Sustainability is no longer a consideration reserved for landmark projects.

Across commercial, education, health, community and residential developments, architects are increasingly being asked to demonstrate how material selections contribute to broader environmental objectives. Whether pursuing Green Star outcomes, meeting project sustainability requirements or simply making more informed material choices, access to credible environmental documentation has become an important part of the specification process.

To support this, UniCote® Select, UniCote® Coastal and UniCote® LUX have achieved Global GreenTagCert™ GreenRate Level A certification.

While often discussed alongside Green Star projects, understanding what this certification means and how it supports sustainable design outcomes is important.

First, what is Global GreenTag?

Global GreenTag is an internationally recognised third-party certification body that independently assesses products against a range of environmental, health and sustainability criteria. Products are evaluated against established standards and verified through an independent assessment process.

For architects and specifiers, this provides confidence that a product’s environmental claims have been independently reviewed and validated.

Rather than relying solely on manufacturer declarations, Global GreenTag certification provides recognised documentation that can be used during specification, procurement and project sustainability reporting.

GreenTag and Green Star: Understanding the difference

One of the most common questions we receive is whether UniCote® products are “Green Star certified”. The distinction is important.

Green Star is Australia’s sustainability rating system for buildings, fitouts and communities, administered by the Green Building Council of Australia. Buildings achieve Green Star ratings based on the collective performance of the entire project, not through a single product selection.

Products themselves do not receive Green Star ratings.

Instead, products can hold recognised environmental certifications that may contribute towards Green Star credits and sustainability objectives within a project.

This is where Global GreenTag certification becomes valuable.

By selecting products with independently verified environmental credentials, project teams can more easily demonstrate responsible material selection and support broader sustainability outcomes.

Why GreenTag matters during specification

For architects, sustainability documentation can often be as important as the material itself.

Product certifications help simplify the specification process by providing:

Independent verification of environmental performance
Greater transparency during material selection
Supporting documentation for sustainability reporting
Recognition within established green building frameworks
Reduced time spent sourcing environmental evidence during project delivery

When sustainability targets are part of a project’s brief, having recognised certifications already in place can help streamline decision-making and documentation requirements.

Supporting responsible product selection

In addition to GreenRate Level A certification, applicable UniCote® products are supported by a certified product-specific Environmental Product Declaration (EPD).

Under the Green Building Council of Australia’s Responsible Products Framework, the combination of a product-specific EPD and GreenRate Level A certification equates to a Responsible Product Value (RPV) of 15.

An RPV of 15 is classified as Best Practice under the framework and may contribute towards Responsible Products credits within Green Star Buildings, Interiors and Performance tools. Project teams should always refer to current GBCA guidance to determine how these credentials apply to individual projects.

Sustainability backed by independent verification

At UniCote®, sustainability is supported through transparent, independently verified documentation.

The achievement of Global GreenTag GreenRate Level A certification across UniCote® Select, UniCote® Coastal and UniCote® LUX provides architects, designers and project teams with recognised environmental credentials that can support responsible specification decisions.

For projects where sustainability outcomes matter, confidence begins with evidence. And increasingly, evidence is what specification teams are looking for.

Certified UniCote® products

UniCote® Select
UniCote® Coastal
UniCote® LUX

For more information on UniCote® sustainability credentials, Environmental Product Declarations and certification documentation, visit the UniCote® Sustainability page.

Architecture & Design Team

UniCote Steel

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