Frequently asked questions

It’s the practice of doing business with the goal of operating into the foreseeable future without degrading the environment or the wellbeing of our communities. Learn about the meaning of other terms in our Glossary of Sustainability.

Sustainability is, fundamentally, the ability to continue doing something long term. So, if you want to stay in business for the long haul you need to earn enough, support your staff, and ensure you don’t degrade the natural living systems upon which all businesses and our lives depend. More and more people are choosing to purchase from and work for businesses they perceive to be sustainable. If you don’t get on board you’ll be missing out.  Find out more.

Sustainability can help your business reach more customers, cut costs, recruit and retain the best talent, meet procurement expectations, improve your brand value and futureproof your business – all while minimising your impact on the planet. Download our free resource on The Benefits of a Sustainable Business.

The 130+ businesses on the Circular Economy Directory offer products and services that are helping eliminate waste, reduce carbon and regenerate nature. They’ve all met eligibility criteria. And winners of the Sustainable Business Awards have all been judged as leaders in their fields by an independent panel for more than 20 years.

It’s easy to get started! Check out our free tools and resources or sign up for a course or workshop. Browse the Circular Economy Directory to find suppliers that can help make your business more sustainable. And find out how to integrate nature into your business. 

We help businesses learn, take action and connect on sustainability. We combine expertise in sustainability with practical solutions to help businesses transform knowledge into action. We’re a network of hundreds of organisations and we’ve been around for over 20 years. Find out more.

You’ll get heaps of benefits to help you learn, make connections and get recognition for the good you do. You’ll be part of a network, a community and a movement.

Benefits of joining include access to exclusive free events and networking, discounts on courses and our Advisory service, and a vote at our AGM. Your logo will be featured on our website, you’ll receive a certificate and logo, and you’ll get a free listing on the Circular Economy Directory (if eligible). Find out more.

Annual fees are tiered according to turnover, to make our network affordable whatever your size. They start at $720+GST for small businesses. Find out more.

Many individuals join SBN. However, because our focus is on business collaboration, the benefits of joining as an organisation are greater than as an individual. Individual members are welcome to attend our Impact Investor exclusive events and training, and also receive discounts on other events and courses. However they are not featured on our website and cannot display our logo. We do not promote their events or news, and they are not eligible for discounts on our Advisory services.

All members of the Sustainable Business Network are called Impact Investors. This is because joining our network doesn’t just mean you get member benefits, but that you are investing in our wider work. We work on projects to create system change in areas such as nature and sustainable innovation. Annual fees go towards this work. We want organisations in our network to feel part of the collective impact we are creating, hence the term ‘Impact Investor’.

We welcome all organisations that want to learn and take action on sustainability. We realise that everyone is at a different point on their sustainability journey and there are no barriers to entry, so long as your commitment is genuine. In joining us we encourage you to reduce emissions and waste, and regenerate nature. We’ll provide the tools, resources and training to help!

Our network includes small and medium businesses, corporates, government bodies and councils, not for profits and individuals. We represent a cross section of the whole business community. Check out the organisations in our network.

Entries open in June each year and close in July. Keep an eye on our Awards page for further details or subscribe to our newsletter.