Veena Sahajwalla was awarded the Celestino Eureka Prize for Promoting Understanding of Science. This prize signifies national recognition for her efforts to communicate complex scientific concepts to the broader public.

Veena Sahajwalla's second micro-factory was launched, focusing on recycling glass and textiles into green ceramics. This expanded her micro-factory initiative to address additional waste streams and produce sustainable materials. She was appointed director of the NSW Circular Economy Innovation Network by the state government. This appointment highlights her leadership in promoting a zero-carbon circular economy in New South Wales. She was invited to talk at many international conferences including the Farm2Fork Summit and TRANSFORM conference.

Sahajwalla's innovation in green steel technology earned her the 2019 BHERT (Business Higher Education Round Table) Award. This award highlighted the successful collaboration between business and higher education in developing and implementing green steel technology.

Veena Sahajwalla launched her first micro-factory at the Sustainable Materials Research and Technology (SMaRT) Lab based at the University of New South Wales Kensington Campus. This event marked the implementation of her innovative micro-factory concept, focusing initially on recycling e-waste from old technology.

Veena Sahajwalla was named one of Australia’s most innovative engineers by Engineers Australia. This designation recognized her contributions to innovative engineering solutions, especially in green steel and recycling technologies.

Veena Sahajwalla was named as one of Australia’s 100 most influential engineers by Engineers Australia. This recognition highlights her impact and influence within the Australian engineering community and recognizes her accomplishments.

Veena Sahajwalla was awarded the Australian Research Council Laureate Fellowship & Georgina Sweet Award. The awards show that the Australia community recognizes her work as a scientist.

Sahajwalla's green steel process was listed as one of the 'innovations that could change the way we manufacture' by the US Society for Manufacturing Engineers. This recognition signifies the growing acknowledgment of her work's potential impact on industrial processes. Also in 2012, her Green Steel innovation won the Australian Innovation Challenge, marking a national recognition for her innovative solution in steel manufacturing.

Veena Sahajwalla started working as a professor at the University of New South Wales. This marked a significant point in her academic career as it gave her the opportunity to further her research. Also in 2008, she founded the Sustainable Materials Research and Technology (SMaRT) Lab at UNSW, which became a center for her work on recycling science and waste management.

Veena Sahajwalla began publishing scientific papers focusing on material engineering in journals. This marks the start of her formal and consistent contribution to the field of materials science through academic publications. This is a continuation of her research at IIT Kanpur.