Top sustainable destinations in Sydney

Welcome to Sydney, with it’s jewel green waters, soaring blue skies and sparkling sunshine. A city known for its natural beauty. The Emerald city is a thriving metropolis home to over 4 million people. Sustainability flows through the veins of this vibrant, exciting city. Many Sydneysiders are seeking a lighter way of living, leaving less of an imprint on the planet.

In Sydney people are making a conscious choice to seek sustainability instead of disposability.

There is a bounty of sustainable fashion, beauty, dining, and lifestyle choices to be found in and around Sydney. Let’s know them!

Sustainable Fashion in Sydney

You will be spoilt for choice with an assortment of fabulous designer, vintage, pre-loved and hiring options for the sustainably stylish fashionista, see Sydney’s top spots to shop below:

Akira

One of Australia’s most prominent and revered fashion designers. Akira Isogawa is known for his contemporary style and ability to mix traditional and modern cultural influences. The designers’ use of shape, texture, exquisite fabrics and technique are signature in all his work. Akira says of the clothes he makes “I want to make them unique and sustainable. I’m not interested in trends. I’m interested in timeless beauty”. Recently celebrating 25 years in the fashion industry, Akira the exhibition is on show at Sydney’s Powerhouse museum until June 2019. Visit his retail store in the historic Strand Arcade in the heart of Sydney city. Shop 110, Level 2, 412 George St, Sydney.

EkoLuv

Need a show stopping outfit for a special occasion? Visit EkoLuv in Sydney’s trendy suburb of Paddington. This zero waste sustainable dress hire and consignment store is the first of its kind in Australia. Choose from the hottest must have designer pieces available to hire, or lighten your suitcase before travelling home and put some of your own pieces in for consignment. This nouveau style of hire and shop contributes to the circular economy by reducing consumption and waste. Rent, re-use and reduce is an EkoLuv mantra. This store is all about conscious, sustainable, compassionate living for the savvy fashionista. Visit Ekoluv at 14 William St, Paddington.

Art Club by Heidi Middleton

An atelier of art, slow fashion and vintage clothing. “I feel very passionately about protecting the planet and sustainability,” says designer Heidi Middleton. Art Club is a creative space to make art, design fashion, curate vintage & collaborate. Numbered limited edition fashion pieces are made using deadstock and remnant fabric. Pieces are designed to be loved, worn and re-worn, shared, swapped, borrowed, repaired and passed onto another pair of loving hands. “At Art Club we are embedding our conscious consumption mantra into our DNA”. The atelier is located at Studio 1, 85 Dunning Avenue Rosebery.

The Frock Exchange

Lovers of exclusive high end designer names need look no further than the Frock Exchange. A high fashion experience with carefully curated mint condition second hand designer pieces. The store keeps things sustainable and circular by offering B-Dollars to spend in store when you bring in your pre-loved pieces for consignment. For exclusive access to high end designer ware drop into the Clovelly store at 221 Clovelly Rd, on the way to Sydney’s famous Bondi Beach.

 Sustainable Dining in Sydney

Sydney is a city spoilt for sustainable restaurants, with spectacular views and the freshest produce.

Love Fish

With stunning harbourside views Love Fish is “the fish bar with a green heart” known for it’s high quality fresh and sustainable seafood. Simple, honest food that’s local, seasonal and sustainable. Love Fish is able to list the provenance of all seafood and sources its produce locally from Australian and New Zealand waters. The restaurant’s goal is to help reduce landfill, protect natural resources and reduce greenhouse emissions. Head down to Wulugul Walk, 7/23 Barangaroo Ave, Barangaroo on Sydney Harbour foreshore. The Barangaroo precinct is committed to being carbon neutral, water positive, zero waste and contributing to community wellbeing.

Nomad

Located in Surry Hills the heart of inner city Sydney, this restaurant and bar has an effortless hip vibe. Nomad serves the best Australian wines and fine food sourced locally. Chefs work with like minded suppliers and producers, sourcing wines from speciality growers using biodynamic farming. The restaurant reduces waste sent to landfill by strict recycling, even all used cooking oil is collected and recycled. Water consumption has been minimised by installing flow restrictors on the restaurant taps. They also chill, filter and carbonate water on site. Everything at Nomad has been consciously considered the mindful choices toward sustainability are loud and clear. Whether you are enjoying the freshly baked bread, charcuterie, or house made cheese you can be assured it will have been as sustainably sourced and produced as possible.  Visit at 16 Foster St, Surry Hills @nomadsydney

Three blue ducks

“All we’ve ever wanted is to cook with good mates, enjoy nature and put a smile on people’s faces” says the 6 great friends and owners of Three Blue Ducks. This coastside cafe is a passionate provider of ethical and authentic food prepared with love. Committed to buying local and ethically farmed produce, Three blue ducks are proud to be frontrunners in conscious consumption. The cafe embraces simple real food with the Bronte kitchen garden, the ocean and the community as the life force behind it. Consideration is given to food miles, farming practices, sustainable species, ethically sourced produce and packaging when putting together menu items. Offering honest real food for breakfast, lunch or dinner it feels and tastes home cooked with love. Pop in at 141-143 Macpherson St, Bronte or drop by 1/85 Dunning Ave, Rosebery.

Sustainable Shopping in Sydney

Looking for the best and freshest produce to stock your pantry with? Look no further than these zero waste, sustainable grocery suppliers:

The Source Bulk Foods

A Zero Waste shopping revolution has begun, nourishing  families, community and the planet. The Source Bulk Foods offers sustainable quality produce, wholesome ingredients with no plastic packaging. Each store is run by a local family passionate about healthy food and reducing waste. The Source offers quality local products with a mindful approach to re-thinking the way we shop, reusing and recycling what we have. Sample tasty organic grains, nuts, spices, chocolate, seeds, pastas and superfoods. This is the clean eating zero waste way to shop. Check the website for the nearest store during your stay in Sydney.

The University of Sydney Food Co-Op

A non-profit student run fruit and vegetable store on the Sydney Uni campus. The Co-Op sells fresh fruit and vegetables, affordable organic food and, vegan produce. Products sold are ethical and have a transparent supply chain under which the goods are grown and processed. The Co-Op values honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others. Shopping here is using your consumer power to show your values.

Oz Harvest Market

Oz Harvest market is Australia’s first ever rescued food supermarket. The market is stocked with produce that is donated or would be wasted, but is perfectly edible. With a philosophy of take what you need give if you can, Oz Harvest is revolutionising food waste. Making rescued food available to everyone, especially those most in need. Oz Harvest rescues food from donors such as supermarkets, hotels, farmers and wholesalers and delivers to more than 1300 charities. Oz Harvest is paving the way for sustainable change in the food industry. This innovative and zero waste charity also operates a food truck for charitable donations.

Natural Beauty in Sydney 

Looking for sustainable beauty products and treatments to connect with your inner Gaia? Check out these beauty finds for earth goddesses finding themselves in Sydney.

Zen Facial

Look no further than Zen Facial for a natural face lift for the body and soul. Owner Fumi Yamamoto is one of Sydney’s best kept secrets, with high profile clients such as Australian model Jessica Gomes. Zen Facial practices a holistic approach to anti-ageing, beauty and wellbeing. Pure and high quality products with no chemicals are used in combination with signature oils. Choose from deep rejuvenation, facial sculpting, anti-ageing and a selection of wellbeing treatments. Enhance your inner glow and get luminous skin from the inside out. A personalised and unique experience, pure magic for a sustainable soul.

Lepaar

Wholistic, luxury skincare that embraces the powers of the Sun, Moon and Stars. From Earth to Bottle this brand brims with celestial energy and respect for nature. Products are created by natural processes drawn from plants, animals and materials in ways that are sustainable, respectful and ethical. My favourites - Sacred Trinity Serum - Skin and Spirit Reviving Rescue Remedy. Empire of the Sun Biophotonic Water Bottle made with Miron glass charges my water with "qi" (life force) energy.

Biologi

Made using organic native botanicals Biologi products are traceable and sustainable. Nourish your skin with the concentrated life force from the plant cells to you. Ethical skincare containing no chemicals, additives, perfumes or water. The world’s first 100% active natural plant serum. My go to products - Bd Luminosity face serum from the Davidson Plum rich in vitamins and antioxidants. Bk Rejuvenation Eye Serum from the Kakadu Plum, high in vitamin C.