As more businesses adopt net-zero and sustainability goals, people are seeing through false or fluffy environmental claims (greenwashing) and wanting meaningful change. The good news for businesses of all sizes is that real climate action is doable, thanks to a game-changing free program.

Boston Scientific and Baenziger Coles are two completely different businesses with very little in common, other than being in Australia.

The former is a large medical equipment manufacturer. The latter is a small architecture firm. Boston Scientific is part of a larger American company with thousands of employees globally, including a Sydney office. Baenziger Coles has a six-person team based in South Melbourne.

They have completely different day-to-day business concerns. But what they share is a commitment to taking real climate action and reducing their emissions.

Like many businesses, taking the first step was the hardest. But once they joined the CitySwitch program, all the pieces fell into place.

What is CitySwitch?

CitySwitch is Australia’s flagship decarbonisation program for office-based businesses, run by local councils like City of Sydney and partners like NABERS. It’s free to join and connects members with like-minded organisations, while helping each participant map out an actionable net-zero action plan.

That means whether you’re a small firm or a larger company, CitySwitch makes the path to sustainability much more achievable than you might think.

The service holds businesses’ hands through a range of impact-based actions, including calculating baseline emissions, switching to renewable energy, carbon accounting options, and greening up your supply chain and circular economy.

Meaningful steps forward for Melbourne firm

Melbourne architecture firm Baenziger Coles has been a CitySwitch member for more than 14 years. Director Sue Coles (pictured above) says the real value comes from how integrated CitySwitch has become in their day-to-day operations and long-term mindset.

“CitySwitch is a valuable resource and business tool,” she says. “They have always been there for anything we want to pursue within our business. They are there as a partner providing free services that are valued by the business community. They support, guide and provide information, in a very collaborative environment.”

Over the years, Baenziger Coles has retrofitted their building with solar panels, energy-efficient Enerlogic window films and hydronic heating panels. They host sustainability events, use a worm farm to compost food waste and supply that compost to Heartscapes for the Melbourne Pollinator Corridor.

But CitySwitch also helped them make bigger strides, like tracking emissions, improving their NABERS rating (now at 6 stars) and becoming carbon neutral with local offsets through the Aboriginal Carbon Foundation.

Sue is quick to point out the difference between surface-level actions and systemic change: “CitySwitch, in our view, has provided and maintained a grassroots approach and strategy where individuals and groups at the local level come together to create change.”

In other words, it’s not just buying a badge like some certifications. Instead, it’s helping organisations better understand the practical side of sustainability. And the base of information they were able to accumulate with CitySwitch over the years played a direct role in helping Baenziger Coles become a B Corp.

Their advice to other small businesses? “Join CitySwitch. And if you’re feeling lost about where to start on your energy and waste reduction journey and beyond, CitySwitch can help you out with templates and plenty of support.”

“Simply moving to paper straws isn’t going to do the job”

Medical equipment manufacturer Boston Scientific has made serious leaps with CitySwitch. Pictured: Harry Chiam. Image: Abril Felman.

Boston Scientific is an example of a company making meaningful change on a larger scale.

“Boston Scientific is committed to net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions globally by 2050,” says Joseph Montgomery, Associate Supply Chain Director ANZ at Boston Scientific. “Our Australia operations are actively contributing to this company-wide mission.”

The Australian arm of the company, headquartered in Sydney, first partnered with CitySwitch back in 2022 as they were looking for guidance around how to make a real impact. “We are passionate about the environment, but what do you do?” says Harry Chiam, Senior Commercial & Pricing Analyst at Boston Scientific.

“Simply moving to paper straws isn’t going to do the job. CitySwitch helped us understand what additional actions we can take for additional impact.”

One of their biggest wins? Overhauling their freight practices. Since January 2025, Boston Scientific ANZ has successfully transitioned 6.83 metric tons of endoscopic products from air to sea freight – a shift that has resulted in an estimated reduction of 100 metric tons in greenhouse gas emissions, representing a 99 per cent overall decrease.

CitySwitch was instrumental in helping them calculate baseline emissions and spot the most high-impact areas. That gave the team clarity on Scopes 1, 2 and 3 and helped set the focus. Boston Scientific then redirected their efforts towards domestic freight, switching to a carbon-neutral logistics partner and absorbing a 30 per cent increase in cost because, as Montgomery puts it, “it’s meaningful to us, to our customers, our teams and our staff.”

And it isn’t just about emissions. Chiam says they have a recycling program at work using CitySwitch materials and templates, which has generated thousands of dollars that’s been donated to charity, as well as the growth of their Environment Committee across Australia and New Zealand.

They have also made moves in their supply chain, by asking large customers to order once a day rather than 10+ times a day. Consolidating orders has led to a 25 per cent reduction of emissions year on year, while also being more cost effective for the business.

Making your CitySwitch

One theme comes through clearly: CitySwitch cuts through the greenwash and makes sustainability achievable, not overwhelming.

Indeed, while it might be natural to believe that being sustainable will end up costing you money, many businesses are finding that they are actually saving money while also saving the planet.

At the same time, they’re connecting with other businesses, councils and community groups on a deeper level and sharing ideas through CitySwitch’s introductions.

So, don’t be afraid of that first or second step. It’s all worth it.

Start your sustainability adventure or level up what you’re already doing at cityswitch.net.au.

This article is brought to you by Business Builders in partnership with City of Sydney.

Feature image: Sue Coles from Baenziger Coles.