The Boating Industry Association Ltd (BIA)has launched the call for nominations for the 2025 Sustainability in the Boating Industry Award.  

Nominations are now open for the Award and the winner will be announced at the Sydney Boat Show in August. Nominees will be assessed on their achievements in reducing environmental impacts through actions such as use of sustainable materials and manufacturing processes, contributing to emissions reduction, and/ or implementing sustainable business practices. 

The award recognises companies or individuals who have demonstrated outstanding efforts in contributing towards sustainable business practices and/ or supporting the sustainability of boating. 

2024 Winner – Steber International 

Steber International is a 79 year old Australian owned and operated family business that is highly regarded, with their business spanning recreational, commercial and Defence maritime sectors. Their sustainability efforts date back to 2009 and have accelerated over recent years into a company-wide responsibility and effort.

Steber International’s passion and commitment to sustainability and good environmental practice has driven the business to embed a formalised environmental sustainability system, with operational practices and procedures. Initiatives focus on reducing waste and pollution, using sustainable materials, and developing more sustainable propulsion systems. Programs include waste separation, noise reduction, efficient dust extraction and vessel refurbishment.

Learn more about their sustainability efforts HERE.

Pictured: BIA President Adam Smith with 2024 Boating Industry Sustainability Award winner Alan Steber, General Manager Steber International.

Award Overview

The BIA Strategic Business Plan has a vision of a vibrant industry supporting boating as a standout choice in leisure activity for everyone; and values sustainability.   

BIA launched the Sustainability in the Boating Industry Award in 2023, to recognise companies or individuals who have demonstrated outstanding efforts in promoting environmentally responsible practices within the boating industry.  

Criteria

Nominations are invited for outstanding achievements covering the following criteria:

• Reduction of waste and pollution
• Use of materials and manufacturing processes to reduce environmental impacts
• Contributing to emissions reduction
• Implementation of sustainable business practices
• Contributing to sustainability of waterways and aquatic life.

Note: nominations can be made to a single criterion or any combination of the above criteria.

Nominations should be headed Response to the Criteria and be no more than 500w and cover: 

1. How it responds to a singular criterion or multiple criteria (above)
2. When the effort was initiated
3. Why the effort was initiated
4. Duration of the effort eg., has been running for X years/ months
5. How many staff/ team members involved
6. Quantify the outcome/ benefits eg., waste or emission reduction by volume, reduction in landfill etc
7. The contact details of the person nominated to receive the award.

Additional supporting evidence including quality photographs and video can be provided as attachments to the Response to the Criteria. By providing supporting images and/ or video content you do so by also permitting BIA to use such material for promotional purposes relating to the Awards and Sustainability.  

Nominations for the 2025 Award will open in June and are to be delivered by the deadline of 4 July 2025 by emailing marketing@bia.org.au. 

The winner will be announced at the Sydney Boat Show Opening Ceremony on 14 August.

Why does this Award matter?

An industry report into the expectations of younger boaters when buying a boat made the following points about sustainability:

• Younger consumers are willing to pay a premium for sustainably made products
• The boating sector should consider emphasizing four factors that could help sway younger demographics:
  • customer experience improvements,
  • product ease-of-use enhancements,
  • sustainability advances, and
  • service integration and business-building initiatives
• Environmentally conscious younger consumers will expect decarbonization of manufacturing processes (perhaps coupled with manufacturers’ purchases of carbon offsets) and reduced emissions during vehicle operation (with electric propulsion a key selling point)
• Forty percent of millennials are concerned about the environmental impact of their boats (compared with 28 percent of Gen Xers and 24 percent of boomers)
• 60 percent of millennials would be interested in an alternatively fuelled recreational boat (compared with 45 percent of Gen Xers and 33 percent of boomers)
• Millennials are now the most populous consumer group in the United States (having surpassed boomers in 2019), and the research suggests they will remain the most substantial consumer set for recreational boats and vehicles until roughly 2036, when Gen Z is expected to overtake them.

Sustainability matters. Boating matters.