Growing awareness surrounding the climate crisis is galvanising the architecture and design industry more than ever before. Manufacturers, suppliers and distributors have been developing much more comprehensive sustainability agendas, while architects, designers and specifiers have been paying even more attention to the products and services they select, determined to prioritise low carbon options. It’s becoming increasingly clear that in order to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, decarbonising Australia’s building industry is paramount. In fact, modelling indicates that the industry must nearly entirely decarbonise by 2050 if Australia is to meet its goal, and so manufacturers and designers play a crucial role in advancing the efforts towards net zero carbon.
Certifications are one of the factors that can help them achieve those goals. They assist specifiers with navigating the market inundated with claims, declarations and greenwashing to ensure they select energy efficient and low carbon products. From the manufacturer point of view, they help convey ambitious climate commitments. That’s why, certifications underpin Autex Acoustics’ sustainability agenda.
“We recognise that we are currently in a climate crisis, and we believe that designers and manufacturers have a pivotal role to play in taking action,” says Aidan Hill, Group Technical & Sustainability Manager. “Our mission as a responsible and sustainable business is to positively impact our environment, our people, and the next generation.”
A global leader in acoustic solutions, Autex Acoustics is also one of the most prominent champions of carbon neutrality in the architecture and design industry. With a robust sustainability agenda – and a resolve to be carbon neutral in everything they do – the ambitious company sees certifications as a way to communicate this commitment to their industry and community.
For example, Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), enable architects, designers and specifiers to make more informed and considered choices that help advance efforts towards net zero carbon. EPDs offer industry professionals a comprehensive view of the environmental impact of their products – including embodied carbon emissions. Autex Acoustics' whole product range is covered by the EPDs created and verified in line with ISO 15804 – the EPD standard for construction products and services – giving specifiers a transparent and third-party verified view of the embodied impacts of their products.
The Declare label is another one of the most relevant certifications in point. Autex Acoustics has been an early adopter of this particular certification, and their products have been assessed against the Living Future Challenge Red List. All of them boast the highest “LBC Red List Free” status. But perhaps even more important in the context of carbon neutrality, the Declare certification has now been expanded to include information on the embodied carbon to further complement the ingredients transparency information which forms the basis of Declare. Autex Acoustics is featured in the low carbon product section, which is below the industry average.
And while emissions reduction efforts are paramount, in the immediate future the offsets form a necessary part of the transition towards total decarbonisation for the sector. Here, third-party verification is equally as important.
“The quality of carbon credits used to offset emissions is crucial,” says Hill “Certified carbon credits undergo a process of measuring carbon reduction, independent verification and recording of trading of credits. Autex Acoustics undertakes a methodical process of third party verification of its carbon measurement and offsetting activities to ensure a robust claim.”
As a carbon neutral organisation, Autex Acoustics regularly monitor their carbon footprint and undertake projects to reduce emissions and offset the remaining emissions through their impressive programme of investment in United Nations-issued and certified carbon credits, which contribute to climate change projects around the world.
Of course, this comprehensive and multifaceted commitment to carbon neutrality has to be reflected throughout the lifecycle of the building. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) enables building professionals to understand the energy and environmental effects of the building during its lifecycle. With the World Green Building Council (WGBC)’s commitment to advancing towards a complete decarbonisation of the sector by 2050 – expressed through the resolve of the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment – designing and building low carbon buildings is one of the main targets for many architectural practices.
Carbon neutral companies – like Autex Acoustics – can assist with achieving these ambitious goals, and through their transparency and third-party verified certifications, they can help architects, designers and specifiers make independent, conscious and considerate decisions much easier.
