Skip to Content

Toolbar Navigation 4 Item(s)

Sustainable Business Education Case Studies

In 2007 the USSA worked with a group of councils to establish a network of local government practitioners working on sustainable business programs/initiatives. The network has met regularly since this time and provides a forum to share knowledge, skills and experiences and to discuss successes and pitfalls of sustainable business programs/initiatives.

The network uses the "Sustainable Business Education" stream of the http://www.sustainablenet.org.au/ discussion forum as a repository for its meeting minutes and updated contact lists, and for general discussion and sharing between meetings. To join the network please contact Rebecca Jones on 02 9242 4056, or contact the group through http://www.sustainablenet.org.au/.

The following case study repository has been initiated by the Sustainable Business Education network but it is intended to include case studies beyond the network. Businesses often like to see sustainability success stories demonstrated by their peers rather than taking council's word for it. It is hoped that this bank of case studies will become a useful resource to Sustainable Business Educators across the state.

Do you have case studies that you can share with your colleagues? If so please submit them to sustainability@lgsa.org.au 

Better Busniess Partnerships (BBP) Case Studies

A selection of twelve case studies prepared by BBP a partnership between Ku-ring-gai, North Sydney and Willoughby City Councils. The case studies capture the personal journeys of some of the sustainable businesses on Sydney's North Shore who have particpated in the BBP Program . For more information on the case studies below go to www.betterbusinesspartnership.com.au

  • Coffee shop  Pablo and Rusty's  purchases coffee, tea and cocoa that has been sustainably harvested. Sources bowls and crockery from local ceramic makers. Utilises second hand furnishing where possible.
    Uses recyclable packaging and stationery.
  • Steak House Restaurant MU MU Grill is using a pulpmaster' to eliminate all organic material from the waste stream, including bones, fruit, vegetables, paper, cardboard, liquids and oils. The material is converted to organic fertiliser some of which is returned to the customer to use on their herb garden.
  • Organic food supplierHonest to Goodness purchases organic, locally grown produce and orders in bulk to minimise packaging.
  • Dry cleaner Greener Cleaner uses environmentally friendly cleaning products, re-uses coat hangers and uses cloth bags in lieu of plastic bags.
  • Supermarket  IGA West Pymble found that putting aluminium insulated covers on the chest freezers brought the energy bill down by $300 a month.
  • Pharmacist Nick Logan Pharmacist Advice has shared his knowledge with neighbouring businesses resulting in discussions about changing light bulbs and reducing power!
  • Road safety training organisation  HART completed a carbon footprint and developed a carbon management plan to reduce carbon created from business activities.
  • Vet Clinic 4 Paws Vet Clinic installed LED lighting panels, replaced halogens with compact fluorescents and are intending to install an energy efficient gas dryer.
  • Indian Restaurant Nilgiri's Fine Foods  attended GreenChef training, implemented start-up and shut-down schedules for all kitchen equipment and offered staff incentives for savings achieved.
  • Pub  The Union Hotel are using a 'Bottlecycler' to recycle glass bottles and have installed a Bio Urinal with sensors.
  • Bar The Treehouse Hotel have furnishings that are pre-loved or re-used in the restaurant and bar area to create a range of spaces and styles. Crockery is purchased from pre-loved resellers.
  • Butcher Eastern Road Quality Meats donates money raised from the sale of dog bones and greeting cards to building schools in Nepal and Blood and Bone is picked up to be made into fertiliser.

 

Marrickville Council Case Studies

For more information on the case studies below go to www.marrickville.nsw.gov.au/target or contact sustainability@marrickville.nsw.gov.au.

 

Auburn and Parramatta City Councils' Streamline Case Studies

These video case studies show how sustainable business practices have transformed businesses in the Duck River Catchment by increasing efficiency, saving money and improving return on investment. For more information go to http://www.streamline.org.au/.

  • A plastics company in Granville is taking on the environmental challenges faced by everyone in the plastics industryand aiming to become industry leaders in sustainability.
    Case study: Anyshape Plastics
  • A printing company in Auburn recycles used print cartridges and resells them to a loyal band of environmentally aware customers. Becoming carbon neutral was important to the company and they achieved green certification after a thorough audit and re-design of their production and distribution processes.
    Case study: Printerworkz
  • A Granville based Automotive Repair Service strive to provide innovative, sound quality service with a friendly and down to earth manner.
    Case study: E&D Koutalis Automotive Services
  • This waste facility is committed to environment best practice in the processing of organic food wastes in a sustainable and commercially viable manner to produce green energy and nutrient rich fertilisers.
    Case study: EarthPower
  • This green technology company commercialises environmental technologies for the production of lighting technology - LEDs; so innovation and sustainability is the very lifeblood of their business.
    Case study: Bluglass
  • This food manufacturer has made good use of local networking connections to recycle 95% of waste associated with production, including water and organic matter, reducing the company's waste disposal costs and improving its bottom line.
    Case study: AB Mauri
  • This world leader in environmental management solutions, has implemented initiatives to reduce the environmental impact of the company's production and waste treatment processes, with tangible benefits. However, it is its staff initiatives, which include numerous short, skill-based courses and a comprehensive 'wellness' program, which really set it apart.
    Case study: Veolia
  • This racecourse has installed energy saving light bulbs, rain water harvesting, and promoted rail travel to patrons in order to reduce its ecological footprint. In January 2009 it held the world's first carbon neutral Green Race Day.
    Case study: Rosehill Racecourse
  • Despite being affected by the economic downturn this print services and packaging company prides itself on offering staff-friendly initiatives such as a profit-sharing arrangement, lunch for all staff daily and flexible, tailored workplace arrangements to suit individual needs.
    Case study: Rodenprint
  • This computer systems company has cut their energy bill by $12,500 annually by implementing a range of simple power-saving strategies.
    Case study: TransAction Solutions
  • Check out the sustainability headway made by this retail and cultural fit-outs company based in Silverwater.
    Case study: Classic Resources
  • This manufacturer of blended lubricants makes more money out of recycling waste than it used to cost to dispose of it. Everything is recycled - scrap metal, packaging, metal bins, waste oil, labels on drums, backing sheets, cardboard interleaving and chemicals. 
    Case study: Lubrizol

 

Business Treading Lightly

Business Treading Lightly (BTL) helps targeted businesses in the Illawarra and South Coast save money and reduce their ecological footprint by operating more sustainably. For more information about the project or the case studies beloe go to www.btl.net.au.

 

DECCW Sustainable Advantage Case Studies

The NSW Department of Environment Climate Change and Water has developed case studies from organisations participating in its Sustainability Advantage program. They describe how they have improved their environmental and business performance. These case studies are available from their website at: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/sustainbus/SACaseStudies.htm

 

Hornsby Shire Council Case Studies

For more information on the Business Energy Savings Program please contact Hornsby Shire Council's Environmental Officer on 02 9847 6773, email sustainablebusiness@hornsby.nsw.gov.au
or visit www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/environment.

  • A marina upgraded and improved their lighting and heating & cooling processes to reduce their impact on the environment and local waterways.
    Download ED-SH-Casestudy-1-Fenwicks.pdf Case Study: Fenwicks Marina (242KB)
  • An accounting company retrofitted their light fittings and globes with efficient globes and reflectors as a result of concerns about climate change and business sustainability.
    Download ED-SH-Casestudy-2-AbbyPractice.pdf Case Study: Abby Practice (300KB)