Sustainability

Fill the pantry with fresh produce or your closet with locally-made goods from Sydney's best markets—this is our complete guide for 2025. 

Make conscious and considered choices when deciding what to buy and give.

To all of you who kind of want to be more sustainable but kind of think it sounds too tricky, we hear you. We’ll admit that it can be tough to navigate what’s good and what’s bad in this crazy world of greenwashing and information overload, but it’s really not so hard to be the eco-warrior you always wanted to be.

Sydney is home to a rich and eclectic collection of businesses owned or operated by our refugee community—serving up vegan Palestinian sweets, Iraqi shortbread, Rohingya curries, and Syrian breakfast buffets. 

Set yourself a pledge to give back. Volunteering your time and effort is a rewarding, warm-fuzzy experience. The positives are endless: you’ll experience a sense of purpose, learn new skills, and connect with cool new peeps.

As well as producing the world’s first Kurdish Gin and Kurdish Arak, refugee-owned Bandesh Wine & Spirits has a dream of a better future. 

We chat with Gina Barjeel about her eponymous fashion label, how her cultural background and ethos influence her work, and empowering women. 

Here’s how to recycle your stuff the right way in Sydney. 

Your guide to volunteering in Sydney. 

We chat with Tinsae Elsdon about Ethiopian food, coffee ceremonies, and where she shops for Ethiopian spices in Sydney. 

To put it simply, the theory behind the CE is about transforming our current linear consumption model (Take-Make-Waste) into a circular one that keeps products and services in use for longer (well, forever) to reduce environmental impact and protect precious natural resources. 

Born in 2019, Australian-based sneaker brand BLAC needs to be on your radar if you’re looking to take positive, planet-saving steps when it comes to style.

On a journey to live a greener life? Technology is proving itself as the key to protecting Mother Earth. Innovative products are making sustainable living more viable and, ultimately, making the world a better place.

 Consider this your ultimate map to guilt-free shopping and you in when it comes to securing some seriously smug second-hand finds.

Originally slated to open in July this year, we finally have an official open date for Josh Niland's newest Sydney eatery, Charcoal Fish. 

When it comes to the beauty industry, sustainable and eco-conscious aren’t often the first words that come to mind, which is why we’re just a little bit obsessed with Anna Ross, the boss babe behind vegan and cruelty-free beauty brand Kester Black.

Although in-person NAIDOC Week events have been wiped from the calendar for a second year due to COVID lockdowns, there’s plenty of meaningful ways to support First Nations peoples from your own home this week. 

The winners of The Circle Awards AUS & NZ 2021 have officially been announced, and our carts (and hearts) are full of sustainable swaps we never knew we needed.

After being unceremoniously cancelled in 2020 and following a year that might have left us all wondering if fashion week was still relevant, Afterpay Australian Fashion Week felt a whole lot more electric this time around—and there are a few reasons why. 

Tetsuya’s is one of Sydney’s most iconic restaurants—a bright star on Australia’s Japanese dining scene for over 30 years. From within a heritage-listed site on Kent Street, complete with a tranquil Japanese garden, chef Tetsuya Wakuda OAM has wooed generations with his finessed traditional fare—and a certain confit of ocean trout that remains to be one of Sydney’s most loved dishes.

WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that the following article contains the names of people who have passed away.

Here at Urban List, we're passionate about putting our best foot forward, dedicated to being as conscious as possible when it comes to sustainability.

Single O is one of Sydney's OG purveyors of fine bean juice. These guys have been championing and cheering caffeine in all its finer formats since 2003 and their pint-sized Surry Hills cafe was one of the spots where Sydney’s coffee culture really kicked off.

The hospitality sector has had a lot of time to think during the pandemic. Award-winning bartender Matt Whiley decided that once things returned to some semblance of normality, he was going to do things differently—like, really differently. 

Sex education in Australia needs a shake-up—here’s how you can help. 

It’s part of a big plan to plant one million trees in Sydney by 2022.

Like your supper with a side of goodwill?

Meet the matriarcy.

Sometimes, far away from the noise of new restaurants in Sydney—the hats, the brassy international accolades, the frenzied Instagram food crazes, and the trendy chefs—you get to find something quietly special. For Sydney right now, we think that dining spot is French-inspired, sustainably-minded fine diner, Métisse.

Clean up our beautiful harbour while you explore with an oar. 

In spite of the environmental impact and the fair warning—it seems the current NSW Government has forgotten about last summer’s fires: logging has recommenced in full force in NSW. Here's how you can help to stop it. 

NSW has just scored a ripping new regional escape directory that’s brimming with unique properties. Think forest cabins, floating villas and tiny houses. 

Over the last few years, natural, organic and sustainable wines have edged their way into Sydney's heart. If you're looking to play at home, there are a few heroes selling bottles of the good stuff in Sydney. 

Sydney has a whole lot of supermarket alternatives that’ll have you trimming your carbon footprint in favour of more sustainable (more flavourful, even) food.

These days, every decision and effort we make counts—so here are the most sustainable and environmentally friendly restaurants in Sydney.

Being vegetarian is remarkably easy in Sydney these days. We’ve narrowed down our favourite plant-based restaurants for all the vegetarians out there to add to their dining bucket list.

As far as dream jobs go, they don’t get much greater than owning your own record label. Top that off with the fact that you’re only 23 years old and you’ve got Perth music mogul in the making, Vincent Tolefe. Transforming his love of beats into Your Angle Records, Tolefe is solid proof that hard work, patience and passion are all the ingredients you need for the kind of day job most could only image.