We made a serious commitment to sustainability

Mal Siriwardhane is the CEO of Sydney-based logistics provider B dynamic. In 2018, the business launched the B Sustainable Project.

“This comprehensive initiative includes transitioning 90 per cent of our material handling fleet to electric vehicles, installing a 99.46kWp solar array, implementing stringent waste management protocols, adopting sustainable procurement practices, and fostering robust employee engagement in environmental efforts,” Siriwardhane says.

This commitment to sustainability, which has netted the company a couple of sustainability awards, has been crucial for the business, Siriwardhane says, improving operational efficiency, aligning with new legislative frameworks and meeting the growing consumer demand for environmentally responsible businesses.

“Collectively, these measures have significantly minimised our ecological footprint and ingrained sustainability into our corporate culture,” Siriwardhane says.

And employees are very happy about it. “An overwhelming 92 per cent of our staff reported a significant boost in morale and pride, directly attributable to our sustainability initiatives.“

We started selling electric vans

Car manufacturer LDV has been in Australia since 2014, building up a successful commercial vehicle business. Its parent company, SAIC, has an electric vehicle focus, and when it became clear that Australia was ready for EVs, LDV made its move.

“When local demand for EVs became more apparent — and the business case stacked up — LDV made its opening foray into the commercial EV space,” says Oliver Peagam, the group PR manager for the LDV brand.

First, in 2022, came Australia’s first electric ute, the eT60, followed by a large electric van, the eDeliver 9. This was soon joined by the MIFA 9, an electric people mover, and now the eDeliver 7 mid-size van, launched in January.

These vehicles have not only helped businesses reduce their supply chain emissions, but have proved to be an astute business decision for LDV. “It’s clear the market is beginning to demand more access to EVs in both the commercial and passenger vehicle space,” Peagam says.

“So LDV is well-primed for further growth, having been at the forefront of commercial EVs in Australia over the last few years, and our 90-plus national dealer network is well-placed accept the growing demand.”

We embraced plastic-free packaging

Aida Rejzovic is the founder of Sassy Organics, an ecommerce business that sells organic and vegan skincare products.

She launched the business in 2016, but soon realised that something had to change.

“We recognised that traditional plastic satchels were contributing to the global plastic crisis, and we knew we had to find an alternative solution,” Rejzovic says.

“As a result, we made the decision to completely remove plastic satchels from our packaging process, opting instead for recyclable boxes sealed with shipping labels.”

The transition to plastic-free packaging, in 2020, involved some initial extra expense, Rejzovic says. “However, we were confident that as our business and parcel volume grew, we would be able to negotiate better pricing with Australia Post.

“This seemingly small change has had a monumental impact on our sustainability efforts. We have saved over 400kg of plastic from entering landfills and oceans.”

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