Knauf, a global leader in building materials, is reaffirming its commitment to working sustainably in 2025 and beyond following an ongoing commitment in 2024 that has been a key attribute of the family business since its beginning.

In addition to producing high quality products and systems, Knauf is committed to integrating sustainable practices into its culture, operations, and solutions. With the goal of becoming an industry leader in sustainable construction, Knauf aims to reach net-zero by 2045 and cut directly controlled CO2 emissions by half in 2032.

To achieve this, Knauf has implemented several initiatives, working collaboratively with its customers and the industry who look to third party certifications and programs to help meet sustainability goals. These include:

Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA) Certification: Knauf plasterboard products are certified by GECA, ensuring they meet stringent world-class environmental standards. GECA is recognised under the Green Building Council of Australia, making it straightforward for developers to comply with Green Building schemes and earn credit points for projects. Certified Knauf plasterboard products bear the GECA EcoLabel.

Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs): Knauf provides detailed EPDs for its Australian manufactured plasterboard products, enabling informed decision-making and contributing to green building certifications. Knauf EPDs may contribute to the achievement of credit points under the Green Star rating tool of the Green Building Council Australia (GBCA), the Infrastructure Sustainability (IS) Rating, and other leading green building rating schemes.

Climate Active certification: Knauf has achieved Climate Active certification, a rigorous process that involves measuring its carbon footprint, reducing emissions, and offsetting remaining emissions through high-quality carbon credits. This helps ensure Knauf plasterboard products are produced and used sustainably. Customers wanting to purchase carbon neutral products can choose to under the Climate Active ‘opt-in’ program.

Prioritising a sustainable society

Knauf is committed to decarbonising its operations in a cost-efficient way, reducing its water withdrawals by one-fifth, and eliminating waste production from its plants, quarries, and mines over the next two decades. Knauf’s holistic sustainability approach also encompasses resource efficiency, product innovation, and reducing waste across manufacturing facilities. The company invests in energy-efficient technologies, renewable energy adoption, and recycling initiatives, ensuring a circular economy in its operations. Knauf also partners with like-minded organisations to drive sustainable construction practices across Australia.

Benjamin Francis, Sustainability Director, Knauf Gypsum APAC, said, “It is important to remember that sustainability is not only about the environment. While it’s a crucial part of it, of course, classically sustainability was a triple bottom line approach – a balance between society, environment, and economy. If you look at the UN Sustainable Development Goals, for example, four are centred around the environment, four around economics, and nine around society.”

For more information on Knauf’s sustainability initiatives, please visit the Sustainability page on our website.

Architecture & Design Team

Knauf

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