Breaking new ground for Sydney’s sustainable businesses

Our promise is to make sustainability more accessible for businesses like yours. In a tough economic climate, sustainability is often seen as costly and secondary. Circular Sydney 2025 shows how leaders in your industry have successfully embraced sustainability—and how doing the same can not only benefit the planet but also give your business a competitive advantage.

A sustainable business integrates environmental, social and ethical practices into its operations. Examples include:
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• Who Gives a Crap: A toilet paper brand that donates 50% of profits to sanitation projects.
• Goterra: An Australian company using insects to process food waste, providing an innovative circular economy solution.
• GoodOnYou: An app that rates fashion brands based on their environmental, social and animal welfare impact, encouraging conscious consumerism.
• Patagonia: A clothing brand known for responsible sourcing and advocating for environmental protection.

Sustainable businesses face several key challenges:
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• High costs to enter: Sustainable practices can require costly changes in infrastructure and processes.
• Limited access to funding: Green businesses often compete for fewer funding opportunities compared to tech startups.
• Competition from market leaders: Long-established brands can outcompete smaller sustainable businesses.
• Supply chain complexity: Finding local or sustainable suppliers can be difficult and expensive.
• Lack of regulation: Unsustainable practices by competitors can go unchecked, creating unfair competition.
• Greenwashing concerns: It can be challenging to maintain credibility in a market where greenwashing is widespread.
• Customer behaviour change: Shifting consumer behaviour towards sustainable options can be difficult. Education, awareness and incentives are often required to overcome habits of convenience and price sensitivity.

Yes! Sustainable businesses can be highly profitable while gaining a competitive edge over non-sustainable counterparts. Research shows that 78% of Australians consider a brand’s social and environmental actions when making purchasing decisions. By integrating sustainable practices, your business can attract conscious consumers, reduce costs through efficiency, and build long-term trust.

Sustainable businesses play a crucial role in mitigating climate change by:
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• Reducing carbon emissions: Implementing energy-efficient technologies and renewable energy solutions.
• Minimising waste: Using circular economy models to recycle and reuse materials.
• Sustainable sourcing: Reducing environmental impact by choosing responsible suppliers.
• Encouraging consumer awareness: Promoting eco-friendly behaviours among customers and employees.
• Offsetting carbon footprint: Investing in carbon offset projects, such as reforestation or renewable energy initiatives.

To measure your business's environmental impact, consider the following tools and metrics:
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• Carbon footprint calculators: Use tools like the Greenhouse Gas Protocol to assess emissions.
• Life cycle assessment: Analyse the environmental impact of products throughout their entire lifecycle.
• Energy and waste audits: Identify inefficiencies in energy use and waste management.
• Sustainable development goals alignment: Track how your business contributes to global sustainability goals.
• Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) metrics: Use ESG frameworks to assess and report on sustainability performance.