Premier's Sustainability Awards – Award categories

Last updated: 4 September 2023
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The Premier’s Sustainability Awards categories reflect the current focus of sustainability activity in Victoria and align with global best practice. Since 2021, the awards have aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), recognising and rewarding initiatives that drive Victoria’s transition to a sustainable, net zero and circular economy.

Award types

Each of the 6 award categories is open for entries in 2 award types: Community Champion and Industry Leader. Which award type your initiative is eligible for will be determined by your organisation type, size and other criteria as listed below. There will be a total of 12 categories open for entries.

The first step is to identify which award type your entry would be eligible to enter:

Community Champion

Recognises initiatives by the following types of entrants:

  • Individuals.
  • Small charities and not-for-profits, and community groups (annual revenue under $250,000).
  • Businesses with less than 20 employees.
  • Childcare centres, kindergartens, and primary and secondary schools.
  • Local government – boroughs, rural cities, and shires.

Industry Leader

Recognises initiatives by the following types of entrants:

  • Medium and large charities, and not-for-profits (annual revenue of $250,000 or more).
  • Businesses with over 20 employees.
  • TAFEs, universities, and other higher education institutions.
  • Victorian state government departments, agencies, and authorities.
  • Federal government departments, agencies and authorities who are Victorian based, or where projects and initiatives are specifically undertaken in Victoria.

The next step is to decide in which category or categories your initiative would best fit and meets the eligibility.

Eligible entries include sustainability initiatives and outstanding achievements in the following award categories:

Circular economy innovation

wine bottle in paper mushroom case for a photo shoot 2022 Community Champion winner, Fungi Solutions.

Accelerating Victoria’s transition to a more circular economy, keeping products and materials in use at their highest value.

Eligible entries include initiatives with one or more of the following:

  • Focus on responsible design, production and consumption of materials and resources.
  • Promote more sustainable business models that keep materials in use (e.g. service-based models).
  • Maintain a harmonious and regenerative relationship with nature to create a sustainable circular economy.
  • Demonstrate how circular solutions can be scaled across businesses, sectors, or whole systems.
  • Increase knowledge about circular economy solutions.

Reflecting UN Sustainable Development Goals 9, 11, 12, 13 and 17.

Proudly sponsored by Melbourne Water.

Future energy

windmills in water 2022 finalist, Beyond Zero Emissions.

Providing clean, affordable and secure energy for all Victorians and transitioning Victoria to net zero emissions.

Eligible entries include initiatives with one or more of the following:

  • Demonstrate uptake of innovative renewable energy technologies.
  • Expand clean energy infrastructure.
  • Support increased energy efficiency.
  • Promote energy-related behaviour change.
  • Increase knowledge about clean, affordable, and secure energy.

Reflecting UN Sustainable Development Goals 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 17,

Healthy and fair society

woman in hat and sunglasses at a table in a market with child in front 2022 finalist, Food is Free Inc.

Promoting increased awareness and support for the physical/mental health, equity and wellbeing of all Victorians to create a resilient, healthy and happy community.

Eligible entries include initiatives with one or more of the following:

  • Foster diversity, inclusion, and gender equality.
  • Enhance representation or participation of minorities.
  • Address inequities in social or environmental settings, such as shelter, sustenance and healthcare.
  • Support exemplary social procurement or local employment.
  • Increase knowledge about social or economic inequality issues.

All entries must also:

  • demonstrate sustainable practices in the delivery of the initiative consistent with Victoria’s transition to a circular net zero economy.

Reflecting UN Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 16 and 17.

Sustainable places

black metal bridge next to green space 2022 Industry Leader winner, North Western Program Alliance.

Creating places and communities that are sustainable, resilient, and liveable.

Eligible entries include initiatives with one or more of the following:

  • Involve the design, construction or upgrading of sustainable and resilient spaces or infrastructure.
  • Demonstrate sustainable urban design practices.
  • Promote sustainable planning outcomes.
  • Protect cultural heritage.
  • Encourage innovation in the built environment.

Reflecting UN Sustainable Development Goals 9, 11, 12, 13 and 17.

Thriving environment

wild yellow flowers and natural foliage 2022 Community Champion winner, Euroa Arboretum.

Regenerating, protecting and enhancing Victorian ecosystems, ensuring they are secured and flourish for future generations.

Eligible entries include initiatives with one or more of the following:

  • Manage adverse impacts on the environment (eg noise, air quality etc.).
  • Regenerate, conserve and protect ecosystems and species.
  • Promote healthy environment habits (eg water saving initiatives).
  • Increase knowledge about environmental regeneration, protection, and conservation.

Reflecting UN Sustainable Development Goals 6, 14, 15 and 17.

Proudly sponsored by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA).

Waste and recycling solutions

man emptying yellow bag into green bin 2022 finalist, City of Geelong.

Enabling responsible disposal, recovery and reuse of resources and minimise what goes into landfill.

Eligible entries include initiatives with one or more of the following:

  • Focus on responsible recovery and reuse of materials and resources.
  • Reduce waste generation in line with waste hierarchy principles.
  • Promote waste-related behaviour change to reduce waste to landfill.
  • Demonstrate innovative technological solutions to waste recovery and recycling challenges.
  • Increase knowledge about waste reduction.

Reflecting UN Sustainable Development Goals 12 and 17.

Proudly sponsored by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA).

Entry eligibility

  • You agree to the Premier's Sustainability Awards Terms and Conditions.
  • Your entry needs to comply with the category criteria.
  • The majority of demonstrable results must have occurred during 2021-2022, although entries over a longer time scale will be considered if new initiatives or significant differences have occurred between 2021-2022.
  • The entry’s demonstrable activities and results must be within Victoria.
  • The entry deadline is final, there will be no extensions provided.
  • Where the entry is submitted by a consortium, all its entrant organisations should be listed and would be recognised as the direct recipients of the award.
  • If an entry is submitted by a consortium, please provide at least 2, with a maximum of 3, organisations as part of the entry.
  • As long as eligibility criteria for each category are met, you can enter your project into a maximum of 2 categories.
  • An initiative is classified as a new project, product, program, system, or process implemented that has significantly improved sustainability outcomes.
  • If you or your organisation have entered the Premier’s Sustainability Awards previously, you are welcome to enter again. If your entry is related to a previous entry, new or further actions and results must be provided.

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