Terra Tag is a Queensland finalist in the Telstra 2025 Best of Business Awards
Recognised in the Promoting Sustainability category
We are thrilled to share that Terra Tag has been named a Queensland finalist in the Telstra 2025 Best of Business Awards. The recognition is for Promoting Sustainability and it shines a light on a simple idea that is changing how events show up for the planet.
Why this matters for the planet
Plastic conference badges and lanyards can linger in landfill for centuries. Australia hosts more than 484,000 events every year which adds up to a lot of plastic that no one asked for … and a legacy no one wants. Terra Tag offers a practical switch. Our badges are handmade from thick, durable seed paper and paired with biodegradable lanyards. After the event, the badge can be planted to grow herbs or wildflowers. Nothing goes to landfill.
For sustainability teams, this is not only feel good. It is reportable. We include an order level CO₂ calculation so clients can quantify Scope 3 outcomes from avoiding plastic.
Handmade on the Sunshine Coast using donated office paper waste.
How we get it done
We hand make our paper on the Sunshine Coast using office paper waste donated by businesses, government, and schools across Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast. There is no shortage of paper in the world. Turning it into seed paper gives that material a second life and a purpose.
Events move fast and guest names change. We designed a two run production model. One run two weeks out catches most registrations. A final run just before show time captures late changes. We also design, assemble, and pack badges in guest list order so teams can open the box and get straight to work.
Each badge links to planting and recycling instructions on our site. Clear guidance means less confusion and better outcomes after the event.
One Badge. One Holder. One Lanyard. What’s It Really Costing the Planet?
Impact by the numbers
A typical plastic badge and lanyard weigh about 20 grams. At roughly 6 kilograms CO₂ per kilogram of plastic, that is about 0.12 kilograms CO₂ per set avoided when clients choose Terra Tag.
For a 600-person conference, that is around 72 kilograms of CO₂ avoided before you even consider landfill impacts.
Our seed paper lasts up to two years when stored well which helps planners manage lead times and reprints without waste.
These figures are estimates based on commonly cited plastic factors. There are a lot of eco claims in the event supply industry. We think transparency matters. That’s why every client receives a industry standard calculation of the reduced CO2 emissions saved by choosing Terra Tags instead of traditional plastic and synthetic event tags.
What the judges saw
Terra Tag began with craft knowledge and became a codified system that scales quality without stress for organisers. We combined papermaking science, design control, and clear workflow to deliver badges that look good from across the room and still serve the planet.
“We are builders at heart. Turning waste into something beautiful that people hold and then plant feels right for this place we call home,” says founder Rhonda Sweet.
For clients and community
This recognition belongs to the community that stands behind it. Donors keep clean office paper out of bins. Local making supports local jobs. Event teams get a smoother check in and a better story to tell. Worms love the lanyards too.
Designed for readability, made for recovery, finished for planting
What is next
We will keep refining artwork guidance for handmade paper, continue measuring impacts order by order, and expand local partnerships so more events can choose a lower impact path.
If you are planning a conference or team event and want to cut plastic and report real Scope 3 outcomes, we would love to help.
Ready to plan a lower impact event
Talk to us about plantable badges and biodegradable lanyards for your next event.
