Acknowledging outstanding achievement in delivering positive environmental results.

Energy finalists

Australian Gas Infrastructure Group (AGIG)
Project/Program: From off-cut to resource: closing the loop on PE pipe and fittings recycling

High-density polyethylene (PE) pipe off-cuts and fittings from gas construction projects were historically sent to landfill, with no viable recovery pathway. Australian Gas Infrastructure Group (AGIG) partnered with their Vinidex to change this, building a closed-loop recycling program that diverts pipe off-cuts from landfill and returns the material to Vinidex's manufacturing lifecycle.

Vinidex collects unused off-cuts from project sites and supplier yards, then processes and pelletises them into new pipe products such as Draincoil, Twin Wall Stormflo Drainage and Rural PE. This reduces reliance on virgin resin without compromising quality.

The program has diverted around 20 tonnes of polyethylene to date, a figure understood to be conservative, and it is embedded, repeatable and scalable across the industry.

Delorean Corporation
Project/Program: Delorean SA1 Salisbury - Australia's first mains-grade biomethane and biogenic CO2 project

Every year, Adelaide sends tens of thousands of tonnes of organic waste to landfill, where it breaks down and releases methane. Delorean Corporation's SA1 Salisbury project turns that waste into mains-grade renewable gas injected directly into the gas network,  and into food-grade biogenic CO₂ for industrial use. This is the first facility of its kind in Australia.

Over its 25-year life, SA1 will abate an estimated 3.7 million tonnes of CO₂-e, while returning nutrient-rich biofertiliser to South Australian farms. This is a replicable model to build the next generation of facilities and move biomethane from demonstration technology into one of the country's next major renewable energy resources.

Resources finalists

Hillgrove Resources (now known as Kantra Copper)
Project/Program: Kanmantoo Grassy Woodland Restoration Project and Habitat Corridor Initiative

The Kanmantoo Grassy Woodland Restoration Project is a landmark partnership restoring 161 hectares of degraded grazing land and enhancing 9 hectares of River Red Gum habitat near the Kanmantoo Copper Mine. The partnership is led by Kantra Copper, Second Nature Conservancy, adjoining landholders and the Kanmantoo–Callington community.

The project is rebuilding critically endangered grassy woodland and creating a permanently protected biodiversity corridor across the Kanmantoo-Callington landscape. The complementary habitat corridor initiative strengthens this impact by linking restoration sites with threatened-bird habitat, ephemeral ponds, environmental offset plantings and remnant woodland.

Together, these efforts are transforming historically cleared land into a connected, resilient habitat network that reflects community priorities, and demonstrating how industry and community can convert environmental obligations into a lasting regional legacy.

Illuka Resources
Project/Program: Progressive rehabilitation at Jacinth-Ambrosia

Iluka’s Jacinth-Ambrosia operation has demonstrated that progressive mine rehabilitation can be delivered at scale in a remote, semi-arid environment.

The program combines landform reconstruction, soil replacement, local provenance seed collection, drone seeding, infill planting, long-term photo point monitoring and independent Landscape Function Analysis, turning previously mined areas into stable, vegetated landforms that are progressing toward self-sustaining ecosystem function.

Through collaboration with the Far West Coast Aboriginal Corporation, Traditional Owner involvement in seed collection and cultural monitoring helps ensure restoration is grounded in care for Country. The result is a measurable, evidence-based rehabilitation model that reduces closure liability and creates a lasting environmental legacy.

Renascor Resources
Project/Program: Renascor Resources Hydrofluoric Acid-Free Graphite Purification Project

The technologies used to produce battery-grade purified spherical graphite (PSG) are developed overwhelmingly in China and do not necessarily translate easily or economically into more heavily regulated Western operating environments.

Renascor Resources is developing and demonstrating an integrated HF-free graphite purification process. By eliminating hydrofluoric acid (HF) and incorporating reagent recovery, advanced water treatment and water recycling, Renascor is demonstrating a process designed to deliver both improved environmental performance and commercial competitiveness, showing that cleaner processing need not be a commercial compromise.

More efficient process design has reduced environmental impacts while helping establish a competitive battery material supply chain, supporting sovereign critical minerals capability and positioning South Australia as a leader in responsible, value-added battery materials manufacturing.