SBS Names Shortlisted Brands For 2026 SBS Media Sustainability Challenge

Four organisations have been shortlisted for the 2026 SBS Media Sustainability Challenge, with Australian Museum, Mobile Muster, Recycle All and Vehicle Emissions Star Ratings progressing to a formal pitch before a winner is selected later this year.

Now in its second year, the initiative offers $500,000 in free advertising inventory to the best TV creative that normalises sustainable behaviour and promotes improved environmental choices by consumers. The winning spot will also receive consulting support from Sustainable Screens Australia to help ensure the production meets best-practice sustainability standards.

The shortlisted entries and their creative partners are:
- Enigma with their entry for Mobile Muster
- Focus Creative with their entry for Vehicle Emissions Star Rating
- Howatson + Company with their entries for Australian Museum
- Sandbox Media with their entry for Recycle All

A panel of industry experts narrowed down submissions from across Australia and a range of sectors. "We want to congratulate our shortlisted brands – as with last year we were impressed with the level of creativity and consideration put into their submissions and how they showcased how their brand or product is normalising sustainable consumer behaviours," said Kate Young, National Manager CulturalConnect at SBS and part of the five-member jury.

This year's jury comprises Adam Liaw, host of The Cook Up with Adam Liaw and Co-Chair of Sustainable Screens Australia; Arum Nixon, Australia Chapter Lead at Ad Net Zero; Abigail Thomas, Head of Sustainability at SBS; Kate Young, National Manager, SBS CulturalConnect; and Angus Gordon, Head of Creative & Production Services, SBS CulturalConnect.

For 2026, entrants were asked to centre their ideas on one of three themes: NATURE – how a brand protects and restores the natural environment; CARBON – how a brand reduces emissions; and WASTE – how a brand cuts waste through sustainable practices or innovation.

"We were so impressed with how this year's entrants adapted their entries to meet the new criteria and address the areas of nature, carbon and waste. It is a clear demonstration of how brands are thinking about these topics in their business practices and ensuring they are communicating this to consumers," said Young.

The winner will be announced later in the year.

SBS also marked Earth Day (22 April) by releasing its second annual Sustainability Report. Commenting on the 2026 report, Abigail Thomas, Head of Sustainability at SBS, said: "This is the second year where we have released a detailed Sustainability Report which explains our sustainability journey, outlines our progress towards our ambitious Net Zero target, and also captures our early work on a Nature and Biodiversity strategy for SBS."

The report confirms validation approval from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) for SBS's updated near-term emissions reduction target, ensuring the broadcaster's decarbonisation pathway remains aligned with the latest climate science. The SBS Sustainability Report 2026 is available to download on the SBS website.