Sustainable Business Awards
In 2007 the Manly Sustainable Business Awards program replaced Council's long-running annual Green Business Awards program.
What are the Manly Sustainable Business Awards?
The Manly Sustainable Business Awards program expands upon the Green Business Awards program by looking at business management practices across the triple bottom line: social, economic and environmental. The aim of the program is to promote corporate responsibility within the local business sector and provide community acknowledgement for outstanding sustainable business management.
Entry to the awards is free and open to all businesses in the Manly Local Government Area.
AWARD CATAGORIES
1 . Water Use Management
Criteria: Implementation of water saving technology, solutions to wastewater pollution, staff training and management plans.
2. Waste Management
Criteria: Sustainable waste disposal methods, waste minimisation, waste prevention, staff training and management plans.
3. Energy Efficiency
Criteria: Implementation of energy efficient technology, alternative energy solutions, GreenPower, carbon offsetting, staff training and management plans.
4. Contribution to Local Community
Criteria: Participation in local events, participation in local governance, membership or sponsorship of community groups, partnerships with other local organisations, etc.
5. Excellence in Sustainable Business Management
Criteria: Demonstration of good management practices across the triple bottom line: water and energy use, waste management, air and noise pollution, biodiversity conservation, economics, staff training, contribution to local community, risk management, etc.
6. Fair Trade
Criteria: A demonstrated commitment to the principles of Fair Trade via the internal use of and/or retail of fair trade products.
PRIZES
A framed certificate and $1,000 cheque will be presented to the winner of each category. prize money is to be invested in sustainable business management initiatives.
All businesses that submit entries will receive a certificate of recognition.
Winners will also receive free PR and media including publicity on the Council website and on Council noticeboards.
HOW TO ENTER?
Entries for 2011 Sustainable Business Awards will open in January 2011.
2010 AWARD CEREMONY
On the 30th March winners of the 2010 Manly Sustainable Business Awards were announced at a special ceremony in the Manly council chambers. Awards were presented by the Deputy Mayor of Manly, David Murphy and the General Manager, Henry Wong. Winners of the six (6) award categories each received a framed certificate and a cheque for $1000.
THE 2010 AWARD WINNERS WERE:
Category 1: Water Use Management – Winner: Q Station
A first time entrant in this program, Q Station reinvest 20 percent of money spent at their premises directly back into the long term conservation of this very special site on North Head. Examples of some the water management strategies employed at the Q Station include staff water education, low flow showerheads, taps and dual flush toilets in 98% of rooms, a 220,000 litre rainwater tank collection for irrigation of native lawns and toilets with greywater recycling in 5 rooms. In terms of solutions to wastewater pollution, they implement back to base monitoring of sewer pumps and back flow prevention has been fitted locally to each building to stop water contamination.
Category 2: Waste Management – Winner: Manly Food Cooperative
Winners of this category for the fourth year running, Manly Food Coop are without question the local champions when it comes to waste management. Most products are bought in bulk and customers have to bring their own containers to buy food. They have developed a system of extended producer responsibility with most of their suppliers where they send packaging back. Manly Food Coop recycles ALL other waste including composting food scraps.
Category 3: Energy Efficiency – Winner: Manly Art & Framing
A first-time entrant in the program, Manly Art & Framing purchase GreenEarth Energy through Origin Energy, have installed CFL lighting throughout the premises, switch off all electrical devices at the switch at the end of every day and has permanently switched off their hot water heater.
Category 4: Contribution to Local Community – Winner: Dive Centre Manly
Also a first-time entrant in the program, this business participates in a number of local events including Clean Up Australia Day, Ocean Care Day, Dive into the Earth Day as well as organise their own local clean-ups. In the past year they have been an active member of the Manly Chamber of Commerce and provided input into the Cabbage Tree Bay Management Plan. They support and donate auction items to local groups, schools and charities and hold an annual ‘Treasure Hunt’ with proceeds donated to ‘Project Aware’ and local emergency services.
Category 5: Fair Trade – Winner: Forty Beans Cafe
A newly established Cafe in Balgowlah who support Fair Trade as they believe it is the only sustainable way forward and must be championed by businesses large and small to ensure an equal share of profits are passed onto the farmers of our raw products. As a result Forty Beans Cafe sell Fair Trade coffee, hot chocolate, chai and teas.
Category 6: Excellence in Sustainable Business Management award – Winner: P.T. Precision Automotive P/L
This motor vehicle repair local business demonstrates good business practices across the triple bottom line and a commitment to continuous improvement – the pillars of sustainability. They use watering cans instead of hoses and have much to the dismay of customers apparently have stopped washing customer cars apart from their windows and mirrors. They have in place a waste water separator that filters out any dirt, oil before it is discharged into the mains. They separate paper/cardboard, steel, alloy and lead waste and are in the process of separating oily rags and oil filters. Electrical items are switched off at the plugs overnight and they are a major sponsor of the Warringah Triathlon Club. They also aim to educate other motor mechanics that respect for the environment doesn’t have to impede upon profits.
CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION WERE ALSO AWARDED TO:
International College of Management, Sydney - Winners of various categories of the Sustainable Business Awards in previous years the International College of Management proritise sustainability throughout their practices. This includes educating students and staff with timers installed in showers, drip irrigation in gardens, stormwater collection for lawn irrigation, energy efficient appliances, native and mulched gardens. They also have a worm farm for food preparation waste and their course notes are online.
Finger Printing - This business has a great recycling program that includes paper, cardboard, printing toner and printer cartridges. They also buy in bulk to minimise packaging and transport and give preference to products with recycled packaging. Added to this they encourage their customers to use recycled paper.
Ironbark Pizzeria - Support fair trade as they feel it is a start in the right direction of paying a fair price for products to the primary producer. Ironbark Pizzeria sell Fair Trade coffee.
Sydney English Academy (SEA) - This English college is taking action against climate change by training staff in energy saving practices, using a timer on their air conditioner, using energy efficient equipment including the recent purchase of 7 energy efficient computers and switching off all appliances at the end of the day.
Environmental Strategies P/L - This environmental consulting business is committed to sustainable business practices. Their windows are treated with a reflective film and have shade awnings attached to them to assist with the natural cooling of the office, they utilise the sustainability matrix to assign the most appropriate use of business resources to a client project and they request suppliers to complete a procurement questionnaire based on the ‘Walmart’ model prior to becoming a preferred supplier.
Red Earth Coffee Shop - This local coffee shop employs sustainable practices within it’s premises while promoting to the larger community. They use bio-cup recyclable take-away cups and only give provide bags or lids if requested. They also stock the reusable ‘Keep Cup’. They buy in bulk, source food ingredients locally from the Manly Food Coop and compost coffee grinds at home as well as donate gift vouchers for school fundraisers.
Next Energy - Next Energy not only proactively practices and promotes energy efficiency, but has taken it one step by turning energy efficiency into a business via their program called the Fridge Buyback Scheme. The business uses a number of energy efficient technologies in their offices and staff are trained in energy saving practices. Next Energy has developed its own carbon offsetting approach by permanently retiring NSW Greenhouse Gas Abatement Credits equal to its emitting activities making it a carbon neutral organisation.
Manly Bike Tours - Run by expert local guides, their bike tours educates the community and visitors alike on sustainability by promoting all the natural beauty that Manly has to offer. In addition they wash all bicycles over the lawn and promote refillable water bottles. Ex-rental bikes are serviced and sold to the public, the business had had energy efficient lighting since 2008 and they also donate subsidised bike rental to local schools.
Novotel Manly Pacific - All staff are trained in energy efficient practices through the Novotel’s policy relating to the green globe accreditation standards which they comply to.The hotel is also currently in the process of replacing existing lighting with energy efficient LED lights.
Sustain450 P/L - A consultancy who provide the community with the ‘how to’ on sustainability and have participated in Sustainable House Day, the 2009 SHOROC sustainability forum and Manly Council’s Residential Rebate Expo. They are also represented on the Manly Council Climate Change & Sustainability committee and are a local member of WIRES.
The Green Room Internet Cafe - A sustainable local internet cafe who utilise their business as a way to promote sustainability to both locals and visitors of the area. They purchase only items that can be recycled, ensure all customers are aware of recycling bins for their use, buy toner cartridges from suppliers who recycle, and buy energy efficient star-rated computers, monitors and printers.
Murdok - A fashion boutique with an environmental conscience. They reuse all their cardboard swing tags, all bags are recycled and newsletters are sent via email. They utilise energy efficient globes and electronics on standby are prohibited.
Delicious & Responsible Eating or DARE - This new cafe is located in Stocklands Balgowlah and are the epitome of sustainable catering through and through. From waste to energy, they educate staff and the public of their values through signage as well as their own actions. They have special low wastage taps fitted, rinse cutlery and crockery in a container, request deliveries in solid reusable containers instead of paper boxes, use only biodegradable food containers and have separate bins for waste, buy produce from local growers and farmers and support lifeline with their catering.
Further Information
For further information on the Manly Sustainable Business Awards contact the Climate Change Education & Special Projects Officer on (02) 9976 1654.