Brisbane City Council’s
Sustainable BNE Festival
Brisbane’s favourite sustainable living festival
Sustainable BNE Festival
Discover practical ways to live more sustainably at Brisbane City Council’s annual Sustainable BNE Festival, held every autumn at the stunning Victoria Park, Herston. Set across 64 hectares of open space and rolling hills, this free, family- and dog-friendly event is the perfect opportunity to get outdoors, reconnect with nature, and embrace a greener lifestyle.
Delivered in partnership with Brisbane Sustainability Agency, the festival brings together Brisbane’s leading sustainability experts, offering hands-on workshops, engaging talks, and practical tips to help you reduce your environmental footprint.
Enjoy a full day of live entertainment, artisanal markets, food trucks, thrift shopping, and more—plus, don’t miss the chance to take home a free native plant to green up your space.
The Sustainable BNE Festival takes place every May—stay in the loop by following us on Facebook and Instagram and subscribing to our newsletter for the latest event updates!
2025 Festival Sponsors
2025 Festival Supporters
What’s On
There always so much to see and do at Brisbane’s favourite sustainable living festival!
Brisbane City Council Zone
Learn how to live more sustainably and pick up some free native plants to help keep Brisbane clean and green.
Live on the Green
sponsored by Seven
Join 7 News Brisbane’s weatherman, Tony Auden from the mainstage for live entertainment across the day!
Healthy Cities Zone sponsored by Bupa
Reconnect and take action for nature at this brand-new wellness zone focused on the connection between the health of the planet and the health of people.
Green Home Living Zone
There’s so many simple things we can all do at home to live a more sustainable life and bring down the cost of living at the same time!
Preserve Every Drop Zone
Every drop counts so come along and learn about the water cycle, sustainability and water security.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Zone
Learn how you can make sure nothing goes to waste in your home and workplace.
Eco Kids’ Zone
Are you looking for some fun and free eco-activities to do with your little ones? We’ve got you!
Move for Less Zone
Take your sustainable transport game to the next level, with free workshops and two and four-wheel test drives across the day.
Sustainable Shopping Zone
Reduce your fashion footprint with some preloved clothing and support Brisbane’s best creatives at BrisSyle’s handmade markets.
Feast Street
Feeling peckish? Brisbane’s favourite food trucks will be dishing up tasty treats with compostable servewear.
Resilient Home Zone
Prepare for future weather events and learn about flood resilient design, techniques and building materials to ‘build back better’.
Community Corner
Find out how you can help keep Brisbane clean, green and sustainable with some of Brisbane’s innovative community groups and organisations.
Connect and Regenerate
by QUT
This art installation created and driven by undergraduates of QUT’s School of Creative Practice is inspired by Barrambin/Victoria Park and its rich history of both colonial and Indigenous land use.
Green Heart Ranger
Learn more about sustainability and nature with hands-on craft activities in the Green Heart Ranger marquee.
Sponsorship & Exhibitor Opportunities
We are now taking expressions of interests for event sponsors and exhibitors. If you are interesting in finding out more information about showcasing your brand at Brisbane’s leading sustainability festival, please get in touch with us.
Volunteer Opportunities
Are you passionate about sustainability? We want you! We’re on the hunt for volunteers for this year’s festival.
About the Festival
The Sustainable BNE Festival is Brisbane’s premier sustainability event, inspiring residents to embrace more sustainable living through practical, everyday actions. Originally launched as the Green Heart Fair by Brisbane City Council in 2009, the festival has grown into a vibrant community celebration of innovation, education, and action for a more sustainable future.
Delivered in partnership with Brisbane Sustainability Agency, the festival brings together sustainability experts, local businesses, and community organisations to showcase the latest in eco-friendly living. Attendees can enjoy a diverse range of free activities, from hands-on workshops and interactive exhibits to inspiring talks, live entertainment, and kids’ activities—all designed to make sustainable choices accessible and fun for the whole family.
As part of our commitment to reducing environmental impact, the festival actively minimises waste through comprehensive recycling initiatives, composting stations, and a focus on reusable and sustainable materials. Our ultimate goal? A waste-free event that sets the standard for responsible event management.
Join us at the Sustainable BNE Festival and discover how small changes can make a big impact on Brisbane’s future!
Our Commitment to a Sustainable Festival
How We Reduce Waste
We’re committed to minimizing waste at the Sustainable BNE Festival through these initiatives:
- No single-use plastic water bottles. Instead, we offer free water refill stations.
- Discounts for reusable coffee cups. Bring your own cup and save!
- Keep Cup Library. Forgot yours? Borrow one from our Mug Library.
- Plastic-free policy. No plastic bags, plastic straws, or balloons are allowed.
Waste Stations
We love educating people about waste! Throughout the festival, you’ll find dedicated waste stations featuring general waste, recycling, and organic waste bins. Our sustainability partners at Mallow Sustainability ensure every bin is sorted 100% correctly at our onsite waste sorting station—meaning no food scraps or recyclables end up in landfill.
Waste Warriors
Need help sorting your waste? Our friendly Waste Warriors are here to guide you! They’ll answer any questions about what goes in which bin and will also be roaming the festival to ensure no stray rubbish is left behind.
Mug Library
Forgot your reusable coffee cup? No worries! Our Mug Library is here to help reduce single-use cups. Simply grab a mug, enjoy your coffee, and return it to be washed and reused. Plus, our coffee vendors offer discounts when you bring your own cup!
Upcycling at the Festival
We love giving new life to old items! Many of our festival props, signage, tables, and chairs are second-hand and repurposed. Items we can’t reuse are donated to the upcycling community to be transformed for those in need.
Sustainable Food Vendors
Food lovers, rejoice! Some of Brisbane’s best food trucks will be serving up delicious eats, catering to vegetarian, vegan, and meat lovers alike. Here’s how our vendors support sustainability:
- Sourcing ingredients locally where possible.
- Using recyclable or compostable serveware.
- Committing to eco-friendly practices like:
- Recycling cooking oil.
- Composting food waste.
- Avoiding artificial additives and chemicals.
Do Your Part – What to Bring
To help us create a clean, green Brisbane, pack these essentials:
- Hat for sun protection.
- Reusable water bottle. A reusable coffee cup.
- Reusable shopping bag.
- Your go card for public transport or a bike lock.
- A smile – sustainability is something to celebrate!
Join us in making the Sustainable BNE Festival a zero-waste, eco-friendly event!
FAQs
The Festival welcomes Brisbane’s best sustainability organisations, community groups, artisans, foodies, green-thumbs, conservationists, businesses and eco experts to share information and knowledge with Brisbane residents on how to live more sustainably. Fair goers are treated to heaps of fun activities and entertainment throughout the day with a jam-packed schedule.
Parking is also available for $10 per vehicle at QUT J Block under the QUT Kelvin Grove Stadium. Shuttle buses will be running from there from 8:30am – 3.30pm for event attendees. Head to the designated pick up / drop off zone.
Reusable water bottle
Reusable coffee cup
A smile
