Celebrating 20 years of Sustainability in Victoria

Sustainability Victoria is marking two decades of impact – celebrating 20 years as the state’s lead agency for accelerating sustainability and cutting waste and emissions.

Established in 2005 to consolidate and strengthen efforts around waste management, energy efficiency, and climate change mitigation, Sustainability Victoria has played a pivotal role in reshaping how Victorians think about resources and sustainable living, laying the groundwork for lasting reform.

Over two decades, the organisation has been a first mover, transforming policy into practice, supporting innovation across sectors, and delivering programs that have reduced emissions and diverted waste from landfill.

Matt Genever, Sustainability Victoria’s CEO, said the anniversary is a chance to recognise the scale of progress made – and the collective effort behind it.

“This is a celebration of what’s possible when government, industry and community work together,” said Mr Genever. “We’ve seen ideas become infrastructure, behaviour change become habit, and innovation become impact.”

Sustainability Victoria’s work has led to the recovery of millions of tonnes of materials, the rollout of large-scale recycling infrastructure, and the development of new markets for reused and repurposed products. Its initiatives have helped unlock more than half a billion dollars in co-investment from the private sector and Australian Government.

Among Sustainability Victoria’s most visible initiatives are those that have helped shape household recycling habits and bolstered community-led sustainability efforts. From its education and behaviour change campaigns to supporting grassroots projects such as tip shops and tool libraries, the impact has been felt right across the state.

“Sustainability Victoria has also been instrumental in supporting industry innovation – funding pilot projects, setting standards, and helping businesses scale up sustainable solutions,” said Mr Genever.

“By rethinking waste, Sustainability Victoria has enabled recycled materials to be used in roads, buildings and benches, supporting the recovery of valuable resources and building the market for circular products.

Looking ahead, Sustainability Victoria’s focus is on further strengthening the circular economy. This includes advancing sustainable procurement, supporting local markets for recycled materials and brokering partnerships to scale impact.

“Victoria’s future depends on how well we manage and reuse our materials,” said Mr Genever. “By facilitating connections between government, industry and community, and sharing our learnings and expertise, we can collectively bring about the change we need.

“Sustainability Victoria’s work is not just technical – it’s deeply human. It’s about equity, resilience, and ensuring that every Victorian can participate.”