Award Categories

Promoting Sustainability.

We have one planet, and one Australia. Almost every action we make day-to-day affects Australia’s future, and the world we live in. This category focusses on small to medium-sized businesses reducing their environmental impact by driving sustainable change for a cleaner and healthier planet.

Who is it for?

If you are achieving one or more of the following Category examples, consider nominating and entering your business for this Award.

Policy impact

For businesses advocating for policy change to drive greater environmental protections.

Research funding

For businesses funding or subsidising research and development into renewable energy technologies and efficiency initiatives.

Ecological sustainability

For businesses prioritising ecological sustainability to better protect, manage and restore Australia's fragile and unique natural environment.

Encouraging conservation

For businesses with initiatives, products or services that contribute to or encourage conservation, reduction, re-use and recycling.

Footprint reduction

For businesses heavily focussed on holistically reducing their environmental impact.

The 2022 Telstra Best of Business Awards Promoting Sustainability  National Award Winner is SEA FOREST.

Sea Forest cultivates a natural solution to climate change. The eco-tech company is among the first to commercially grow Asparagopsis, a native red seaweed with the ability to significantly reduce livestock methane emissions.

Featured 2022 entrants.

Progressing Australia

ACT Winner

NatureArt Lab

NatureArt Lab is a natural science art and illustration organisation. It promotes greater community engagement in the natural world via nature-art immersion tours, environmental advocacy and citizen science.

Progressing Australia

QLD Winner

Go For Zero

Go For Zero’s mission is to make positive change simple. Its wide range of thoughtfully curated, toxin-free sustainable products and generous ‘give back’ program demonstrates that business can be a force for good.

Progressing Australia

SA Winner

Big Shed Brewing

Founded by homebrewers Craig Basford and Jason Harris as a passion project in 2006, Big Shed Brewing is now a thriving brewery, taproom and eatery located in Western Adelaide.

Eligibility criteria.

To enter, the following set of eligibility criteria that must be met. Each category also has specific criteria requirements too. If you have any questions about these conditions or eligibility please contact us.

The business must:

  • Reside in Australia
  • Have a registered Australian Business Number (ABN)
  • Have been operating in Australia for at least 12 months at the time you submit your Stage 1 entry
  • Be more than 60% Australian-owned, with the owner(s)/founder(s) responsible for making the key management decisions
  • Be a small-to-medium business that’s a sole trader, partnership, incorporated, NFP, social enterprise or franchise whose franchisor is 60% Australian owned and not a listed company
  • Earn more than $50,000 in annual revenue
  • Have under 200 full-time equivalent staff at the time you submit your Stage 1 entry
  • Operate in an ethical manner with suppliers, distributors and contractors

The business must not:

  • Be a listed company, franchisor, a club, co-operative, or a Telstra licensee
  • Be affiliated with Telstra through investments, donation or reselling
  • Be more than 50% owned by another business
  • Be a government agency
  • Have filed for bankruptcy in the prior 5 years or been subject to court proceedings in the prior 12 months – including in the business owner or founder’s personal capacity – at the time you submit your Stage 1 entry
  • Be a recipient of significant ongoing government funding (excluding temporary government relief or support packages, such as Jobkeeper or disaster recovery)
  • Have been a contracted commercial supplier of Telstra in the last 3 years
  • Enter the same category where the business has previously won at State or National level at the Telstra Best of the Business Awards in the past 3 years
  • Have a staff member that has been a State or National Judge in the Telstra Best of Business Awards for any category in the past 3 years

Conditions of Entry:

  • A business may not enter the awards if a staff member or owner has applied to be a Judge in the same awards program year.
  • When requested, business financials must be supplied. All financials will remain confidential and will not be shared or used outside the purposes of judging the business’ performance, success and viability.

Key Dates for the 2023 Program.

Nominations open

Nominations for the 2023 program have now closed, but don't worry - we accept nominations all year round, so you can always nominate for the next program. 

Stage 3 entries

6 September – 26 September

Click below for details on category information, selection criteria and eligibility.

Q&A interviews

15 – 18 November

If your Pitch Pack entry is successful, you will proceed to Q&A. Click below for details on category information, selection criteria and eligibility.

Have a question?

Try our FAQs or speak with our Award Team. Call 1800 AWARDS Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm (AEST)

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