Stormtech drains: Sourced with integrity, manufactured with purpose, powered by the Aussie sun

For Stormtech, a market-leading architectural drainage solution provider, commitment to sustainable sourcing and manufacturing has been a foundational cornerstone since the company’s inception in 1989. And since the very beginning, it’s been invariably linked to Stormtech’s signature “Australian-made” ethos. Why? For this family-owned business, the iconic green triangular symbol is synonymous with the essential notion of connection – to the land, the local culture and the community.

“Organisationally, we’re united in our interests of advancing the Australian economy and looking after Australian interests,” explains Troy Creighton, the progressive CEO at the helm of his father-founded company. “Plus, local production gives us access to a highly skilled Australian workforce.”

But the outline of the yellow kangaroo jumping off the leafy-green background reveals an even deeper meaning. It’s a badge of quality, innovation, and commitment to environmental and ethical practices. “Manufacturing our products locally gives us full agency and control over any decisions related to our supply chain,” Troy explains. “Ownership of our supply chain and local production allows us to be judicious about inputs and select suppliers that also follow ethical and sustainable practices. Plus, it enables us to retain complete control of our intellectual property, which incentivises continued product innovation for the benefit of our industry.”

Sustainable manufacturing: Progress powered by Aussie ingenuity and sun
When it comes to local production, Stormtech’s Nowra manufacturing plant embodies the quintessential qualities of a true-blue Aussie. Located on the South Coast of NSW, in a pretty iconic urban area embraced by Jervis Bay’s sandy coastline, Shoalhaven River and the vast expanse of national parks and reserves, Stormtech’s factory emerges from this familial locale propped by Australian ingenuity, which has powered the company since its humble beginnings.

Beyond this indispensable creative Aussie fuel, Stormtech relies on another Australian superpower: the generous energy of the sun. “Our manufacturing plant is powered entirely by renewable solar energy and operates independently from the national grid,” Troy enthuses. The innovative solar energy system, complete with advanced batteries, inverters and a backup generator, enables Stormtech to cut off over 260 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.

In addition, the company has taken significant steps to eliminate single-use plastic from their packaging, making all their boxes and wraps completely recyclable. As signatories of the Australian PVC industry’s voluntary Product Stewardship Program developed by the Vinyl Council of Australia in collaboration with the Department of the Environment and Heritage, Stormtech recycles all its offcuts and assists its customers in recycling their unused products. Plus, their uPVC products are not only 100% recyclable but are also produced with Best Environmental Practice materials, further reducing waste and the demand for virgin resources in their manufacturing process.

Sustainable sourcing: Local partnerships, global responsibility
With such an unwavering commitment to sustainable manufacturing, it’s no surprise that Stormtech prefers to partner with local suppliers who share these values. Troy explains that the strategic localisation of their supply chain allows Stormtech to be flexible and adaptive to local conditions while keeping it slim and efficient means they can work with partners who are transparent about their own processes and environmental performance.

“Working collaboratively with other local suppliers who share our sustainability ambitions is essential to identifying new areas of improvement and keeping abreast of the latest developments in product solutions,” he says. “And so, we work with suppliers who are independently accredited for environmental best practice by industry organisations, including the Vinyl Council of Australia and the Australian Stainless Steel Development Association.”

However, Troy points out that sustainable sourcing doesn’t always mean sourcing locally – it means recognising the multifaceted character of a sustainable supply chain, methodically investigating the options, and always selecting the best one. “Naturally, we aim to buy, source and support Australian materials and products whenever we can,” he says. “At the same time, we always explore all available options to ensure we can offer the perfect balance of quality and sustainability to our architecture, design and construction clients.”

Sustainable materials: Prioritising performance and the planet
Stormtech’s 316 marine-grade stainless steel is an excellent example of this holistic take on sustainable sourcing. The material is sourced from Europe – from the lowest carbon emission mills in the world, Troy adds – and Stormtech freights it by sea, ensuring that the environmental impact of the cross-continental logistics is still lower than obtaining the same material locally. Stormtech’s stainless steel is also manufactured using over 90% recycled content and is entirely recyclable – plus, its production process boasts a 75% lower carbon footprint compared to the global industry average. “It is the most sustainable product available,” Troy ensures confidently.

Stormtech demonstrates the same thorough approach when sourcing other materials used in its manufacturing process. Their award-winning Wave Grate product is made with Capral LocAL Super Green aluminium, the most sustainable extruded aluminium product available, which means it produces three times less carbon emissions than the global average for aluminium. In terms of PVC, on top of the Global Green Tag tick of approval, Stormtech’s PVC also boasts the Vinyl Council's Best Environmental Practice (BEP) trademark, which is awarded to compliant products that can provide evidence of the independent assessment of compliance with their relevant guidelines. “We want to ensure it’s produced using the world’s best practice,” Troy says.

Sustainable certifications: Pioneering the world of independent validation
But these aren’t the only certifications punctuating Stormtech’s market-leading progress in the sustainability space. In fact, Stormtech was the first drainage manufacturer in the world to achieve Global Green Tag Level A Gold Certification across its entire product range. The Global Green Tag requires a rigorous independent assessment that considers all sustainability facets of the product, from health and ecotoxicity and LCA to corporate responsibility and compliance, which positions it as one of the most crucial sustainability certifications – both for the suppliers and the specifiers.

The company also offers certified EPDs across their highly coveted Slimline Stainless Steel and PVC Channel Linear Drainage ranges – yet another act of environmental transparency that didn’t come without its challenges. “To achieve these certifications, we undergo a rigorous independent process examining all aspects of the product life cycle,” Troy explains. “We’ve also achieved ISO 9001 Quality Management System certification, which involves a particularly stringent process analysing our operations from top to bottom. It demands commitment to the quality on every level.”

This highly considered and, frankly, unapologetic environmental commitment makes it evident that, for Stormtech, sustainability is not a marketing tool – it’s an ingrained philosophy directly informing the quality of their products and processes and actively shaping both Stormtech and drainage solutions’ future.

Sustainable specification: Looking after Australians, their environment and their future
With an unwavering commitment to sustainable sourcing and manufacturing, and the iconic Aussie-made badge of ultimate quality, Stormtech’s outstanding range of products emerges as the unmatched design solution for architects, designers and specifiers who prioritise sustainability just as much as Troy and his team.

“By specifying our products, industry professionals are choosing high-quality, enduring, fit-for-purpose architectural solutions designed with long-term performance and reliability in mind,” Troy says. “They offer peace of mind when it comes to lower embodied carbon, can contribute to the development of Green Star buildings – and come with no ethical ambiguity of offshore manufacturing nor modern slavery.”

On a rudimentary level, ensuring Stormtech equips specifiers with brilliant products harkens back to Stormtech’s innate desire to look after Australians and their interests, environment, and future. But what will that look like? Bright, as long as Stormtech is involved. Looking ahead, Troy is envisioning a future where sustainable practices are not just an aspiration, but the standard across the building materials industry – and Stormtech’s own ingenious journey positions them as a leading driving force behind this imminent shift.

"We see a clear trend towards greater responsibility for suppliers to meet the sustainability demands of architects and designers – alongside clearer benefits for those who do – and ongoing regulatory changes pushing for environmental and ethical transparency,” he muses. “At Stormtech, we're particularly excited about the development of energy and battery technologies, which could further enhance our operational efficiencies and advancements in sustainable transport to optimise our supply chain. By embracing innovation and staying true to our core values, we want to shape the trajectory of drainage solutions and actively contribute to a more resilient built environment to ensure a brighter, more sustainable future for all.”