Architects are constantly searching for products and materials that align with the sustainable goals for clients. Here, we outline several products and their suppliers who are intent on remaining environmentally responsible.

Sustainability can seem a bit surreal until it becomes something tangible. With many companies looking to drive down emissions to mitigate climate change, new products that roll off the production line are now causing less harm to the environment during their lifecycles.

Certification is now non-negotiable in many industries these days. For a product to be certified, it must be put through its paces and judged on its merit and benefits, both to its users and to the wider world. Taking it upon themselves, Australian suppliers have sought the accreditation of many reputable entities to certify their products.

NexTimber

Timberlink’s NeXTimber arm is an innovative extension of the renowned timber entity, which provides Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) panels and Glue Laminated Timber (GLT) members.

An inherently sustainable alternative to other building products, both CLT and GLT have made waves both at home and abroad due to superior durability, functionality, and bushfire performance. NeXTimber’s timber options are Australian made and offer purchasers peace of mind in terms of sustainability and safety.

Timberlink holds a Responsible Wood Chain of Custody certification, and therefore mutual recognition status with the international PEFC system for solid wood products and by-products. The company also endeavours to halve its emissions by 2030.

With wood being the ultimate renewable – for every cubic metre of timber, 699kg of carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere – NeXTimber’s catalogue offers modern solutions for everyday adversities faced by modern architects.

Autex

A carbon neutral organisation with carbon neutral products, Autex is constantly altering and improving its operations in the name of sustainability. Last year saw the debut of the company’s first certified carbon neutral product, Acoustic Timber, made entirely from polyester fibre.

Sustainability means durability, and Autex’s products are most certainly durable. Holding a 100-year life expectancy, the entirety of Autex’s products is designed to be 100 percent recyclable when disposed of. Accounting for the cost of carbon in its production phases, Autex sees itself at the forefront of sustainable change within the construction industry.

The impacts of Autex’s products are communicated via an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), with the company having an ISO 14001 Environmental Management System in place to manage and mitigate environmental risks. But perhaps the most prestigious certification of them all comes from GreenRate, with Autex products accredited with a Global GreenTag Level A, the highest rating possible.

Kaolin

Founded in 2021, Kaolin has certainly made a splash in a short space of time. Producing high-end porcelain tiles, the company’s catalogue varies in shape, size and pattern and can be used in a multitude of contexts.

Offering products seldom seen on the Australian marketplace, Kaolin’s tiles replicate the look of natural stone and marble tiles. Porcelain is a sustainable, non-harmful, non-toxic, and VOC-free material, which is, wonderfully, completely recyclable. Kaolin’s partner, a factory located in China, recycles 100 percent of production waste, with 100 percent recycled water. Some 11,000 hectares of forest that surrounds the factory helps to offset carbon emissions, with both the factory and company ensuring the forest remains intact.

Kaolin Tiles has achieved a Level A GreenRate from Global GreenTag, with the organisation’s facilities, suppliers and products assessed. Once recycled, Kaolin products can be reused for tile production, or even used for roadbase. With circular economy a major cornerstone of sustainability moving forward, Kaolin’s range is most certainly futureproofed.

Laminex

Laminex specialises in Australian made high-pressure and compact laminates. The company is intent on reducing its emissions and works with suppliers and other industry bodies to mitigate its impacts.

Ahead of many of its peers, Laminex adopted water-based resins and cleaning systems in the early 2000s. Fast forward to 2022 and solar panels have been introduced at a number of key manufacturing sites.

Laminex’s credentials are endorsed by numerous industry qualifications. The laminate giant was the first in their industry to be accredited with a Global GreenTag certification and has also been given an LCARate PLUS dual certification for the life cycle of its raw and decorated MDF products. Laminex’s AbsoluteMatte laminates, available in an array of colours, are a clear demonstration of the sustainable and functional qualities the company’s range possesses.

The entirety of Laminex’s timber is sourced from FSC and PEFC-certified forests. Specified in several residential, hospitality and commercial projects

Siniat

While this piece is predominantly about sustainable materials and products, sustainable programs are equally important. Siniat’s Opt-in Carbon Neutral Program, certified Climate Active, is the only program in the entire industry of its nature.

The Opt-in Carbon Neutral Program has support from the Australian Government, which assists in voluntary climate action. The program was developed with Lendlease in 2015, at the time when the Barangaroo Project was under construction.

From a product point of view, a range of Siniat’s plasterboard products have achieved a GreenRate Level A by Global GreenTag. Siniat partnered with Lendlease once more to supply plasterboard and metal for the build of Sydney’s most exclusive address, One Sydney Harbour.

Network Architectural

Network Architectural, since its inception in 2020, has quickly become renowned for delivering quality facades and architectural finishes that possess environmentally friendly qualities. The Australian distributor of Mitsubishi’s ALPOLIC NC/A1 aluminium composite panel, the company is glowing in its appraisal for the product, both for its aesthetic and sustainable qualities.

The panel is accredited with an EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) produced by Good Environmental Choice Australia. One of the few aluminium facade panels to hold an EPD, ALPOLIC NC/A1 comes tested and compliant to the building code.

With the New South Wales Government’s Project Remediate – in which flammable cladding is removed from buildings – in full swing, ALPOLIC NC/A1 is completely non-combustible. The panel also comes with a 20-year full cover warranty, underpinning its durability.

Apart from its industry leading sustainability commitment, it also comes with a 20-year full cover warranty backed by Mitsubishi and requires no cleaning schedule to maintain the warranty. ALPOLIC NC/A1 is currently being utilised in the recladding of Canberra’s Manhattan Apartments and has also been used on Defence Housing Australia and NSW’s Parliament House.

Sika

Sika’s Streetscape System’s biggest strength is its versatility. It can be used for roads, streets, landscaping, and urban projects. A proven system designed to be paired with natural stone, pavers and cobblestones, Streetscape removes the need for manual labour and complies with several standards (NF, UNI), with all Streetscape products made with low volatile organic compounds (VOC).

Sika offers both trafficable and non-trafficable Streetscape Pavement options. Easy application and cost effectiveness tops the list of features, with the installation process based on a bonded system of laying mortars, jointing mortars and auxiliary products for transition zones.

Sustainability is a fundamental pillar of Sika’s operations, with the company consciously reducing resource consumption throughout its departments. As a member of the UN Global Compact, the company is committed to global sustainable development.

Of course, this is only just a handful of a suite of Australian businesses creating carbon neutral, sustainably sourced and certified products. The efforts to drive down emissions in order to achieve legislated targets cannot be undertaken solely by governments, and the initiative taken by our privatised entities makes designing sustainably a far easier exercise than previously possible.

Images: Sika & NeXTimber

Supplier’s list

NeXTimber www.architectureanddesign.com.au/suppliers/nextimber

Autex www.architectureanddesign.com.au/suppliers/autex

Kaolin www.architectureanddesign.com.au/suppliers/kaolin-tiles

Laminex www.architectureanddesign.com.au/suppliers/laminex

Siniat www.architectureanddesign.com.au/suppliers/siniat

Network Architectural www.architectureanddesign.com.au/suppliers/network-architectural

Sika www.architectureanddesign.com.au/suppliers/sika-australia

Jarrod Reedie

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