (volunteer organisations, councils) possibly living in close proximity, that share some common values.
Judging criteria
- How your school or community group has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions.
Please describe what has been done to reduce the emissions by your school or community group (e.g. by referring to electricity bills, or other measurements of reduced emissions like fewer vehicle kilometres traveled to and from school by staff and parents, or anecdotal evidence such as testimonials, diaries or photos). - How your school or community group has promoted practices to help tackle climate change and reduce its impacts.
Please describe these activities (e.g. production of newsletters, educational activities, community activities, promotions, events) and provide details of who has been involved and how they participated. - How your school or community group has committed to sustainability practices (including participating in carbon reduction programs or recycling, conducting energy or water audits).
Please provide details of how your school or community group has demonstrated its commitment to these practices.
Partnership Award
This award is given to a community and/or local government partnership for implementing climate change abatement or sustainability initiatives resulting in social and ecological benefits.
Judging criteria
- How your organisation has worked in partnership with others on initiatives to reduce energy and water consumption, waste and greenhouse gas emissions.
Please describe your project and what you have done to abate climate change (e.g. by referring to figures from electricity bills or other measurements of reduced emissions, or anecdotal evidence such as testimonials, diaries or photos). - How your partnership has involved community members in climate change abatement initiatives (e.g. consultation, working groups, committees, and events).
Please provide details. - How your partnership has demonstrated leadership and innovation in better protecting the environment and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Please provide details. - How your partnership’s initiatives have benefited your community.
Please provide details.
Industry achievements
Innovation in Technologies Award
This award is given to an organisation or individual developing and/or applying technology that goes beyond current best practice to achieve environmental benefits and improve business sustainability (e.g. energy or water savings, waste reduction, or reduced environmental impact).
Judging criteria
- The degree of innovation and leadership demonstrated by your project in extending current best practice to achieve environmental benefits. Please describe your project, the way that it will extend current best practice and the resultant benefits (attach relevant background explanation, photos, diagrams, etc).
- The potential environmental benefits to be achieved by the new technology or process improvement. Please provide support for the claimed environmental benefits (by attaching test data, calculations, reports or independent assessments).
- The potential for the new technology or process improvement to be adopted by other businesses. Please describe the status of the technology/process (e.g. currently under development, demonstration unit in operation, being sold or licensed, etc) and provide details about how the technology/process is/will be sold, licensed or otherwise promoted to other potential users.
Built Environment Award
This award is given to an organisation that has created innovative sustainable business opportunities in urban design and development.
Judging criteria
- The environmental benefits and functions your project has created in an urban development or built environment.
Please describe your project and its benefits and functions. - The leadership and innovation your organisation has shown in creating and promoting built design and sustainable development solutions.
Please demonstrate your actions. - Can your practices and technologies be widely adopted and used by others in differing locations as a benefit to the Queensland community. If so, how.
Business Eco-efficiency Award
This award is given to a business for outstanding performance in improving its operational efficiency by applying environmentally beneficial processes, systems or practices.
Judging criteria
- The eco-efficiency improvements your business has made.
Please provide details. - How eco-efficiency has helped your business strategy.
Please describe what you have done to achieve eco-efficiency (e.g. by referring to quantitative data in business plans, reports, independent assessments, electricity bills and other measurements of resource consumption or waste reduction, and to anecdotal evidence such as testimonials or photos). - Explain how your business is planning to continually improve its business eco-efficiency.
Rural Award
This award is given to a primary producer for sustainable production and conservation of the natural resources that underpin the business.
Judging criteria
- Your leadership and innovation in advancing and developing a sustainable agricultural business.
Please provide examples. - The environmental benefits and improved farm performance your sustainability initiatives have produced.
Please provide examples.
Corporate Award
This award is given to an organisation for outstanding performance in making sustainable business practices the cornerstone of its business development strategy.
Judging criteria
- How your business has shown leadership and innovation in corporate sustainability to create social, financial and environmental benefits.
Please provide details. - The organisational advantages and financial dividends of your corporate sustainability practices.
Please describe what the results of your actions have been (e.g. by referring to quantitative data in business plans, reports, independent assessments, electricity bills and other measurements of resource consumption or waste reduction, and anecdotal evidence such as testimonials or photos). - Evidence of increased market profile and corporate development as a result of your sustainability strategy.
Please provide details.
Clean Energy Innovation Award
This award is given to an individual or organisation that displays excellence and innovation in a clean energy project in Queensland. Clean energy projects must involve renewable energy sources, energy savings measures and/or energy demand measures.
Judging criteria
- What is the project and why do you consider it to be innovative and demonstrate excellence.
- How has the community benefited from the project. Benefits might include raising the industry profile, improving standards, investment attracted or jobs created.
- How has your project provided environmental benefits to Queensland. Please quantify or estimate its contribution.
- How can the project be applied by other organisations or locations into the future. Please provide examples of its application.
Small Business Award
This award is given to a small business (with less than 50 employees) for achievement and leadership in adopting sustainability practices that reduce its environmental impact and strengthen its commercial viability.
Judging criteria
- Why has your organisation focused on sustainability and how have sustainability practices been integrated into your planning and decision making.
- What have you done to reduce the environmental impact of your operations. Please provide supporting information (such as details of energy and water savings, waste reduction, greenhouse gas emissions reductions).
- Can your practices be adopted and used by other companies and is there benefit to the Queensland community. If so, how.
- Have you partnered with other organisations to reach your goals. If so, how.
Waste Reduction and Resource Efficiency Award
This award is given to an organisation or individual developing and/or applying innovative management strategies, processes or technologies that provide resource recovery alternatives to landfill disposal, or changes behaviour within industry or the community to avoid or reduce waste.
Judging criteria
- The degree of innovation and leadership demonstrated by your project in rethinking and reducing waste creation, recovering resources from waste, and reducing the cost of waste management to either business or the community. Please describe your project, the way that it will extend or promote best practice and the resultant benefits (attach relevant background explanation, photos, diagrams, etc).
- The potential environmental benefits to be achieved by your waste management and resource recovery strategies, processes or technologies. Please provide support for the claimed environmental benefits (by attaching test data, calculations, reports or independent assessments).
- The potential for your waste management and resource recovery strategies, processes or technologies to change behaviour or practice within businesses or communities. Please describe the status of the technology/process (e.g. currently under development, demonstration unit in operation, being sold or licensed, etc) and provide details about how the strategy, process or technology is/will be sold, licensed or otherwise promoted to potential users.
Minister's Award
Minister’s Award for Leadership
This award is given to an individual for outstanding leadership in sustainability or climate change abatement, and best demonstrating the spirit of supporting the reduction of Queensland’s carbon footprint.
Judging criteria
- How you have shown innovation and leadership in applying sustainability principles and practices in your business or community work for addressing climate change.
Please provide examples. - How you have increased awareness about climate change in your business or community sector and promoted efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Please provide details.
Last updated 19 April 2012