Global GreenTag International has supported the delivery of the first construction related product to receive certification under the Global GreenTag International NaturePositive+ Standard™.

The acoustic thermal and acoustic panel product made by Autex Industries New Zealand – Embrace™ Wool Felt – underwent the rigorous and holistic, GreenTag NaturePositive+ Declaration™ assessment process, successfully being certified at a PLATINUM level NaturePositive+ Rating of 160 percent. The key results from the investigation found that the product:

Uses more than 99.5% of renewable resources with Autex giving priority focus to the protection of biodiversity during manufacture.
Benefits the environment with minimal negative environmental impacts and of equal importance, delivers net positive benefits to the environment in its own right.
Achieves high levels of product health that benefit human health and wellbeing along the product's supply chains and for the lifecycle of the product to the end of its life, and beyond.

The GreenTag NaturePositive+ Standard and NaturePositive+ Declaration program marks a new benchmark in the certification sector for manufacturing in the built environment and other industries. It is a first of its kind in the world, marking also a new standard for manufacturing. It centres processes on nature repair, enabling progressive and conscientious product manufacturers such as Autex to improve their value chain by not just using carbon measurements as a focus to counter climate change, but also to use biodiversity as the primary focus of achieving carbon drawdown.

To achieve a NaturePositive+ Declaration and NaturePositive+ Rating, says GreenTag's CEO, Technical Director and Cofounder David Baggs, "nature is a non-negotiable that must be put on the table first, yet the fullness of the program also recognises that we as humans are not separate from nature either, so consequently the process looks thoroughly at a product's impact on human health, as well as addresses where a product stands in terms of issues to do with Modern Slavery, ethical labour supply, community, social and innovation benefits."

Autex's Embrace™ Stretch Wool product achieved points across the ten assessment indicators used by the NaturePositive+ program to measure and uncover its profile and prominence as a NaturePositive+ made product. Benchmark points achieved by the product during and after its production include:

Innovative product design that is Nature Positive forward in providing verified outcomes for Circular Economy projects for the construction industry.
Majority use of renewable resources (>99.5%).
Zero hazards for humans and the environment once the product is in use.
Use of high level (99.5%) non-hazardous raw materials throughout production processes.
Full compliance by Autex and suppliers to Fundamental International Labor Organisation (ILO) conventions, including provision of a Modern Slavery Statement.
Collaboration with an Indigenous Engagement Program set up by Autex during production of product.
Reduced risk to workers through application of an Occupational Health and Safety policy.

"Achieving our Nature Positive certification is a significant milestone on our journey to becoming a beyond sustainable company. Our goal was to move beyond carbon neutrality and develop a model of abundance. We meticulously refined every step in our processes and supply chain, and this certification confirms our success. It serves as a benchmark and proof that we can create high-performing materials while supporting the very systems that sustain us," says Jonathan Mountfort, Design Director from Autex Industries Limited.

David Baggs adds, "The NaturePositive+ Declaration (NP+D) program in its fullness is a deep dive into manufacturing processes and we applaud the dedication and commitment of Autex to open the data of its Embrace product completely so that we could put it through our robust sequence of assessments. The process enabled us to not only measure the real-world Life Cycle Assessed (LCA) impacts of the product but importantly, it also allowed us and the manufacturer to see how far the product had come by sending it through a unique Life Cycle Benefits Analysis (LCBA) as well, which is provided by our Associates of many years, The Evah Institute.”

“LCBA allows us to see what a product has achieved in terms of how it benefits people, nature and resources. Tracking benefits and impacts is so important for the future of manufacturing to track and chart progress toward nature-repair because benefits are not being captured by any other system currently.

“NP+Ds give manufacturers an assessment and certification pathway to scientifically investigate and holistically measure their own products' progress and plan for the future. The process ultimately encourages manufacturers to step up and provide products that can be verified as Nature Positive and ready for true Circular Economy and Nature Positive projects that align with both the World Green Building Council's 2025-2027 Strategic Plan and the Green Building Council of Australia's Building with Nature roadmap."

Image: Embrace™ Wall System Gradient in Kelp

Architecture & Design Team

Autex Acoustics

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