The Sweet Bones Sustainability Story

When Sweet Bones owners Emily and Russell Brindley first crossed paths, Russ was already living a vegan lifestyle—his compassion for animals shaped by a childhood spent on a farm just outside Canberra. Meanwhile, Em was on her own journey of personal growth and mindful living back in Texas, and it didn’t take long for veganism to strike a deep chord with her values. Together, they began to envision a space where veganism wasn’t just about dietary choices, but a way of life—one rooted in compassion, sustainability, and leading by example.

Thus, Sweet Bones was born—a business with a deep sense of purpose, driven not only by commitment to animal welfare, but equally by dedication to nurturing and protecting our environment. From day one, Em and Russ were determined that Sweet Bones would stand as more than just another run-of-the-mill café. They imagined it as a gentle yet powerful advocate for a kinder, healthier, and more sustainable world.

How We’re Already Walking the Talk

At Sweet Bones, we’ve always put animal welfare front and centre, promoting compassionate living through our delicious, all-vegan menu. Over the years, we’ve proudly supported like-minded businesses and community initiatives, including our longtime friends at Little Oak Sanctuary, reinforcing our shared values of kindness and respect for animals.

But our commitment to building a kinder world goes even further, extending more broadly into sustainability and environmental responsibility. For example, we have a dedicated network of staff and customers who compost much of our organic waste production, reducing what ends up in landfill. Our takeaway packaging is either recyclable or compostable, and we try to opt for ingredients which are locally sourced, organic, and sustainably produced— ensuring our dishes not only taste amazing but also nourish our planet.

Of course, there’s always more we can do, and we’re excited about taking the next steps on our sustainability journey. This is where our longtime General Manager, Shannon Butler, enters the story. Shannon recently launched Flourish and Flour, a blog dedicated to practical, family-friendly strategies for sustainable living. With strong alignment in values and vision, this partnership feels like the natural next chapter in our shared commitment to sustainability.

Through Flourish and Flour, Shannon will be documenting Sweet Bones’ ongoing sustainability efforts—offering a behind-the-scenes look at what we’re already doing and the changes we’re making, big and small. Whether you’re here for the cake, the community, or the climate action, we hope you’ll join us as we explore new ways to tread lightly on the planet.

Here’s What We’re Dreaming Up

We’ve got a stack of exciting plans on the horizon, and we’re looking forward to sharing the journey with you—honestly, openly, and with plenty of learning along the way.

Expanding our composting program
We’re aiming to compost even more of our organic waste—keeping valuable nutrients out of landfill and returning them to the earth.

Encouraging reusable cups
We’re introducing initiatives to support and reward customers who bring their own cups, helping reduce single-use waste in our coffee station.

Reducing packaging waste
We’re constantly reevaluating our takeaway packaging, aiming to eliminate anything unnecessary and switch to compostable wherever possible.

Sourcing even more local and organic ingredients
We’re doubling down on working with ethical, local suppliers who align with our values.

Exploring renewable energy
We’re actively researching solar and other sustainable energy options to power our café with the planet in mind.

Hosting community sustainability workshops
We plan to team up with local eco champions to host hands-on, family-friendly workshops right here in the community.

Creating a visible sustainability hub at Sweet Bones
From signage to info boards to real-time impact stats, we want our sustainability efforts to be seen, understood, and celebrated by our community.

Sharing our sustainability wins—and fails
Transparency matters to us. We’ll be sharing both the successes and the challenges of our sustainability journey through Flourish and Flour and Sweet Bones socials.

Follow the Journey

We invite you, our incredible customers and community, to join us on this exciting journey. Your support, ideas, and participation are invaluable as we move towards an even greener Sweet Bones. Together, we can create meaningful change—one action at a time.