How Collaboration Fuels Sustainability: BioPak Partners With CommBank and Small Businesses

Launched in 2023, CBA’s Sustainability Action Tool is the first of its kind offered by an Australian bank. It is designed to help small business customers identify sustainable choices for their processes and operations and provide them with a selection of resources and actions based on their responses to a few simple questions.

The tool focuses on energy, transport, and waste management, supply chain management, product design, and wellbeing.

Wondering what CommBank, BioPak, Pablo & Rusty’s Coffee Roaster, and the small country cafe The Coffee Pedaler have in common?

Sustainability, of course. 

Launching in 2023, CommBank’s new Sustainability Action Tool (SAT) helps small businesses find simple ways to lower their environmental impact and reduce costs. What’s more, as part of the Sustainability Action Tool, CommBank offers their business customers a 10% discount on BioPak’s certified plant-based packaging products. 

This is an example of how BioPak partners with larger organisations to amplify small businesses – no matter your size and scale, we can all work towards a more sustainable future, together. 

This article will explore Commbank’s Sustainability Action Tool, and how it’s making sustainability simple for businesses of all shapes and sizes. 

CommBank has a strong focus on sustainable behaviour change. From partnering with leading organisations like CSIRO and BioPak, to playing a leading role in Australia’s transition to a net zero emissions economy by 2025. 

Now, another way they’re embracing sustainability is through their Sustainability Action Tool (SAT). The first tool of its kind in Australia, the Sustainability Action Tool helps small business customers improve environmental outcomes, enhance performance and reduce costs. 

The way it works is simple. Small businesses and sole traders who bank with CommBank can answer a few simple questions, and then find out ways they can embrace sustainability. 

The Sustainability Action Tool focuses on areas like energy, transport, waste management, supply chain management, product design and wellbeing. 

The Sustainability Action Tool has three simple steps: 

1. Businesses answer a few quick questions
2. The SAT provides easy-to-follow actions
3. CommBank uncovers resources to help make sustainability simple

What’s more, CommBank partners with businesses, like BioPak, to provide exclusive discounts to customers as part of their recommendations. 

The CommBank Sustainability Action Tool will enable small business owners to identify simple changes they can make today, as well as larger-scale work, that could have a big impact on the environment and reduce business costs.

Who can use the Sustainability Action Tool? The tool is designed for small businesses and sole traders at any stage of the sustainability journey.

Step 1 - Log on to NetBank or your CommBank app and search for Sustainability Action Tool

Step 2 - Answer a few simple questions about your business.

Step 3 - They will suggest some easy-to-follow actions

Step 4 - View resources and offers that could help make sustainability an easier choice

Commonwealth Bank’s Sustainability Action Tool integrates offers from BioPak and other companies providing sustainable services and products to better help small businesses embed sustainability into their operations, saving money and reducing the cost of doing business. CBA’s clients can access a 10 per cent discount* on BioPak’s certified home and industrially compostable packaging products. 

"We’re incredibly proud to be part of this project helping businesses work towards circular economy solutions that put the planet first,” said CEO Garry Gary Smith. “We are witnessing a shift in attitudes and significant momentum with regards to sustainability, with so many SMEs looking to find meaningful ways to help minimise their environmental impact.”

CBA research shows that the cost of becoming sustainable (61 percent), finding sustainable suppliers (30 percent), and a lack of time and resources (28 percent) are the top pain points for SMEs seeking to embed sustainability into their business model.

CBA Executive, Kerryn Saward, said: “It’s clear small business owners have a strong interest in sustainability and are already implementing sustainable practices in their business. This is reinforced by our own data which shows small businesses continue to prioritise sustainability, with financing of electric vehicles for small businesses doubling year on year. However small business owners are time-poor and looking for more tangible and practical sustainability solutions that can be incorporated in their businesses easily, with minimal effort and time. They also want to be empowered with information and knowledge that can lead them in the right direction to aligning themselves with the right businesses. This can include conducting an energy audit with your energy provider, switching to new and improved technology like cloud computing services, and learning about ways to reduce or dispose of hard-to-recycle waste.”

CBA research shows that the cost of becoming sustainable (61 percent), finding sustainable suppliers (30 percent), and a lack of time and resources (28 percent) are the top pain points for SMEs seeking to embed sustainability into their business model.

CBA Executive, Kerryn Saward, said: “It’s clear small business owners have a strong interest in sustainability and are already implementing sustainable practices in their business. This is reinforced by our own data which shows small businesses continue to prioritise sustainability, with financing of electric vehicles for small businesses doubling year on year. However small business owners are time poor and looking for more tangible and practical sustainability solutions that can be incorporated in their businesses easily, with minimal effort and time. They also want to be empowered with information and knowledge that can lead them in the right direction to aligning themselves with the right businesses. This can include conducting an energy audit with your energy provider, switching to new and improved technology like cloud computing services, and learning about ways to reduce or dispose of hard-to-recycle waste.”

As part of the ‘product design’ focus area, CommBank recommends BioPak’s certified plant-based packaging products for small businesses looking to reduce their impact. 

BioPak has built a long-standing relationship with CommBank. By working in tandem with their waste management plan, BioPak and Compost Connect have transformed organics, packaging and food waste from internal cafes and meeting facilities into nutrient-rich compost. 

Now, BioPak and CommBank are taking this collaboration even further – to amplify small businesses looking to embrace sustainability. 

Small businesses that choose to partner with BioPak through the Sustainability Action Tool will get a 10% discount on all packaging. 

At BioPak, we’re proud to partner with businesses of all sizes. By partnering with one of Australia’s largest employers, CommBank, we can also connect with and support smaller businesses, like The Coffee Pedaler.

Set in the beautiful Riverina region in New South Wales, The Coffee Pedaler is a group of small country cafes with a love of great coffee and hearty food. Originally opening in Gundagai and Tumut, they’re now found across five locations in the region. 

The Cafe’s owner, Matt Lucas, is an avid cyclist and lover of coffee. This is woven into the Coffee Pedaler’s ethos. He uses the bicycle as inspiration for the business – it’s an enjoyable activity that creates energy, has abundant health benefits, and leaves minimal impact on the environment. 

The Coffee Pedaler has already achieved so much in the sustainability space.

• Embracing renewable energy – the cafe’s founder, Matt Lucas, has installed solar panels and uses a weather station in Tumut and Gundagai to monitor wind levels to find out if wind turbines are a viable solution (so far, it’s looking promising for Gundagai). 
• Supporting local suppliers – wherever possible, they support local suppliers to reduce food kilometres. That includes local free range eggs, Gundagai lamb, local beef, and cheese made from Riverina fresh milk. 
• Donate coffee grinds – they give away coffee grinds to local homes and properties for use in their gardens.
• BioPak packaging – they’ve adopted BioPak’s certified compostable packaging. Not only that, they’re excited to spread the word to their customers and spark a conversation about composting. 
• Pablo & Rusty’s coffee beans and technology - they have partnered with Pablo & Rusty’s to deliver the best and most sustainable coffee experience to their customers.

A Sydney-based premium, ethical and sustainable coffee roastery, Pablo & Rusty’s are a certified B Corp, Certified Carbon Neutral and proud members of 1% for the Planet. Pablo & Rusty’s has also been a long-time customer of both CommBank and BioPak – adopting plant-based BioCups, coffee cups and lids. 

On top of their delicious coffee, The Coffee Pedaler also utilises Pablo & Rusty’s innovative technology – like an automated milk frothing unit that can save 10 - 15% of milk while ensuring consistent quality, as well as a coffee grinder that significantly reduces coffee waste. 

Founder of The Coffee Pedaler, Matt Lucas, also believes they’re only just starting out on their sustainability journey – they’ve got so much further to go. We’re excited to keep following along their journey. 

At BioPak, we’re proud to work with businesses of all shapes and sizes – from large organisations like CommBank, to leading coffee roasters like Pablo & Rusty’s, to small country cafes like The Coffee Pedaler. 

By teaming up with CommBank and their Sustainability Action Tool, we hope to grow our positive impact and improve the sustainability results of small businesses.

If you’re a foodservice business and a customer of CommBank, you can use the Sustainability Action Tool to receive 10% off BioPak packaging. 

*BioPak offers a 10% ongoing discount on the advertised cost of goods on the BioPak website to all CBA customers who sign up during the offer period. Use the provided code at checkout. The code is displayed in the Tool, and expires 07/11/2024.