The value of EcoProducts

The use of EcoProducts in the construction and manufacturing industries has numerous benefits and can lead to a range of diverse and productive outcomes:

Environmental sustainability

Specifying EcoProducts can help:

• avoid or reduce the dependence on non-renewable resources
• close the loop by reusing or recycling materials that would otherwise be disposed of in an unproductive way
• increase resource efficiency
• minimise impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity
• encourage the use of more durable materials requiring lower ongoing maintenance

Human health

Specifying EcoProducts can help:

• eliminate and/or reduce problems associated with Sick Building Syndrome and other environmentally related illnesses such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• contribute towards increasing Indoor Air Quality and healthier interiors resulting in overall productivity improvements
• reduce problems for those with allergies by designing and building healthier homes
• reduce bioaccumulative, carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic and hormone disrupting chemicals in built environments (refer glossary for explanation of these terms)

Commercial advantage and competitiveness

Specifying EcoProducts can help:

• build competitive advantage by entering new markets with existing EcoProducts, whilst remaining profitable, or creating new EcoProducts for existing markets
• gain industry, government and community support and recognition through awards e.g. RAIA Ecologically Sustainable Design Award, Banksia Awards, Master Builders Association Awards, Housing Industry Association Awards
• provide key materials credits and points in building sustainability rating schemes such as Green Star™, ABGR (Commercial) BASIX, BCA 5 Star (Residential) NABERS (both)
• help future proof buildings and assure better quality tenants and tenant longevity
• provide an opportunity to save on manufacturing or construction costs
• provide a marketing advantage in an increasingly ‘green’ market
• create significantly improved productivity, and reduce absenteeism due to illness where interiors are ‘low VOC’ and healthy
• create significant new opportunities and major new market opportunities for manufacturers

Supporting the local recycling industry

Specifying EcoProducts can help:

• support and sustain the recycling industry by building demand for recycled products and materials
• increase the value of materials from building demolition or refurbishment by specifying recyclable materials (materials that have a viable secondary market)
• demonstrate the potentially powerful position held by designers and specifiers in developing and growing the market for secondary materials, thus making the recycling industry more economically viable and sustainable over the medium to long term
• ensure that those recyclables collected end up in quality buildings and manufacturing products

Corporate foresight and professional responsibility

Specifying EcoProducts can help:

• demonstrate a practical response by professionals across a range of disciplines who are showing that positive steps can be taken towards improving the environmental performance of their clients' and companies' products, buildings and services
• place designers, builders and specifiers in an assertive position to become part of the solution rather than contributing to ‘the problem’
• reflect a corporation's philosophy and responsible position on environmental management by implementing specific measures during the manufacturing or construction process
• follow international trends by successful global companies seeking to minimise their environmental impacts and maximise their profitability, i.e. eco-efficiency

Emerging policies, regulations and standards

Specifying EcoProducts can help:

• meet government policies, regulations, covenants and other initiatives aimed at developing more sustainable products, buildings and services
• comply with government policies and regulations as the need to develop markets for secondary materials and eliminate toxic or hazardous materials becomes a higher priority
• win government tenders demanding the use of environmentally preferable materials and products
• help future proof buildings against increasing community standards including the impending Mandatory Disclosure of Energy Performance for all building types nationally
• assist buildings retain building classification into the future, e.g the Property Council of Australia now (since 2006) requires an A-grade office building to be 4.0 Green Star rated – when will the required Star rating next be upgraded and where does it leave offices with an Existing A-Grade rating but no Green Star rating?

Customer and client demand

Specifying EcoProducts can help:

• provide a range of benefits and advantages for clients and customers
• respond to client and customer interest in social and environmental quality and responsibility
• fulfill requirements in government tenders and briefs for environmentally improved buildings and products
• meet the demand for products complying with 'Buy Recycled' criteria

It is obvious that the overall benefits of specifying EcoProducts are diverse and respond to the interests of numerous stakeholders and their respective activities and priorities.

The value of EcoProducts rests not only with their inherent environmental qualities, but also with their potential to create a more sustainable future for Australia.

Whilst they are only one contribution towards improving the environmental performance of our built environment and the manufactured objects that sit within it, their widespread and judicious use can result in a variety of much needed social, environmental and economic benefits.