Turning waste into worth: 2 social enterprises leading the way
World Conservation Day (28 July 2026) is a timely reminder that small actions can make a big difference. For Victorian small businesses, it’s an opportunity to look at how everyday operations affect the environment and identify practical ways to reduce waste and conserve natural resources.
Sustainability does not have to mean a complete overhaul of your business. Often, the most effective changes start with a single step.
Two Victorian social enterprises have shared the small steps they’ve taken towards a sustainable future.
Wholefoods Unwrapped Collective: starting small, creating big impact
Wholefoods Unwrapped Collective in Brunswick demonstrates how conservation can be built into everyday business using circular economy principles.
The organisation has grown into a multi-award-winning social enterprise, dedicated to the distribution of high-quality wholefoods with little or no packaging. It connects over 200 regular customers with produce sourced directly from 50 local Victorian producers.
‘We started Wholefoods Unwrapped Collective in a super grassroots way, in my home kitchen with buckets and tongs, supplying tofu to friends and family. We wanted to prove that food distribution could operate using durable, reusable containers,’ says Gabrielle Pestinger, owner of Wholefoods Unwrapped Collective.
Gabrielle encourages businesses to involve customers and staff in the sustainability journey.
‘Educate your customers and team on why you are doing things differently. When customers understand their role, whether it’s by returning containers, bringing their own bags or opting for refills, they take pride in being co-stewards of the model.’
Wholefoods Unwrapped Collective’s experience of starting small highlights that businesses don't need to solve every sustainability challenge at once. Instead, identifying one problem, whether it's packaging, food waste or hard-to-recycle materials, can lead to big impacts.
Fungi Solutions: recycling waste with mushrooms
For Victorian small businesses looking for innovative ways to reduce waste, Fungi Solutions shows how discarded materials can be turned into valuable new products.
Fungi Solutions uses mushrooms to recycle waste and create natural new forms used for interiors, events and packaging.
What began as a pilot recycling facility and bio-design service has evolved into a growing social enterprise focused on regenerative manufacturing.
'Our mission is focused on local resource recovery, creating value from waste and supporting community recycling practices through workshops and events,’ says Fungi Solutions CEO and Co-founder, Amanda Morgan.
Finding ways to recover, reuse or repurpose materials can help businesses save energy costs, cut waste, unlock value and strengthen local supply chains.
Looking ahead, Amanda believes there will be more opportunities for businesses, communities and organisations to work together to recover and reuse materials, keeping valuable resources in use for longer.
For businesses wanting to get started, her advice is simple: tap into Victoria's network of local producers, recyclers, social enterprises and creative innovators.
‘We have a rich network of local onshore producers and creatives with inspired solutions.’
Fungi Solutions is a reminder that conservation can be as much about rethinking waste as it is about protecting resources. Innovation often starts with seeing value where others see disposal.
More on sustainable business
Sustainability starts with small actions. As Wholefoods Unwrapped Collective and Fungi Solutions show, reducing waste can create environmental, social and business benefits. By rethinking resources and embracing circular economy principles, Victorian small businesses can build resilience while making a positive impact.