sustainability at story bridge adventure climb
ADVENTURE WITH A LIGHTER FOOTPRINT
At Story Bridge Adventure Climb, we believe an unforgettable adventure can also be a responsible one.
Our experience takes place entirely on foot on Brisbane’s heritage-listed Story Bridge, giving visitors a unique perspective of an 85-year-old landmark. By design, the climb itself requires no fuel-powered vehicles, it’s simply the people, the stories, and the journey up and down the stairs.
We continually look for practical ways to reduce our footprint, operate responsibly, and contribute positively to Brisbane’s community.
What we’ve done
Reduced our operational footprint by ~88% When SBAC relocated to Howard Smith Wharves, we cut our operational premises from approximately 600m² to just 70m², significantly reducing the space requiring lighting, air conditioning, cleaning and other resources.
Diverted 900 retired climb suits from landfill When we redesigned our climb suits after 19 years of use, we partnered with Upparel to recover and repurpose the material into new products, rather than sending the retired suits to landfill.
Operate predominantly paperless Bookings, waivers, customer communications and climb photographs are delivered digitally rather than in print.
Manage climb suit laundering efficiently Approximately 80% of climb suits are air-dried. Suits are washed in high-capacity Speed Queen equipment using Ecolab products, with customised cold-water cycles for up to 28 suits per load to reduce water, energy and chemical use.
Choose local suppliers where practical We evaluate durability, packaging, waste, environmental performance and ethical practices in purchasing decisions. For example, our tea towels are designed by Brisbane artist Angela Richardson and screen-printed onto linen at her home studio in Graceville.
Howard Smith Wharves’ waste system
SBAC participates in HSW’s waste-management system, which incorporates 17 segregated waste streams supporting recycling, recovery and reduced waste to landfill.
Transport access
Our Howard Smith Wharves location is well served by CityCat, bus and cycling infrastructure, making it easy for guests and team members to leave the car behind.
Heritage Stewardship
Operating on the Story Bridge comes with a responsibility to protect it. Our operations and infrastructure meet Brisbane City Council and Queensland heritage requirements. Our Climb Leaders share the history and stories of the bridge and Brisbane, helping guests build a deeper appreciation of the landmark they’re climbing.
Social and community initiatives
Sustainability isn’t only environmental to us, it’s also about people. We’re proud of:
- The world’s first wheelchair-accessible bridge climb
- Partnerships with Vacayit, Cérge, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower and Welcome with Pride
- Ongoing support for schools, charities and community organisations through experiences, partnerships and donated climb vouchers
always improving
Sustainability is an ongoing journey. Our Environmental Management Plan guides how we manage energy, water, waste, emissions, purchasing, environmental risks and climate resilience, and we involve our whole team through training, digital updates and regular team meetings.
We will continue to measure, reduce, reuse, recycle and improve, while providing one of Brisbane’s most memorable experiences.
