How our awards work - Promoting Sustainability
Promoting Sustainability category
Almost every action we take affects the future of our planet. This category focuses on small and medium businesses reducing their environmental impact by driving sustainable change for a healthier planet.
Who can apply in this category?
If you’re fulfilling 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 focused on holistically reducing their environmental impact.
Lyka Pet Food
2024 National Promoting Sustainability Winner
Lyka Pet Food is flipping the pet food industry on its head, delivering fresh, human-grade wholefood meals straight to customers around Australia, with a mission to transform the health of Aussie dogs.
Fulcrum Robotics
2024 TAS Winner
Fulcrum Robotics provides innovative multidisciplinary services to the industrial, environmental and technology sectors.
Fulcrum Robotics utilises robotics to provide safe and effective access to hazardous environments remotely, and its highly skilled team thrives on tailoring cost-effective solutions to meet any problem or requirement.
Nationwide Waste Solutions
2024 VIC Winner
Nationwide Waste Solutions solves waste management needs quickly and professionally and aims to enhance the profitability of Australian businesses by minimising waste and maximising materials recovery.
It offers several solution-based facility services, including specialist services such as liquid waste removal and medical waste removal.
Diversity Arrays Technology (DArT)
2024 ACT Winner
Diversity Arrays Technology (DArT) is a biotechnology research company that offers a globally affordable genome profiling option which acts to provide actionable business/research recommendations for farmers, breeders, scientists and ecologists. Founded in 2001, DArT has a key focus on improving food security, social equity and ecological sustainability.
Eligibility criteria
To enter, the following eligibility criteria must be met. Each category also has specific requirements. If you have any questions about these conditions, please contact us.
- 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 percent 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 percent 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
- Supply financials when requested. All financials will remain confidential and will not be shared or used outside the purposes of judging the business’ performance, success and viability.
- 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 percent 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 applied and/or 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
- Enter the awards if a staff member or owner has applied to be a Judge in the same awards program year.
Our 2024 program dates
Click below for details on category information, selection criteria and eligibility.
National Experience
26 to 28 November 2024
An exclusive 3 day event filled with networking and celebration, all cumulating with the glitz and glamour of the National Gala dinner.
National Gala Dinner
28 November 2024
The pinnacle event of the Telstra Best of Business Awards. An unforgettable evening full of glitz and glamour. It's where we reveal all our National Winners along with the Business of the Year.
Nominations open
All year round
We accept nominations all year round. If you know an exceptional business moving Australia forward, nominate them for the next program.
Have a question?
Find answers to your frequently asked questions.
Contact us
Speak with our Awards Team and call 1800 AWARDS Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm (AEDT).