Australia has reached a major milestone in cutting the carbon footprint of the built environment, with the first official National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) Embodied Carbon rating awarded to an industrial warehouse in Kemps Creek, NSW.
The new national NABERS tool measures the “hidden emissions” created during construction, from manufacturing building materials to transport, site energy use and waste. These emissions are a major part of Australia’s net zero challenge.
The pilot was held during the construction of pharmaceutical company Probiotec Multipack facility within The YARDS industrial estate in Western Sydney. Joint venture partners Frasers Property Industrial and Aware Real Estate, alongside Mainbrace Constructions, adopted an innovative approach to drive down embodied carbon and increase transparency.
- They selected materials with Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), which show the emissions created in making each product, to ensure transparent, low-carbon product choices
- They collected an industry-leading level of on-site construction data to accurately track all materials delivered and provide a clear picture of the buildings true carbon footprint
A NABERS embodied carbon rating gives builders and developers trusted, independently verified proof that their project has genuinely reduced its construction emissions. It strengthens credibility with investors and provides a clear competitive advantage in tenders and leasing, particularly as government and corporate clients increasingly seek low-carbon buildings.
With embodied carbon set to become the largest source of emissions in the built environment, a rating also helps companies meet net-zero commitments and prepare for future regulatory requirements.
NABERS, a national initiative administered by the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), provides trusted and independent sustainability ratings for buildings across Australia.
NABERS Director Magali Wardle said:
“Embodied carbon is the next frontier when it comes to reducing carbon emissions in buildings.
“The team at Frasers Property Industrial and Mainbrace has set a great example by collecting an exceptional level of construction data and choosing materials backed by Environmental Product Declarations.
“This is exactly the kind of leadership Australia needs to scale low-carbon construction.
Frasers Property Industrial Manager Director Australia Ian Barter said:
“I’m incredibly proud of the work our teams and partners have put into this achievement. At Frasers Property Industrial, we’ve always backed ourselves to lead the sector on sustainability and innovation, and becoming the first industrial developer in Australia to secure a NABERS embodied carbon rating really reinforces that ambition.
“Embodied carbon is a major hurdle on the path to net zero, and this work shows it’s possible to move the dial when we collaborate with like-minded companies.”
Mainbrace Managing Director Rob Doust said:
“Mainbrace has worked closely with NABERS in developing the new embodied carbon measuring tool and are proud to have teamed with Frasers Property Industrial to deliver this Australian first “