The beginning of sustainable transformation of the built environment started in 2003 when the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) launched the first Green Star rating tool, Office Design v1.
In more recent times, industry has become familiar with four Green Star rating tools that address the majority of Australia’s built environment - these tools include:
- Design & As Built
- Interiors
- Performance
- Communities
At the start of 2014, there were 646 Green Star certified projects – today, there are 1750. That’s an additional 1000 buildings, fit-outs and communities in three short years and it gets more impressive:
- Thirty-seven per cent of Australia’s office space is Green Star-rated
- More than 725,000 Australians work in Green Star offices
- 42,000 people live in Green Star apartments
- More than 425,000 people are moving into Green Star-rated communities
- 1.3 million people visit a Green Star-rated shopping centre each day
So, when it comes to the GBCA tackling broader sustainability issues, what’s next?
Global megatrends are reshaping our industry and the built environment. This is being driven by the Paris Climate Change Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, legislation which tackles issues associated with modern slavery, human rights, health and wellbeing of building occupants, big data and artificial intelligence.
The GBCA are aware that Green Star must evolve and adapt to meet industry expectations of what a sustainable built environment should deliver so they are planning on updating the Green Star rating tools to reflect this evolution.
They have produced a summary paper on the Green Star Future Focus, which outlines their vision, the proposed changes and timeframes, and invites industry into a consultation process.
The GBCA has also produced a Green Star Future Focus fact sheet, specifically designed to educate product manufacturers about the proposed changes in the new version of the Green Star rating tools. The GBCA is also offering manufacturers opportunities to provide feedback about the potential benefits and possible challenges involved in this change process.
The proposed changes will:
- increase focus on the environmental and social impacts of products and materials
- address embodied carbon
- introduce recognition for the use of carbon neutral certified products, materials and services, and
- reward and recognise the social sustainability of transparent supply chains. Manufacturers and supply companies of major materials used on Green Star projects will also be encouraged to report and disclose to builders, developers and owners, their commitments to addressing human rights violations in the supply chain.
What this means for product manufacturers
There are opportunities for product manufactures to show leadership and to demonstrate commitment to addressing environmental and social impacts. The proposed changes mean your clients will be seeking:
1. A specific Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) in accordance with ISO14025 or EN15804. The purpose of an EPD is to accurately measure the life cycle impacts of products and to calculate the embodied carbon of the product.
2. Carbon neutral certification either from the Australian Government Carbon Neutral Certified program or from other recognised bodies. An EPD will assist the product manufacturer in achieving carbon neutral certification.
3. Environmental product certification, noting that holistic certifications, which address social and health impacts, will be more valued.
4. A public commitment to addressing human rights issues in your supply chain.
The GBCA are keen to hear your thoughts on this and they have a public comment period open until the 30 April 2018.
The new rating tools will be released from 2020 onwards and will likely become mandatory for Green Star projects from 2021 onwards.
Stay tuned - If you want to stay up to date with the Green Star changes, then sign up for GBCA’s newsletter and or follow on social media. A detailed consultation paper will be released later in 2018 and this will be followed by further engagement to develop Green Star credits, educational content and delivery of rating tools through later 2018 and early 2019.
For detailed information on the future focus of Green Star and information from GBCA check out the links below.
Let’s talk about the future of Green Star, by GBCA’s Jorge Chapa
GBCA Future Focus for Product Manufacturers
GBCA Green Star Future Focus Summary Paper
If we can help future proof your organisation for this transition, please call to arrange an appointment.
Libby