Planet

Sustainability

This Compact New EV Will Get You From School Pick Ups To Date Nights In Style

Keen to live life more sustainably without compromising on style and those experiences that make for a thrilling social life? Us too. 

Gifts

These 21 Sustainable Gifts Are Your Answer To Conscious Gift Giving

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

Features

Here’s How To Shake Up Your Shopping Habits For Good In 2024

Ever find yourself in a sustainability bind when it comes to shopping? We’ve joined forces with passionate eco-activist Tamara DiMattina and Momentum Energy to streamline your shopping experience—from weekly groceries to gifting wish lists and finding that perfect party dress. 

Food & Drink

Old Garage Cafe

Down in the leafy streets of Camberwell, there’s a sleepy little cafe that’s been making some noise in the suburban precinct. Old Garage Cafe which launched back in mid-2020 has made its home out of a former mechanic's garage, the industrial feel of the space with the raw brick interior brings back some of that repair shop charm. Tucked down a side street just off the main drag Old Garage has a very casual feel, a doggo friendly policy also adds to the welcome atmosphere.

Bars & Pubs

Glou

We love a wine down here in Melbourne, and we also love a yarn. So we think you’re going to love the new Glou wine store opening on Smith Street. The team behind Glou are building a community around sustainability and awareness in the wine industry with their part shop, part tasting bar. You can pop in for a chat and a sample, before stocking up on your favourite sustainable drops. 

Sustainability

How Choosing the Right Energy Provider Can Support An Eco-Friendly Impact

Feeling a little helpless about the perils of climate change? Us too. To take back some control, we’ve teamed up with Momentum Energy to learn more about how seemingly small switches can have a positive environmental impact. 

Sustainability

Keen To Reduce Your Environmental Impact In 2024? It All Starts With Your Morning Coffee

Starting your morning with a half marathon and an entire self-help novel sounds good in theory, but who has time for that?

Features

5 Surprisingly Simple Ways To Level Up Your Sustainability Game At Home

With the average Aussie generating a staggering 540 kgs of waste a year, it’s time to get savvy with sustainability around the home. Waste Sorted is fighting the battle against mindless landfill teaching West Aussies how to be a GREAT Sort and do better than the bin. 

Food & Drink

From Tinker To Joe Franks, Here’s Everywhere You Can Fill Up For Free In Melbourne This Week

Looking for the coolest cafes across Melbourne to fill up at? We’ve sussed the ultimate hit list for you below—happy sipping. 

Features

5 Reasons You Should Consider Investing In An Electric Car To Save Some Coin And The Planet

We’ve teamed up with the crew at BMW—who have just dropped the BMW iX1, their first fully electric SUV—to fill you in on the reasons an electric car is the right move for you.

Restaurants

Australia’s Most Sustainable Restaurants Worth The Road Trip

To celebrate the release of the BMW iX1, we’ve teamed up with BMW to bring you the best (and tastiest) sustainable restaurants worth jumping in the car for. 

Features

Host The Ultimate Sustainable Dinner Party With These Easy Hacks

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.

Travel

6 Ways To Travel More For Less This Year

We know, it feels like everyone is enjoying their Euro Summer adventures right now and the itch for a holiday is stronger than ever. If you're thinking of planning a getaway, we've teamed up with AGL Energy to compile a savvy list of tips and tricks to help you optimise your out-of-office hours while minimising your eco-footprint. 

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6 Ways To Embrace Slow Fashion And Reduce Wardrobe Waste

Looking for a way to shake up your wardrobe without costing the earth?? We've teamed up with AGL to share some top tips you can use to minimise material waste, reduce your spending and most importantly, refine your wardrobe.

Things To Do

6 Sustainable Ways to Step Up Your Next Soirée

Get your greenest thumbs on and elevate your next shindig from ordinary to eco-extraordinary.

Things To Do

6 Meaningful Ways to Give Back To Your Local Community

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.

Features

I Spent A Week Embracing A More Sustainable Morning Routine, Here’s What I Learned

Producer Caitlin Booth takes spent a week embracing more sustainable practices, drawing inspiration from 7-Eleven’s recent sustainable glow-up.

Features

6 Daily Sustainable Swaps To Help The Planet And Your Pocket

Save your hip pocket and contribute to fairtrade coffee practices by buying your morning brew at 7-Eleven. 

Broaden Your Knowledge On Sustainable Investing With This 101 Guide

Going green doesn't mean your investments will be lean. 

Travel

Dive Australia’s First Buoyant Reef Now On The GC

Get your flippers ready and slip into your scuba suit, Wonder Reef is finally here.

Entertainment

From A Viral Instagram Post To Building A Social Movement With Chanel Contos

It’s pretty remarkable to think an entire movement can be born from a powerful Instagram post. But that’s exactly what happened when Sydneysider Chanel Contos created an Instagram poll in 2021 asking her followers if they or someone close to them had been sexually assaulted when they were at school. Within 24 hours, over 200 people replied ‘yes’. 

Youth Advocate Yasmin Poole On Morning Rituals And Working Towards A Better Future

Have you ever wondered how someone landed that dream job? What about the jobs you never knew existed? 

Things To Do

Crush The Kilometres And Help Make A Difference This World Ocean Day

You’ve got Azalea Banks’ 212 blasting through your headphones, you’ve just clocked your fastest km to date, and you’re rounding out your morning run with an epic view of the sunrise. Feels good, doesn’t it? 

Features

Inside The Fashion Psyche Of Hobart Designer Noah Johnson And His Cult Designs

Welcome to 30 Faces, a celebration of 30 individuals changing the world by 2030. A destination to unearth how they got here, what fuels their passion, and to educate and inspire your own journey towards a future made better. 

Artist Bianca Beers On Noughties Wardrobe Keepsakes And Unapologetic Style

We sat down with Western Sydney artist Bianca Beers to chat about growing up in a Paris Hilton-inspired style era (we’re talking over-glossed lips, huge hoops and quilted handbags) and how her art has led her to embrace her colourful and confident style today. 

Features

Here’s What The Circular Economy Is All About, According To 5 Sustainability Experts

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. 

Join The Nationwide Search For Changemakers Shaping The Next Decade

We’re shining the spotlight on climate activists, First Nations rights advocates, eco innovators, sustainable fashion designers, disability rights champions, body positivity campaigners—anyone who is taking the leap to be the change they want to see. And now we want you to be part of the search to find our 30th face shaping the next decade. 

U:L Recommends

Treat Yourself To Life-Changing Sleep With Our Favourite Sustainable Bedding

Check out our favourite sustainable bedding from Sheridan. 

Health + Wellness

Meet The 4 Aussie Artists Giving Skincare A Sustainable Glow Up

Skincare is getting a sustainable glow up. There’s new energy bubbling in 2022 with customers making conscious choices and brands who are transforming our skincare routines and beauty cabinets for the better. 

Fashion

This Sustainable Sneaker Brand Will Plant 5 Trees For Every Purchase

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.

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TikTok Duo Josh And Matt Design On Their Gumtree Collab And How To Nail A Sustainable Aesthetic

Here at Urban List, we often talk about how your fashion thirst shouldn’t cost the earth—and the same goes for your home. 

Activities & Itineraries

Live The Good Life With Our Sustainable Summer Hosting Guide

If there’s one thing we love about summer, it’s the stacked social cal. And after this year, throwing on your party threads never felt so good. Whether it’s balmy beachside picnics, classy evening soirées or just a good old festive dinner—summer is where the socialising is at.   

Features

7 Easy Ways To Pay It Forward And Feel Good This Holiday Season

We’ve wrapped up seven easy ways you can pay it forward to those who need it most. 

Travel

Embrace Eco Travel With These 10 Tours Across Australia

With interstate travel finally back on the table, we’ve spent the last few weeks scouring the web, trying to nab some next-level accom without breaking the bank. But after flights being grounded for so long, we can’t help but worry about the environmental impact of everyone getting back in the air. Sure, we want to explore every hidden corner of our stunning sunburnt land, but first, we need to work on reducing the toll of our travel lust.

Features

8 Game-Changing Investments To Help You Live Your Most Sustainable Year Yet

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.

Activities & Itineraries

Melbourne’s Eco-Friendly Picnic Boats Are Officially Back On The Water

One of the big trends in Melbourne of late is the want to utilise the Yarra more than we have in the past.

Features

How Kester Black’s Anna Ross Created A Sustainable Beauty Empire

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.

Food & Drink

Work More Plant-Based Meals Into Your Diet Thanks To This Nutritious Meal Delivery Service

Want to be kind to the planet? One of the easiest ways is to eat less meat and move towards a plant-based diet—plus it’s also a seriously healthy way to live. 

Features

Make A Difference And Support These 6 Businesses Doing Better By Our Planet

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.

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Make Your Next Splurge A Sustainable One With This Beginner’s Guide To Eco-Conscious Shopping

According to the Global Fashion Agenda, across the next decade, the fashion industry’s carbon footprint is set to increase to 2,791 million tonnes and will create 148 million tonnes of waste. Yep, it can feel overwhelming. 

Features

Learn About Climate Breakdown In The Daintree Rainforest With This VR Experience

Tune in as we sit down with climate change activist and Bank Australia customer, Emma Roberts, to chat about how her passion for the Daintree Rainforest and virtual reality installations.

Features

Show Your Fave Zero-Waste Brand Some Love By Voting In The Circle Awards Now

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.

Features

6 Of The Biggest Trends Born In 2020 That Will Continue To Burn Bright This Year

2020 was, without a doubt, a turbulent year. Both bizarre and devastating, it was one of the most memorable in recent history, with every corner of culture—from music to work-life, fashion, sex, travel, and politics—getting shaken to the core. The New York Times called it “The Year of Blur”, paradoxically packed with significant events, but also a year in which time seemed strung out in the void, slowed down, and stretched out indefinitely. 

Food & Drink

We Just Found Melbourne’s Best Vegan Breakfast And It Is All Time

What happens when you pair a Melbourne dining favourite with gourmet ice cream heavyweights Connoisseur? Well, that’s when the magic happens and we have the delicious scoop on where you can sink your teeth into their new, limited-edition foodie collab. 

Features

Get Down And Decadent, Where To Load Up On Connoisseur’s New Drool-Worthy Plant Based Flavours

Since your perfect summer wouldn’t be complete without the perfect ice cream to cool you down after a long day of sun-drenched adventures, the gang over at Connoisseur have blessed us with a whole new decadent range of plant based ice creams. 

Features

Take Off On An Epic Eco-Experience With This Sustainably Focussed Adventure Company

Say hello to WAM! (Wild Adventures Melbourne), the newest arrival on Melbourne’s eco-tourism scene.

Features

​Here’s How To Make An Impact This Festive Season, According To Trailblazer Jan Fran

If this year has taught us anything, it’s that we can no longer stand back and turn a blind eye to the injustices of the world.

Features

Clear Your Cabinet And Get Glowing With This Earth-Friendly Botanicals Skincare

Gone are the days that we would have to choose between our skin and the planet. The future is here people, and our skin is looking oh, so bright. 

Features

Grow Your Own Produce At These Melbourne Community Gardens

There have been some trends floating around during isolation—baking sourdough, banana bread, taking up pottery, along with planting vegetables and trying to grow something remotely edible.

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Help Save The Planet With Fresh Kicks And Threads From Timberland

If you’re like us, and recently you’ve found yourself taking a closer look at your wardrobe and shoe collection—then you’ll want to pay attention to the latest earth-saving initiative to drop from Timberland Australia. 

Features

How You Can Help Save The Planet By Making The Switch To Renewable Energy

​When it comes to leading an environmentally conscious life, it’s safe to say we’re all stepping up our game. Whether it’s something small like ditching disposable cups, starting your own food compost at home, or nagging your partner to remember the reusable shopping bags — every little bit helps to make a huge difference.

Features

Get Ready To Dine Al Fresco, Embrace Body Neutrality And See Social Justice In The Stars

Welcome to Culture Curve—your go-to guide to what’s on the rise and slide in culture in October 2020.

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Step To It, Superga Just Launched An Organic Sneaker Range Dropping This Spring

Hit your stride this spring, Superga just launched an all new Organic Collection that sees their classic styles given an environmentally conscious makeover.

Fashion

Get Back Into Denim With Levi’s Dreamy New Earth-Friendly Cottonised Hemp Jeans

Created using Cottonised Hemp instead of regular cotton, Levi’s new High Loose and Stay Loose jeans are a revelation for our times. If you’re not yet clued into Cottonised Hemp, this water-saving, energy-saving, low-chemical innovation has been specially designed for Levi’s. 

Features

Get Behind The Latest Climate Initiative And Refresh Your Locks For A Cool Cause

This August, an incredible climate initiative is going down to save our forests and your haircut could be the answer.

Features

Why You Need To Get Around These 7 Boss Females Making Powerful Social Change

At Urban List, we strongly believe in working together to make small, sustainable changes towards a greener, more socially conscious planet. We believe in the women grabbing these opportunities with both hands and driving change within our communities and beyond to reduce the gap between intention and action.

Fashion

Level Up Your Plastic-Free July With These 5 Life-Changing Essentials

Got your keep cup and a reusable water bottle? Level up with these plastic-free products from Go For Zero. 

Features

Save The Planet And Plant A Tree With This Brand New Eco Loo Paper

This toilet paper, made of recycled paper and bamboo, is all the three ply goodness your cheeks could need, and their 100 per cent sustainable ethos will keep your carbon footprint from going down the toilet. 

Features

Ditch Excessive Plastic Packaging Thanks To These 5 Eco-Friendly Brands

Shop sustainably with these five eco-conscious brands that are ditching plastic packaging in favour of a more sustainable option. 

Features

Bring Back Your Reusable Cup At These Cafes Using The Contactless Coffee Method

It took a while, but Australia was almost at a point where hitting your local coffee joint without a reusable cup would raise eyebrows. It was another notch the sustainability belt for our country, but then the pause button was hit on life as we know it, and everyone’s local reverted back to single-use coffee cups in a bid to minimise the spread of COVID-19. 

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Heads Up, Here’s How You Can Score This Hyped Personalised Water Bottle For A Steal

Grab yourself a re-usable, vacuum insulated water bottle that is not only stylish but also eco-friendly for 20 per cent off. 

Features

How Victoria’s Eastern Barred Bandicoot Population Has Recovered From The Brink Of Extinction

Turning on the TV, or hitting up social media lately has been risky if you want a bit of good news to sink into your brain. Thankfully, we've got some right here.

Restaurants

Go Green With Melbourne’s Best Vegan Restaurants Delivering Now

Just a decade years ago, the dine-in options for the vegan at the table would likely consist of a bland, starchy patty of nothingness accompanied by several nondescript lettuce leaves. Times be changing though, and Melbourne is at the forefront of flying the flag for the plant-exclusive and plant-curious alike.

U:L Recommends

Level Up Your Workout Wardrobe With First Base’s Fully-Sustainable, Made-To-Order Capsule

Australian lifestyle and activewear label First Base are tackling the fight against fast fashion head-on with the announcement of their first fully-sustainable made-to-order capsule. So, if you’ve been looking for an excuse to update your WFH uniform, now is absolutely the time. 

Features

Take A Ride In An Electric Old-School Land Rover With This New Melbourne Startup

When the Land Rover Defender arrived in Australia for the first time in 1948, nobody expected the cultural effect it would have on the country.

Bars & Pubs

Do Good With Every Drop and Get Your Booze From These Sustainable Bottle Shops

It’s safe to say at least a few of us have been partial to ‘just one more’ while we’ve been in quarantine, but don’t be too hard on yourself, we’re here to tell you that pouring another may not be such a bad idea. Lockdown has had many positive effects on the environment—like that hole in the ozone closing up—and if you shop at bottlo’s that focus on stocking sustainably conscious drops, you too can be a part of the movement.

Bakeries & Delis

Ditch The Plastic Packaging At 10 Of Melbourne’s Best Bulk Food Stores

Now, more than ever, we need to be sure about what we're buying, and the way in which produce is packaged and delivered.

Features

Have A Positive Impact On The World With Us As We Take On Sustainability

Let us introduce Urban List Sustainability, a commitment we are launching in partnership with Bank Australia to take our platform and our incredible community to the next level as we commit to having an even more positive impact on the planet and its people.

Features

Wave Goodbye To Excessive Packaging With These 6 Eco-Friendly Brands

These six standout brands with innovative packaging ideas are here to help save the planet. 

Things To Do

Indulge In Decadent Vegan Desserts At This New Plant-Based Restaurant

Eden, Bondi’s newest plant-based restaurant, is helping you level up your vegan dinner date with their exclusive beach-inspired, decadent dessert.

Fashion

What You Need To Know About Melbourne’s New Eco-Friendly Shopping Centre

Hyped up as the 'world’s most sustainable shopping centre', Burwood Brickworks (in Burwood) is expected to open late 2019, and if the rendered images are anything to go by it's going to be a feast for the eyes. If fulfilled, the master plan aims to develop 700 new homes, shops and entertainment; Woolworths, Dan Murphy’s, a Readings Cinema—everything you need under one very green roof.

Features

Meet The Team Who Want To Build Skyfarms All Over Melbourne

Earlier this year a massive project was announced on the banks of the Yarra. It sounded like something from the future, a farm occupying the roof of a tower in Melbourne’s CBD, one that will take up around 2000-square metres of space, and is expected to produce five tonnes of producer per year.

Empowered | How This Company Turned At-Home Coffee Sustainable

We talk with Crema Joe co-founder, Kayla, about the shocking impact of single-use coffee capsules and why recycling isn’t always the answer.

Fashion

9 Of The Best Fashion Brands That Started In Melbourne

Melbourne is home to some incredible fashion labels, with many labels still choosing to manufacture here, in Melbourne. Contemporary, sustainable and high-fashion labels make up some of our best talents. 

Features

Melbourne’s First-Ever Sky Farm Will Live On The Banks Of The Yarra

If you’ve ever been to that Sky Park in the CBD and thought “Hm, I like this, but I wish we had a farm-sized version,” well then all your very specific dreams are about to come true.

Fashion

Fall For The Winter Charms Of This New Sustainable Knitwear Label

Described as “earth, people and animal-friendly”, each one of Wolfgang Scout's plush jumpers is hand knitted by Indian artisans, made using Australian yarn and hand-dyed with natural and organic dyes. 

Markets & Food Events

Where To Load Up On Magnum’s New Vegan Dessert

Magnum has announced that vegans can have a piece of the goodness.

Fashion

Streetwear Label HoMie’s Founders On Stigma, Sustainability And Being A Social Enterprise

In the past five years, homelessness in Australia has increased by 14 per cent. Broken down, that’s 50 homeless people per 10,000 people. If you live in the city, there’s a large chance you encounter homelessness every day. But how often do you actually stop, sit down, and have a conversation with these people?

Features

The Ultimate Vegan Gift Guide

You never realise how hard it is to buy for a vegan until you’re stuck doing it. Make things easy on yourself and treat your vegan friend to one of these treats.

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7 Sustainable Startups To Get Behind

To propel positive change this holiday season, we’ve rounded up seven of our favourite ING Dreamstarter startups, each with standout causes to get behind and sustainable products worth giving.

Health + Wellness

This Colourful Vegan Beauty Range Is Damn Insta-Worthy & Just Gimme

Seriously though, how much time do you have because we’ve been lusting over everything all damn day.

Beauty

10 Eco-Friendly Beauty Products Doing Their Bit For The World’s Oceans

Down in this beautiful pocket of the world we’re blessed with some of the most incredible beaches and marine life, but it’s on us all do our bit to ensure the next gen can enjoy and appreciate that big, beautiful blue and its inhabitants.

Wellness

Vegan or Plant-Based: What’s The Difference?

People are becoming more aware of the impact consuming animal products has on our bodies and our planet and are gradually reducing their intake. With so many ways of doing this, you can hardly blame us for feeling a little lost when it comes to understanding what all these diets actually mean. We set out to discover what the differences between veganism and plant-based eating really are, and this is what we found.

Beauty

12 Of The Best Australian Vegan Beauty Products To Invest In

Imagine if vegan beauty was more than a hashtag? Could the cute bunny on the packaging really make a difference? Here at The Urban List, we like to think so and because we are a socially responsible bunch who likes to support Australian companies, we have sourced the absolute best so you can treat yourself guilt-free. No need to thank us, we're here to share the love!