Innovation Alley: Meet the Australian entrepreneurs turning sustainability into new business

With consumers demanding action and governments mandating change, the transition, the transition to a more sustainable economy is creating major opportunities for entrepreneurs that want to be part of the change.

For example, modelling by CSIRO for the Australian Government’s Australia’s Circular Economy Framework finds that doubling Australia’s circularity could add $26 billion to Gross Domestic Product each year by 2035, while also cutting emissions by 14 per cent and diverting 26 million tonnes of material from landfill annually.

At Commonwealth Bank’s Momentum 2025 event, the CEOs of some of Australia’s biggest and best-known big businesses said moving towards net zero is a major economic opportunity for the nation.

But it’s important that small and medium business also take up the challenge.

At Momentum’s featured Innovation Alley space some of Australia’s most forward-thinking businesses came together to swap ideas and showcase how they’re tackling environmental challenges with creativity and purpose.

From Indigenous-led enterprises to tech-driven platforms and circular design pioneers, these innovators are proving that big ideas can deliver real impact.

Bush to Bowl: Where Indigenous knowledge meets biodiversity

Bush to Bowl, a 100 per cent First Nations-owned business founded by Clarence Bruinsma and Adam Byrne is reconnecting communities with native plants and bush foods while restoring biodiversity.

“Clarence and Adam were really excited to bring that knowledge of Indigenous plants and local endemic plants back into the community,” Bush to Bowl’s education professional Cooper Darmopil-Kerslake says.

At Momentum, the social enterprise showcased a range of plants like Cinnamon Myrtle, Old Man Saltbush from Wiradjuri Country, as well as Warrigal Greens, a vitamin C-rich plant that grows along Australia’s east coast and is supplied to the Commonwealth Bank.

“It’s about creating access to bush foods, educating people on their cultural significance, and restoring biodiversity in the process,” Darmopil-Kerslake says.

Pairtree: Data driven farming for a sustainable future

Like so many industries, agriculture is under pressure to produce more with less, and Pairtree Intelligence is helping farmers rise to the challenge. Pairtree consolidates data from multiple sources - mapping, satellite imagery, weather, livestock and grain markets into one platform.

“Farmers struggle with data like everyone else,” founder Hamish Munro says.

“They’ve got information scattered across apps, devices, and systems. We wanted to create a platform that pulls it all together so farmers can control and share that data where it needs to go.”

Munro says by focusing on good management and production, Pairtree help farmers achieve profitability and productivity, which ultimately leads to stronger environmental credentials and compliance.

Supply Nation: Building an inclusive economy

Supply Nation manages Australia’s largest directory of verified Indigenous businesses and connects them with corporate and government buyers.

“This isn’t just about contracts. It’s about creating economic empowerment and self-determination with mob,” Supply Nation relationship manager Kaitlin Riddiford says.

Supply Nation recognises two tiers of Indigenous ownership:

• Registered, meaning 50% or more Indigenous-owned
• Certified, which requires at least 51% Indigenous ownership, management, and control.

These standards underpin the integrity of the directory and give buyers confidence in their partnerships.

“When Indigenous businesses thrive, it strengthens an inclusive Australian economy. These businesses are already driving GDP through land management, carbon farming, sustainability, and renewable energy initiatives,” Riddiford says.

Defy Design: Giving plastic a second life

Plastic waste is one of the world’s biggest environmental challenges, and Defy is tackling it head-on. Based in Botany, the company transforms discarded plastics into high-quality products, from furniture and lighting to homewares.

“The original idea was sparked by industrial designers straight out of uni who were frustrated with the lack of renewable material options,” Defy’s Ananda Robinson says.

“They saw a huge opportunity with plastic waste and decided to take it on themselves.”

From stage zero, Defy considers the full lifecycle of its products. Each item is marked with “DEFY” and its plastic type, ensuring it can be returned, shredded, and transformed into something new when its life ends. This approach supports the company’s zero-waste strategy and reinforces its commitment to closing the loop on plastic waste streams.

 “We’ve developed the world’s first 100% recycled plastic baby cot. We can carry projects from early ideation stages through design, testing, machining, and rollout. It’s about proving that sustainability can be functional and beautiful,” Robinson says.

Home Efficiency Australia: Embedding climate action in real estate

VALAI’s platform Home Efficiency Australia, is accelerating trust in home energy efficiency ratings and standards. Its mission is simple, make sustainability part of every property decision.

“When buying, selling, or investing in real estate, we look at electrification and ways to sustain a healthy, comfortable future,” says VALAI founder Allys Todd.

“By improving energy efficiency, whether through electrifying a home or upgrading existing properties, households can reduce bills, free up cash flow, and ensure comfort while lowering their environmental footprint.”

CarbonTrace: Closing the data gap in housing emissions

CarbonTrace is helping residential builders address a critical blind spot, embodied carbon emissions during construction.

Designed specifically for the residential sector, this innovative tool makes carbon transparency accessible, even for “mum and dad” builders who want to make a difference.

“The big problem is that the bricks-and-mortar emissions in building a new house are far greater than the operational emissions over its lifetime and yet no one’s measuring these. That’s the gap we’re filling,” says co-founder Tom Petty.

CarbonTrace operates as a web-based or digital tool built for simplicity and consistency, rather than requiring dedicated software or consultants.

“We look at the data behind these builds because data tells a story, and that story is what will shape a sustainable future,” co-founder Ben Cryan says.