A turn towards green architecture and a more sustainable future has been one of the most defining developments for the architecture and design industry in recent years. The commitment to building a greener future and reducing environmental impacts has been redefining the industry and role of the built environment on a global scale.
This shift has also affected the way construction materials and architectural products are manufactured. Manufacturers, designers and producers have become crucial advocates for sustainability through their contribution in providing sustainable products that create a positive difference.
Autex is a leader in the design, development, and production of interior acoustic and industrial products that are made from thermally bonded polyester. For years, they’ve also been leading the charge as a business operating with sustainability at its forefront.
The business has always placed sustainability at the centre of its decision making processes. In addition to aligning international manufacturing and operations teams, Autex utilises a continuous feedback loop with key sustainability stakeholders both inside and outside the organisation to ensure that processes are continuously scrutinised and improved wherever possible.
Autex also engages in targeted initiatives that reduce environmental impacts. One of them is their latest commitment to further mitigate the unavoidable carbon emissions associated with their products. Autex’s Carbon Neutral Product Initiative assesses the carbon emissions generated through the supply and delivery of products and offsets them through the purchase of certified carbon credits. These, in turn, are converted into a direct financial contribution to climate change projects.
Using carbon data calculated by independent experts, the company invests in third-party certified carbon credits generated from the Clean Development Mechanism. These enable Autex to financially support a variety of climate change projects and contribute to the reduction and removal of emissions.
The initiative also enables Autex to work directly with customers to lower the environmental impacts of their projects. Their team works on a project-by-project basis to identify the carbon footprint of the individual undertaking and neutralise that impact through the acquisition of credits. Certificates of carbon neutrality are then generated to verify the project’s green credentials.
The initiative is representative of Autex’s recognition that the chance to transition to a low carbon model is disappearing, and will not be repeated.
In addition to the targeted Carbon Neutral Product Initiative, Autex cascades sustainability throughout its wider operation. As the brand continually renews their commitment to creating a more sustainable future, they also encourage their employees to make a difference through individual actions, including office-based recycling programs and access to electric vehicle charging stations.
While Autex is putting tremendous effort into reducing carbon emissions right now, their actions are aimed at reducing environmental impacts in the future too.
While GreenStuf® insulation and their other industrial products are made from 100% recyclable polyester fibre which contains a minimum of 45% recycled P.E.T. plastic fibre, Autex continues to push the boundaries of innovation — and self-education.
Their recent assessment of bio-polylactide (PLA), an alternative to plastic sourced from corn-starch, as a potential substitute for P.E.T. is an excellent example of their commitment to expanding their understanding around waste management. The lifecycle assessment conducted by Autex found that, overall, P.E.T. fibre performs better than PLA fibre from an environmental point of view. It showed that if GreenStuf products were made using PLA they would have a significantly higher environmental impact than if made using P.E.T.
Their focus on the educational aspect of their organisation means that Autex can keep pushing their commitment to creating a brighter future through the choice of materials and production methods that ensure their environmental impact is minimal. That, in turn, gives Australian designers and specifiers peace of mind as they specify a brand that holds themselves to such high sustainability standards.
