In Action
At a Glance
Our koalas' entire leaf supply is grown across our three plantations, and every part of it stays in the loop. Fresh leaf feeds the koalas, uneaten leaf becomes mulch, and the mulch goes back to our gardens and animal exhibits.
- 100% self-sufficient leaf supply, grown through our own eucalyptus plantations
- 160 tonnes eucalyptus green waste diverted from landfill each year, with 100% of uneaten leaf mulched and reused across our grounds and animal exhibits
- 248 tonnes of CO2e avoided annually, the same as 34 homes' electricity use for a year
- Mulched leaf feeds the soil and holds water in the ground
Our Amphibian & Reptile Habitat, Platypus House and Brisbane Koala Science Institute are heated and cooled by geothermal technology, drawing on the earth's stable underground temperature. Solar arrays on key buildings generate electricity, while stored rainwater supplies our gardens, plantation, animal troughs and toilets, helping build drought resilience. Even our Riverside Café lawn works as a swale, slowing and filtering runoff before it reaches the Brisbane River. We are also transitioning maintenance tools to battery power.
More than half the waste we produce is organic, food scraps, animal waste, coffee grounds and compostable packaging, which is collected and composted offsite into a resource for gardens. Recyclables are recovered, while unavoidable waste is managed through Veolia's methane recovery system, converting it into energy for households. Leftover construction timber gets a second life as benches, tabletops and fencing across the sanctuary, and proceeds from our Containers for Change scheme are donated to Bat Conservation & Rescue QLD, supporting native pollinators.
Our Green Team unites representatives from every department to actively research, plan and implement sustainability initiatives across the sanctuary. Meeting regularly, they review our environmental impact, set clear goals and work hands-on to make meaningful changes in how we manage energy, water and waste.
From installing technologies that reduce reliance on fossil fuels, to trialling new waste reduction methods and improving water efficiency, the Green Team leads by example, embedding sustainable practices into daily routines and working with local partners, suppliers and conservation groups to adopt best practice from across the industry. Next on the list: planting 14,000 more eucalyptus trees and expanding our nest boxes and pollinator corridors.
