Using SVG for scalable icon sprites isn't a new idea, but the technique required to use them is (as with all CSS spriting) a little verbose, needing multiple instances of background-position. A feature from SVG1.1, Fragment Identifier Linking, makes it much easier, and will be available in the forthcoming Firefox 15. Fragment Identifier Linking involves adding a parameter to the URL of an SVG file, which specifies a region of that file to be displayed. For example, take a look at the file faces.
More
