The next evolution of the Green Star rating tools

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

Is being good, good for Business?

It was Anita Roddick, the founder of the Body Shop, who said, “Being good is good for business”. This quote is my inspiration for driving change with my clients. I’m not only motived by good outcomes for the planet, I want good business outcomes for my clients. I want to show them that their businesses can flourish and prosper in tandem with having good ethical business practices.

Dame Anita Roddick was a British businesswoman, human rights activist and environmental campaigner who shaped ethical consumerism and proved that you could operate a thriving, profitable and ethical business.  She was a true trailblazer!

It is a different ball game, however, for smaller organisations. Running a small business is challenging but whilst directors and managers may be constantly juggling multiple priorities, it’s still possible to incorporate business ethics into your organisation.  There are plenty of opportunities to:

·         create a better working environment for staff

·         have a positive impact on the environment and the community

·         engage with your suppliers around their environmental and social                        initiatives

In small business, these initiatives really need to come from the TOP. Without strong leadership from the director or GM, it’s unlikely that any environmental or social initiative will get off the ground.

I work with a number of small to medium enterprises and one client, in particular, is a great example of strong, ethical leadership. The Managing Director’s commitment to making a difference in people’s lives starts with his own staff and he demonstrates this by creating a great work environment. The offices are well decked out with lots of plants and greenery and it’s a great space to be in. The manufacturing facility has a gym and a personal trainer to help keep staff fit and healthy, and he really goes all-out with the staff Christmas parties as an opportunity to say thank you and give back. He also ensures that he and his staff support charities and community events, not only in Australia, but also overseas – he loves to get his staff involved so they too get a kick out of helping others. It’s a win win!

BUT being good is not just about taking care of your own staff and your local community; it’s about addressing sustainability issues in the broader context. By this, I mean ensuring that the products and materials you are procuring are made without any human and or labour rights abuses and with minimal environmental impact.

So, with that, this Managing Director is working with his key suppliers and issuing a Suppliers Code of Conduct, which, in short, means that he wants the suppliers to commit to taking care of their staff by:

·         paying them a decent wage

·         ensuring they are working in a safe environment

·         that there is no child, forced or bonded labour

·         no discrimination or corruption

·         that they have the right to freedom of association and collective                          bargaining

·         that they are free from harassment

He does all this because he believes it’s the right thing to do.  His business is thriving and every so often it makes me wonder if the two are connected!

This example is inspiring and I feel real change is around the corner. Businesses may soon not have a choice to do the right thing. It may be that addressing environmental and social compliance becomes a pre-request for doing business with the larger organisations like banks, telcos, insurance companies and construction companies.

The Australian government is planning on enacting a Modern Slavery Act in 2018. The Modern Slavery Act will see entities earning over 100 million dollars report annually, outlining their actions to address modern slavery in supply chains. The government wants the business community to respond more effectively to modern slavery and develop and maintain responsible and transparent supply chains.

Over 30 million of the estimated 40 million people under modern slavery around the world are in the Asia-Pacific region, where a lot of Australian companies are sourcing products.

A number of large Australian companies have been conducting supply chain due diligence (environmental and social compliance) on product manufacturers for a number of years but I suspect due to the Modern Slavery Act, this will become a greater priority for them.

I have helped a number of clients (product manufacturers) complete extensive and complex questionnaires from construction companies asking for full environmental and social compliance to qualify to work with them. So, it just makes good business sense for product manufacturers to start procuring products that are made without any harm to the environment and or human health. 

Large companies see the advantages of partnering with these types of organisations.

Some tips on how to build an ethical brand

1. DEFINE your company values. Doing the right thing for your business starts with defining core values. Identify what values are important to you and your organisation using a collaborative approach – find out what’s important to your staff.

2. COMMUNICATE effectively. Make sure your company values are well communicated and front of mind so when tricky situations arise, these values can be called upon.  Let them be the company’s moral compass.

3. LEAD by creating winning teamwork. Leading people to do the right thing as a team can be challenging but lead by example, take accountability, make the tough decisions, motivate, inspire and recognise good behaviour and teamwork.

4. ENDEAVOUR to beat, not meet, industry standards. Doing the right thing is not just about getting by or following the rule of law; it’s about meeting and exceeding clients’ and industry expectations. Lastly, but certainly not least;

5. DEVELOP a strategy. Conduct a gap analysis of the work you have already done in relation to environmental and social initiatives. What’s your vision, what does best practice look like? If you want to be an industry leader in sustainable and ethical business practices, then plan out the next 5 years.

And don’t assume that doing the right thing comes naturally and doesn’t require effort and perseverance. Nothing worthwhile is easy, but it’s likely your good work will be rewarded. 

Links to organisations that demonstrate company values and purpose

Pepsico, Performance-with-purpose

Patagonia, Environmentalism

Unilever, Sustainable-living

For further guidance on how to build an ethical brand, please contact Libby at Sustainable Business Matters.

Manufacturers guide to WELL

I was lucky enough to attend a WELL training course (full day event) at Lendlease in November 2017. It was hosted by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) and attended by industry professionals from a variety of sectors, including construction, engineering, architecture, interior design and product and chemical manufacturing.

Brief Intro to WELL

The WELL Building Standard focuses on the health and wellbeing of building occupants. It is organised into seven categories of wellness called Concepts: Air, Water, Nourishment, Light, Fitness, Comfort and Mind. Each concept is comprised of multiple features, which are intended to address specific aspects of occupant health, comfort or knowledge.

For more info on WELL, please read my blog, “WELL, WELL, WELL, What’s all the fuss about”. Click here for more information.  

Interesting Titbits

At the WELL seminar, I learnt some very interesting information that can help us assist our clients to improve wellness within their workplaces, as well as bring general awareness to our own health and wellbeing.

Here are a few interesting stats:

• Our social environment plays a big part in our mental and physical wellbeing
• We spend 90% of our time inside and 100% of our time with man-made products
• Chronic disease is rapidly on the rise, accounting for 90% of all deaths in Australia.  The main chronic diseases causing death are heart disease, stroke and cancer
• Other chronic diseases  include lower back pain and depression
• Chronic diseases cause huge economic cost. Cardio vascular and mental health conditions are the dominant contributors to the global economic burden
• One in two Australians have chronic diseases
• Every $1.00 investment in health and wellbeing gives a $5.81 return on investment

Of course the business case to implement the WELL concepts is critical and although WELL is in its early stages (it started in 2014), the two expert presenters, Liz Miles and Jessica Cooper, took us through this process. They explained how WELL can help prevent chronic disease and assist with attraction, retention, productivity and absenteeism.

I also had the pleasure of attending another GBCA event at Mirvac’s SYDNEY HQ, which was the first Australian building to be certified under the WELL Building Standard and to achieve a GOLD rating. This workplace is spectacular, lush, beautiful and fabulous!

WHO wouldn’t want to work for an organisation that has created this type of environment AND cares about your health and wellbeing?

The WELL Building Standard aims to address the challenges around human health and wellbeing and sets a course that can help reduce not only chronic diseases but also reduce stress, fatigue, headaches and eye strain.

So how can product manufacturers help with meeting WELL requirements?

There are a number of features throughout the WELL Building Standard that relate to product manufacturers (furniture, flooring and other building materials).  The link below outlines how manufactures can assist the design team meet the WELL requirements. It’s a great resource that has been specifically written for product manufacturers.   

Make sure you read the section on Referencing the WELL Building Standard in product literature. This will help you with your marketing. Click here for more information

And if you have your product certified with GECA, AFRDI GreenTick or Global GreenTag, ask how your Ecolabelling Certification scheme is helping you meet these requirements.

I’ve also listed some key takeaways for product manufactures in SEPT's 17 Blog. Click here for more information.

Links to additional information and resources

WELL Website

Australian projects that are registered for WELL Building Certification

WELL: Healthier people through better buildings (video)

Sourceable article by Shelley Meagher: Green Infrastructure and the WELL Building Standard™

ERGONOMICS, GREENSTAR & WELL

Ergonomics is not new to commercial fitouts but it’s becoming increasingly important because both the Green Star – Interiors rating tool and the WELL Building Standard offer credits and features for ergonomics. So what are the requirements and how can you help design teams meet them?

What is ergonomics?

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, it’s “the scientific study of people and their working conditions, especially done in order to improve effectiveness”. 

In an article posted by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA), called “A new world of working” (insert link to article), Adjunct Professor at the Centre for Ergonomics & Human Factors at La Trobe University, David Caple states:

Ergonomics – or the study of people's efficiency in their working environment – is a complex field that brings together the principles of engineering, psychology and medicine to explore and influence workplace wellbeing.

It’s an interesting article and I would suggest you read it if you’re curious about the state of play in commercial workplaces. The article picks up on agile working environments, the wellbeing of building occupants and what companies, particularly larger ones, are doing differently to ensure their staff have the best and safest work environments.

THE WELL BUILDING STANDARD and Ergonomics

I’ve posted a number of articles and blogs about the WELL Building Standard on the Sustainable Business Matters website – to recap:

WELL is a global rating tool, launched in 2014, that focuses exclusively on the health and wellbeing of building occupants. WELL is a performance based system for measuring and certifying buildings across seven categories, or concepts, of wellness.  These concepts include Air, Water, Nourishment, Light, Fitness, Comfort and Mind.

BACKGROUND to the WELL Ergonomics credit

Overuse of the same muscles and ligaments while trying to adjust to static furniture or equipment over time can cause discomfort and strain the body, especially in occupational environments that require repetitive tasks. Under such conditions, the effects of even slight visual or physical discomfort are compounded, leading to decreased occupant comfort and focus.

Ergonomics falls under the Comfort section of the WELL Building Standard. The intent is to reduce physical strain and maximise ergonomic comfort and safety. Bottom of Form

Ergonomic requirements include:

• Visual ergonomics – i.e. height-adjustable computer screens
• Desk height flexibility – workstations that have the ability to alternate between sitting and standing positions
• Seat Flexibility – compliance with BIFMA guidelines
• Standing support workstations – amenities to help aid occupants who are required to stand for extended periods i.e. foot rests and anti-fatigue mats or cushions

For a full list of the ergonomic requirements, visit the WELL website.

Green Star RATING TOOLS and Ergonomics

The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has also incorporated an Ergonomics credit into the Green Star - Interiors rating tool and, like the WELL Building Standard, the Ergonomics credit recognises the provision of equipment and spaces that provide good user comfort and avoid stress or injury.  The design or selection of work settings, equipment and furniture must be shown to address the ergonomic needs of the user specific to that work setting.

The ergonomics of furniture and equipment must address, amongst other things, adjustability, size and comfort. Common equipment that must be addressed in the work settings includes telecommunication equipment, computers, keyboards, screens, cash registers, and medical or laboratory equipment. This credit does not address furniture and equipment provided for the use of visitors to the fitout.

NB: The Design and As Built Green Star rating tool includes ergonomics under their Innovation credit – 30E GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY/Green Star Interiors/Ergonomics.

KEY TAKEWAYS

If you want your products to have a competitive edge by being specified for Green Star or WELL projects, then ensure they have ergonomic benefits. 

·         Consider ergonomics in the design phase of furniture

·         Consider engaging a specialist ergonomist

·         Talk about your ergonomic benefits in your marketing communications

·         Introduce ergonomics into your office to ensure the wellbeing and comfort  of your  staff

(Visit the QLD Worksafe website - they have some great resources to assist you with understanding office ergonomics).

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

QLD WORKSAFE guides - Learning the art of office ergonomics

Sourceable article on agile working environments

List of qualified ergonomists – Human Factors & Ergonomics Society of Australia Inc.

Tips on how to shop ethically this Christmas

CHRISTMAS is a time for GIVING, time for family and friends, but the led up to Christmas can be stressful and tiring. 

The last thing most people focus on when purchasing their gifts is ‘where has it come from, is it environmentally preferable, WHO has manufactured it, was there any child or forced labour involved in the manufacturing of this product’.

No one wants to purchase gifts that exploit factory workers or damages the environment.

So I’ve written this blog to try and help you support organisations that make products that tackle poverty in developing nations by selling products that empower the people and communities who make them, e.g.  OXFAM & The Trading Circle.

I can also appreciate that you won’t find all your items on your Christmas list with these two organisations, so I’ve listed a number of NGO’s and Not-for-Profits that give you the tools and the knowledge to make informed ethical purchasing decisions.  Organisations like Baptist World Aid whose mission is to end the exploitation of factory workers.

OXFAM -

According to Oxfam, if just one in four Australians made one ethical Christmas purchase, we’d raise more than $2.2 billion for people living in poverty. That’s enough to provide clean water for every family in Zambia.

Here’s a couple of Oxfam suggestions:

·         Buy a beautiful gift from Oxfam Shop.

·         Send a life-changing card from Oxfam Unwrapped.

·         Buy a Christmas tree that saves lives.

·         Or discover which of your favourite brands are naughty … or nice.

The Oxfam website lists major retailers and gives them a PASS or FAIL, according to whether they are transparent with regards to their manufacturers and supply chain.  One quick snap shot of all the well-known retailers will give you an idea.  You can even sign a petition to let retailers who are NOT transparent, know you care.

https://www.oxfam.org.au/ethical-christmas/

THE TRADING CIRCLE – EMPOWING WOMEN TO TRADE OUT OF POVERTY

Founded in 1995, The Trading Circle is a not-for-profit organisation that creates economic and educational opportunities for women and girls to reach their full potential by selling products that are made by them.

Lucky for me, The Trading Circle is a 15 minute walk from my place, but they have a great shop online to help you with your gift selection, they even have a Christmas section with cards, decorations, jewellery, homewares and even chocolate!  The children’s toys and educational materials are exceptional and are always a HUGE hit when received by both children and parents.

http://www.thetradingcircle.com.au/christmas.html

HOW DO OUR RETAILERS fair ………….OR WHICH RETAILERS FAIR BETTER

There are Not-for Profits and NGO’s  that are dedicated to helping shoppers buy with greater awareness of the how the retailer are managing their suppliers , to try and eliminate poor working conditions and the exploitation of  factory workers.

There are a couple of really good websites and guides that can help you make more ethical thoughtful decisions. Check them out!

BAPTIST WORLD AID -End worker exploitation!

Each year, Baptist World Aid publishes a series of industry reports through its Behind the Barcode project. The Ethical Fashion Report and the Electronics Industry Trends Report seek to help Australians shop ethically, and, by doing so, advocate with their wallets.

Between them, the two reports assess more than 400 brands operating in Australia and around the world. The reports grade those brands on the strength of the systems they have in place to protect workers in their supply chain from exploitation, forced labour and child labour.

Workers should be protected and not harmed. Workers deserve to work in dignified jobs, without being exploited. Workers deserve to work free from the tyranny of modern slavery. But in order for this to happen, we need to be consumers that care.

Your support means more companies will be held accountable for their actions to protect their workers. https://baptistworldaid.org.au/faith-in-action/behind-the-barcode/

SHOP ETHICAL – your consumer guide

The Shop Ethical! Guide draws into one place information on the environmental and social track record of the companies behind common brands. They rate the companies from A-F and assess them on areas of environmental and social impact, treatment of animals and accountable business practices.

You can download the app or you can buy the guide.  They have a search function and have a whole heap of listings for appliances, clothing, electronics, food, drink, household, personal care, pet, retail, toys, and even office supplies.

https://www.ethical.org.au/theguide/

GOOD ON YOU Fashion Without Harm- Trusted ethical ratings in the palm of your hand

Good On You ethical brand ratings give consumers the power to make choices that match their values – choices that reflects the consumers commitment bu doing better by people, the planet and animals.  They believe brands should be transparent. As a consumer, you have a right to know!

https://goodonyou.eco/how-we-rate/

Other sustainable, ethical ideas and or considerations for Christmas

·         Collectively give to a charity – it really makes the whole family feel good

·         Buy second hand – check out your local OP Shop and markets for second hand goods

·         Give an experience – a dinner out, plays, musicals, sporting events of museums or zoos for the kids

·         Make your own gift – try pickling veges, making relishes  or  how about spicing up some mixed nuts and popping them in a nice second hand jar you got from your local op shop

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous 2018 -

GREEN STAR - NICHE TO NORMAL

Did you know Australia is the 3rd leading country when it comes to Green ‘CERTFIED’ buildings, USA being No: 1 and Canada No: 2. Surprising hah!

There are currently 1,780 Green Star-rated projects

• 37% of office space is Green Star certified
• 5% of the workforce head to a green office each day
• 34,000 people live in Green Star-rated apartments
• 150,000 people are moving into Green Star communities
• 1.3 million people visit a Green Star-rated shopping centre each day
• 340 certified projects in the last 12 months

The below link is an interview with the CEO of the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA)  Romilly Madew, and Geraldine Doogue from the ABC’s Radio National Program -Saturday Extra.

In this discussion Romilly talks about Australia’s Green Building Industry, the concept of ‘niche to normal’ and how the GBCA is setting a roadmap to drive a carbon positive industry for buildings. As a quarter of our emissions come from buildings, the plan is to be net Zero by 2030 and existing buildings to be net zero by 2050.

Link to the ABC Radio National – Saturday Extra program

http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/saturdayextra/green-building/9157122

Link to the GBCA’s Project Directory, which gives you key stats on Green Star registered and certified projects.

http://www.gbca.org.au/project-directory.asp

For more information about Green Star and how your products meet Green Star credits, please give me a call.

The sustainability explosion

We’ve seen a real upsurge in the need for product manufacturers to address sustainability issues.

New clients are coming to us asking for help with meeting their clients requirements around sustainability. This could be in the form of certification, Ecolabelling or ISO14001. But it could also relate to sustainability more broadly in terms of social responsibility.

Companies like telcos, insurance, big banks and the construction industry want to know what product manufacturers and retailers are doing to address environmental and social risks. They want to know what strategies they have in place, what certifications they hold, how they are caring for their staff and addressing environmental and social risks in their supply chains. It’s really building momentum.

Why is this happening?

The big end of town is stepping up their sustainability procurement practices

Large multinationals and large Australian-owned companies, like construction companies, are really putting time and energy into their sustainable procurement practices.  They are asking their suppliers what they are doing to address environmental and social compliance.

The industry is now moving towards the early majority

Rogers’s Innovation Adoption Curve shows the changing trend. That’s why we’ve seen more and more requests for our sustainability services.

Some government organisations have been in the innovators and early adopters category. City of Sydney is an example of this. But now we’re seeing greater momentum from other government departments and it has been rumoured that the NSW Government has undergone a ‘sustainability recruitment drive’.

A new swag of standards and certifications have come onto the market in the last 2 years

These standards are finally building momentum. Standards like ISO20400: 2017 Sustainable Procurement which provides guidance to organizations, independent of their activity or size, on integrating sustainability within procurement processes.  And the WELL Building Standard which focuses on the health and wellbeing of building occupants.

The Australian Government is looking at adopting a Modern Slavery Act

This Act would call on organisations earning over $100 million dollars to report annually on what they are doing to address modern slavery. This would also apply to their supply chains.

The Modern Slavery Act would not just affect commercial businesses but other business entities like higher educational facilities. It is estimated that this will directly affect over 1000 companies.

What does this mean for product manufacturers?

Manufacturers need to understand their market and what their sustainability needs and expectations are 

When we meet with new clients, the first thing we want to know is:

• who their clients are

• what their market is

• what kind of projects they are going after

• what are their aspirations.

We have a good deal of experience with a number of different product manufacturers. These include manufacturers of furniture and building products, retailers and wholesalers. There is such a cross section of markets.  Government procurement requires different certifications than end users need. Larger construction companies have more sustainability requirements than second- tier construction.

Where are the opportunities for you in this?

1.  If you are doing good things in this area, you should:

• start talking about it

• make sure you are clearly displaying your credentials on your website, your email tags and in your marketing material

• include your certification logos on everything.

2. If you have no sustainability initiatives and strategies, you should:

• start planning

• Develop an action plan, set objectives (short and long term) to address market expectations

• Get up to speed with Ecolabelling & Green Star requirements and the new WELL Building standard

• make sure you don’t get left behind and miss out on specifications.

3. You should work out who your customers are.

Different sectors require different certifications and sustainability requirements. For example, NSW Government procurement for furniture requires ISO14001 certification for the larger projects. Universities, end-users, architects and designers require Ecolabelling certification to meet Green Star. And the top end of town want to know more about your whole sustainability strategy and credentials to include social responsibility and supply chain due diligence.

Listen to your customers. Find out what they want from you. Work out how you can help them be more sustainable.

What are the 5 key takeaways?

1. Understand your market

2. Know that the market is changing

3. Know where the opportunities are

4. Start planning

5. Get noticed

So we should see more in this area in the coming years.

Click here for more information. 

WELL, WELL, WELL - What’s all the fuss about?

Over the last 6 months, a number of our clients have been asked if their products meet the WELL Building Standard™. The new WELL Building Standard™ looks to be a real gamer changer. With companies such as Mirvac, Lendlease, Dexus, Grocon, Frasers and Macquarie Bank getting in on the action, WELL looks set to have some considerable influence on the Australian construction industry.

Globally, there are hundreds of WELL projects currently certified or under registration. Starting off predominately in the US and China, projects are now emerging in at least 30 countries.  In Australia, there are currently 36 projects; most focus on commercial buildings, although a pilot program is in place to expand this to other building types.

The WELL Building Standard™

WELL is a global rating tool, launched in 2014, that focuses exclusively on the health and wellbeing of building occupants.  WELL is a performance based system for measuring and certifying buildings across seven categories, or ‘concepts’, of wellness. These concepts include Air, Water, Nourishment, Light, Fitness, Comfort and Mind.

WELL focuses on better health and wellness outcomes, leading to improvements in things like employee productivity, engagement and retention.  It’s about creating workplaces that look after the health and wellbeing of the people through initiatives that are evidence-based and scientifically researched.    

According to Lucy Pullin, Development Manager of Mirvac, “a WELL building is designed, constructed and maintained to improve the health, wellness, happiness and productivity of its users”.

WELL is organized into a number of typologies: Core & Shell, New & Existing Interiors and New & Existing Buildings.  For companies to keep their WELL certification, they need to be re-certified every three years.

We’ve listed the SEVEN CONCEPTS that make up the WELL Building standard™

AIR – concentrations of some pollution indicators can be 2-5 times higher indoors compared to outdoors so it’s important to have optimal indoor air quality. This can be achieved by addressing things like material selection, ventilation, filtration and moisture control.

WATER – improving water quality and accessibility to high-quality water promotes productivity; for example, being dehydrated by just 2% has been shown to impair cognitive performance.

NOURISHMENT – WELL certified workplaces encourage better eating habits by providing access to wholesome foods and by offering guidance on healthy food production, preparation and mindful eating.

LIGHT – lighting systems which optimise access to natural daylight and support the body’s circadian rhythms increase alertness, promote sleep and enhance job performance.

FITNESS - initiatives like interior and exterior fitness activities and activity-based working, encourage staff to keep moving and provide opportunities for them to integrate physical exercise into everyday life.

COMFORT – A noisy or distracting office, an atmosphere that is too hot or cold, or a work setting that is not ergonomic can impact productivity. By addressing these issues, organisations can create a more comfortable and productive workplace. 

MIND – organisations can help support individuals' cognitive and emotional health through design, technology and treatment strategies.  Approaches include wellness awareness, connection to nature, adaptable spaces and altruism. 

And who wouldn’t want to work in this type of environment…

But how can product manufactures help with creating a WELL environment?

Not all the WELL criteria requirements may be relevant to your business, it will depend on what you are manufacturing or selling, so we’ve listed a number of things to consider when you are working with a project team undergoing WELL certification. 

• VOC reduction
• toxic material reduction and safety
• non-reflective and sound reducing surfaces
• ergonomics
• acoustics
• active furnishings

Alignment with Green Star and WELL

So, how do the Green Star and WELL certifications work together? Construction companies and end users may want to go for both ratings so the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has partnered with the WELL Building Institute to promote health and wellbeing in the design, construction and operations of buildings, fitouts and communities in Australia. The two organisations are working together to align the two rating systems and the GBCA have produced a guide to assist project teams with this – the Green Star & WELL Building Standard™.

Product manufacturers will see similarities between the two rating tools, in terms of VOC reduction, ergonomics and reduction in toxic materials.

KEY TAKEWAYS

Here are key takeaways about the WELL Building Standard™ and some important considerations for product manufacturers and retailers:

• WELL is focused on the health, happiness and wellbeing of building occupants
• Synergy exists between Green Starand WELL certification
• When designing and selecting product materials, choose materials that are low in emissions (VOC and formaldehyde)
• Toxic material reduction is important so ensure that banned substances listed in the WELL standard are not found in your products or do not form part of the manufacturing proces
• Enhance material safety by minimizing the impact of hazardous building material ingredients on indoor air quality
• If you have an ecolabelled product (GECA, AFRDI GreenTick or Global GreenTag), ask your certification scheme if your product meets WELL requirements
• Consider products to assist the project team in meeting the comfort and ergonomics requirements

Links to additional information and resources

WELL Website

Australian projects that are registered for WELL Building Certification

WELL: Healthier people through better buildings (video)

Sourceable article by Shelley Meagher: Green Infrastructure and the WELL Building Standard™

CHANGES to GECA Furniture Standards – WHAT you need to know

Background

There is a growing demand for product manufacturers to have an overarching ethical approach to conducting their business, particularly in relation to social responsibility. Click here for more info. 

Big corporations and large construction companies want to ensure that their suppliers (i.e. product manufacturers and retailers) are addressing environmental issues, that they have workplace health and safety systems in place and that they have policies and procedures to address human and labour issues. They are also looking to see that these measures extend through the supply chain.  The revised GECA furniture standards address these issues.

If you would like to meet these market requirements, the new GECA standards will help you achieve this.  

So what are the changes and new inclusions to the revised standards? 

The two new standards are now more aligned and the wording has been simplified.  We’ve listed some of the key revisions that are important to GECA licensees below.  

Furniture, Fittings, Foam and Mattresses - Level A

(Standard No: FFFM v3.0 – 2017)

Summary of key changes

• Inclusion of mattresses under the scope of the certification 
• Hazardous and prohibited substances, additional substances added to the list of prohibited substances
• Formaldehyde emissions for level A -  EO
• Warranty periods from 5 to 7 years 
• Changes to the packaging requirements 
• Social and legal requirements:
  • Additional evidence to substantiate claims of legal compliance and workplace health and safety (Training records, inductions, risk assessments etc)
  • Update with the inclusion of ‘humanand labour rights’ compliance 

NB: NOT all the standard changes have been included in the above list.

Furniture and Fittings - Level B

(Standard NO FF v3.0 – 2017)

Summary of key changes

• • Changes to the requirements for ‘padding requirements’
• Changes to the ‘fabric’ and ‘packaging’ criteria requirements
• Hazardous materials, additional substances added to the list of prohibited substances
• Socialand legal requirements
  • Additional evidence to substantiate claims of legal compliance and workplace health and safety (Training records, inductions, risk assessments etc)
  • Update with the inclusion of ‘humanand labour rights’ – Supply chain due diligence

NB: NOT all the standard changes have been included in the above list.

We’ve put together a free guide to assist you with the human and labour rights requirements of the GECA standards.  

As promoted in the August newsletter, if you would like a free consultation, make sure you contact Libby on 0448 026 508 to be one of the first 5 callers – Offer expires 30 SEPT 17

If you want to know more about what clients are expecting from their suppliers then check out last month’s blog, Market trends and clients expectations.  

An Introduction to United Nations (UN) Global Compact

By becoming a signatory to the UN Global Compact, you are sending a strong message to your customers and stakeholders that you understand the importance of going beyond business as usual and that you value the fundamental responsibilities in the areas of human and labour rights, the environment and anti-corruption.

About the UN Global Compact

Launched in 2000, the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) was a call to companies around the world to align their strategies and operations with the ten universal principles in the areas of human and labour rights, environment and anti-corruption, and to take action in support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With more than 9455 signatory companies, from 162 countries, the UNGC is the world’s largest voluntary corporate sustainability initiative.

The UNGC is a framework that is both a policy platform and a practical framework for companies that are committed to sustainability and responsible business practices.

For more information about the 10 guiding principles, click on the link below for a guide that explains the principles in greater detail.

Being a signatory gives you a competitive advantage

Over the last few years, a lot of our clients’ customers have started requesting more than just product ecolabelling certification (GECA, Global GreenTag and AFRDI GreenTick). 

We are seeing now that sustainability requirements for businesses are aligning with corporate social responsibility.  This is being driven by major construction companies and large corporations. There is mounting pressure on businesses to ensure that they address adverse human rights AND impacts linked to their supply chains, as well as environmental impacts. 

Corporations want to partner with sustainable and ethical businesses and are conducting supply chain due diligence to mitigate risk of human and labour rights abuses.  These corporations want to ensure that their suppliers (product manufacturers) are addressing environmental issues, that they have workplace health and safety systems in place and that they have policies and procedures to address human and labour issues.  

By becoming a signatory to the UN Global Compact you are giving your clients assurance that you are addressing the 10 UNGC guiding principles. There are a number of Australian companies that are signatories to the UN Global Compact, including Westpac, Com Bank, NAB, ANZ, Lendlease, GPT, GHD and Stocklands.

What’s involved in becoming a signatory

The first step involves your director signing a statement of commitment addressing the 10 principles and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The UN Global Compact has a huge amount of resources to assist you in taking action. These resources include a library with guides, assessment tools and webinars.  We suggest you start with the UNGC assessment tool, as this will give you an idea of how to start addressing the 10 guiding principles. You can plan the year ahead considering what is most important to your organisation and where the greatest risk of human and labour rights issues lie (i.e. potentially in your supply chain and with suppliers who manufacture inhigh risk countries). Part of this process will be conducting human rights due diligence to understand where there is the potential for adverse human rights impacts.

At the end of 12 months, your organisation is required to produce an annual Communication on Progress (CoP) report, which will be uploaded to the UNGC website. The CoP reports the work you have done to address the 10 principles in the previous 12 months.  The report needs to be submitted annually. 

The cost for becoming a signatory is minimal and the UN Global Compact has a HUGE amount of resources to assist you through this process.  

The UNGC is not an auditable standard – it is based on self-disclosure.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Being a signatory gives your customers assurance that you understand the importance of sustainable and ethical business practices.
• A commitment to addressing the 10 guiding principles is essential from the TOP DOWN
• Implementing the UNGC can be difficult and complex, time and resources will be required
• Planning is an essential element of implementing the 10 guiding principles
• UN Global Compact provides a HUGE amount of resources to assist with the implementation 
• Cost of becoming a signatory is minimal for small to medium sized companies

How we can help

There is a services page on the Sustainable Business Matters website dedicated to the UN Global Compact 

For more information on how we can help support you in becoming a signatory to the UN Global compact