The Country Road Climate Fund is a climate impact grants program aimed at accelerating and incubating positive climate projects, programs, initiatives, products or organisations (collectively described as ‘projects’) across the Australian fashion industry. The Country Road Climate Fund is split into the Incubator Program and the Accelerator Program. Projects can apply to either, but not both, of these programs.
Eligibility criteria
Below are the eligibility criteria. If you are unable to satisfy each of these criteria, we do not recommend that you fill out and submit an application.
| Applicant |
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| Impact |
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The project has a positive, and quantifiable, climate impact outcome (i.e. the project directly or indirectly reduces greenhouse gas emissions, or supports the enablement of such reductions). In addition to a climate impact outcome, the project has a positive impact outcome aligned to at least one of the Country Road Climate Fund’s other impact themes:
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| Scope |
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| Program |
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The project must be eligible for either the Incubator or Accelerator program. The Incubator Program is available to not-for-profit or for- profit organisations with:
The Accelerator Program is available to not-for-profits, co-operative or social enterprises which are too large to qualify for the Incubator Program. |
| Project or applicant activities |
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The grant funding will go towards new project activities which will commence in 2023. Existing projects will be considered where applicants can demonstrate that grant funds will facilitate a genuine expansion of project scope and outcomes will be additional to those currently being achieved. The applicant and project do not and will not operate* or participate in any fields or activities which Country Road deems or considers illegal, obscene or inappropriate including but not limited to tobacco, alcohol or other addictive substances, firearms, fossil fuels, gambling, pornography or hate. * “operate” includes direct operations in addition to receipt of funds from the fields or activities stated above. The applicant has read and, if awarded a grant, agrees to sign and be bound by the terms of the Funding Agreement. |
| Applicant |
|---|
|
| Impact |
|
The project has a positive, and quantifiable, climate impact outcome (i.e. the project directly or indirectly reduces greenhouse gas emissions, or supports the enablement of such reductions). In addition to a climate impact outcome, the project has a positive impact outcome aligned to at least one of the Country Road Climate Fund’s other impact themes:
|
| Scope |
|
| Program |
|
The project must be eligible for either the Incubator or Accelerator program. The Incubator Program is available to not-for-profit or for- profit organisations with:
The Accelerator Program is available to not-for-profits, co-operative or social enterprises which are too large to qualify for the Incubator Program. |
| Project or applicant activities |
The grant funding will go towards new project activities which will commence in 2023.Existing projects will be considered where applicants can demonstrate that grant funds will facilitate a genuine expansion of project scope and outcomes will be additional to those currently being achieved. The applicant and project do not and will not operate* or participate in any fields or activities which Country Road deems or considers illegal, obscene or inappropriate including but not limited to tobacco, alcohol or other addictive substances, firearms, fossil fuels, gambling, pornography or hate. * “operate” includes direct operations in addition to receipt of funds from the fields or activities stated above. The applicant has read and, if awarded a grant, agrees to sign and be bound by the terms of the Funding Agreement. |
How much funding is available and for how long?
Over the next three years, Country Road is investing $1.5 million in grant funding to projects aligned to the Country Road Climate Fund’s objectives, with up to $500,000 allocated in the first year. The indicative maximum grant amount under the Incubator Program in year one is AU$30,000 and under the Accelerator Program the indicative maximum grant amount is AU$200,000. A project can apply for either (but not both of) the Incubator Program or the Accelerator Program.
The number and size of the grants will be subject to Country Road’s discretion and will be reviewed on an annual basis. In the interests of supporting long-term, sustainable impact, there may be an option for successful grant recipients to renew their funding in subsequent years for multi-year projects.
Does my project meet the focal areas of the fund?
The Country Road Climate Fund’s investment themes, scope and programs have been designed to enable Country Road to maximise its ability to drive climate solutions in the Australian fashion industry.
Investment themes
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Climate focus: The Country Road Climate Fund’s primary mandate is to invest in projects which have a positive climate impact (i.e. the project directly or indirectly reduces greenhouse gas emissions or supports the enablement of such reductions). For example, a project that improves energy efficiency in the production of textiles may directly reduce greenhouse gases. A project that provides consumers with accurate data on the emissions intensity of different fashion items may enable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions through encouraging more sustainable fashion choices.
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Sub-themes: The Country Road Climate Fund recognises that climate outcomes can be achieved through nature-based, circular, First Nations-led and innovative solutions. Therefore, the Fund is also targeted at investing in projects which align with one or more of the following sub-themes:
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Biodiversity – Protecting or restoring nature and biodiversity (for example, a conservation project on a wool farm aimed at improving the state of biodiversity)
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Circularity – Reimagining the textile life cycle from a take, make and dispose mindset to one which redefines the value of waste, keeping existing resources in use for as long as possible (for example, a project that enables garment renewal or on-shore textile recycling)
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First Nations – Led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities (for example, a First Nations organisation working with local cotton farmers to implement traditional land management practices that drive positive climate outcomes)
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Innovation – Unique, disruptive, and game-changing technologies and ideas shifting the face of the fashion industry (for example, a technology that dramatically improves the carbon footprint of finishing or dyeing techniques)
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Biodiversity – Protecting or restoring nature and biodiversity (for example, a conservation project on a wool farm aimed at improving the state of biodiversity)
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Co-benefits: Alongside alignment with the Country Road Climate Fund’s primary climate theme and sub-themes, projects which demonstrate strong co-benefits will be strongly preferred. This includes projects which promote the following co-benefits:
- Provenance, accountability, and transparency
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How do I apply
If you wish to apply for grant funding under one of the Country Road Climate Fund Programs (Incubator or Accelerator), you will need to do so through the application portal on Country Roads website (follow the link below) , where you will need to provide the following:
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Confirmation of Eligibility Criteria: If you are unable to satisfy these criteria, we do not recommend that you fill out and submit an application.
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Completed application within the application portal: Both applications under the Incubator Program and Accelerator Program must complete the same application within the application portal. In filling out this form, it is accepted that early-stage projects applying under the Incubator Program may not have the same level of information and may be unable to answer some questions in depth or at all. If you do not have information to respond to a question, please insert ‘N/A’ into the relevant response box. These projects will be assessed taking into consideration this limitation. However, if an applicant has any concerns about being unable to answer some questions in depth or at all in the application form, you are welcome to contact us at Climatefund@countryroad.com.au for further information.
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Project Plan: Applicants will be asked to outline the future plans for your project (including specific goals and Key Performance Indicators)- project plan template can be found on Country Roads website
- Budget: You will be asked to fill out a Budget for your project which will outline your expected incomings and outgoings, as well as how you will utilise the grant funding. The required Budget Template can be found on Country Roads website
