37 minute read
JOIN THE REGENERATION MOVEMENT +Impact speaks to the plenary speakers of the 2022 GBCSA Convention
Join the REGENERATION MOVEMENT
There is a growing consensus in the built environment that there is a “regeneration gap” in building and that we urgently need to expand our thinking on sustainability to thinking regeneratively when we look to the future of green building. The regeneration movement is about building a re-generation of people that move beyond sustainability towards transforming the built environment for people and planet to thrive. +Impact speaks to the trailblazers of this re-generation.
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Lisa Reynolds was the driver for the drafting of Energy Efficiency Standards and Regulation for Buildings and has been involved in energy efficiency since 2003. She serves on many committees in the South African Bureau of Standards and within the energy management professionals’ space. Reynolds was president of the South African Energy Efficiency Confederation (SAEEC) and the Energy Services Companies Association (ESCo).
Reynolds has assisted the South African government with its green building framework policies, energy efficiency tax incentives and efficiency strategies. Her passion for the “green space” started with the birth of the Green Building Council in 2007. She served on the board and the technical committee of GBCSA, as well as on several technical working groups for rating tools and criteria.
LISA
LISA REYNOLDS
CEO of Green Building Council South Africa
Please tell us about your personal experience. When and how did your passion for sustainability arise?
I have always had a passion for not wasting resources. My “formal” path to the sustainability place started in 2003 when I was asked to drive the writing of standards for energy efficiency for buildings. It was a natural progression from there to become part of the Green Building Council at conception. I first contributed as part of the Technical Working Group for some of the rating tools. I later became a board member. And in June 2020, I was appointed as CEO.
How is the conversation about sustainability changing?
In 2007, (and definitely in 2003) all who were involved in this sustainability space were perceived to be pathfinders or pioneers. The forthcoming shortage of electricity was predicted in 2003 already but wasn’t yet the stark reality of loadshedding that we live through currently.
GBCSA had many partners in the pioneering stage who managed to lead and demonstrate the value of having green-rated buildings. In the past few years, design and construction of buildings to a 4-Star Green Star rated level is almost a norm. People accept that climate change is here, and it is not something that should only concern us way into the future – the effects are real, acknowledged, present and need to be mitigated.
Green certified buildings are an asset in any building portfolio and the financial value of that is being recognised. They have value in being resource-efficient, as well as “future-proofed” buildings.
Building green-rated buildings on every block won’t make a green precinct. The industry and all stakeholders need to implement all interventions more quickly.
Please tell us about a project that you are fond of.
I would be in deep trouble if I had any favourite projects. The only comment I will make is that I love projects that involve the community in some way and those that incorporate some of the socio-economic criteria.
What are the big questions in your industry?
There is still a perception that building green is much more expensive. We regularly publish an independent “cost of green” research result which demonstrates that this is a misconception. Another is that the criteria that go into making up a green building are difficult to understand and have their own language. GBCSA is in the process of drafting a New Build rating tool (Version 2). In it, GBCSA has resolved to push the envelope on the levels of green, while making it more user-friendly.
What in your view constitutes the built environment and what should its goals be for ecological performance?
GBCSA talks about the built environment and not just buildings. We look at precincts as well. Our New Build rating tool looks at the places around a building. Building green-rated buildings on every block won’t make a green precinct. GBCSA is looking at the built environment as a holistic entity. The C40 cities recognise that this holistic approach makes a city green. This will assist in the rolling out of greener spaces.
How should the built industry transform to mitigate the dire consequences of accelerating climate change? The industry and all stakeholders need to implement
all interventions more quickly. Whether it be ensuring that buildings comply with the minimum requirements of legislation to rewarding buildings that go beyond the minimum. Sustainability is not an add-on. It must be inculcated into the design of buildings – whether new or being retrofitted/renovated. There is a huge proportion of existing building stock that needs to be made more resource efficient. We must check the infrastructure, repair it and maintain it. Not only will this stop leaks and waste, but it will assist in dealing with the consequence of major climate events that are happening regularly.
What are some of the challenges that practitioners in your field might face when implementing a living systems approach within the complexity of multidisciplinary design projects?
As I said in the question above, sustainability must be a fundamental characteristic of all projects – in approach, in design, in construction and in demolition. It should be a fundamental principle throughout the multi-disciplines. There is still a lot of training and education required to fully get to this level. However, it has improved over time.
Sustainability is not an add-on.
What will the city of tomorrow look like?
The cities will be net-zero carbon, water and waste. There will be minimal to no car traffic. The city will supplement its needs by having gardens within it. There will be wellmaintained green parks and spaces throughout.
How do we put regenerative development into action? Who are the key players?
The conversations have long started. It now needs the implementation to commence.
What is the key takeaway you would like people to gain from the 2022 GBCSA Convention?
All attendees should feel that they have either learned something new or gained some new insights. They should depart from the Convention inspired and in the knowledge that GBCSA is playing a broad and prominent role in moving the South African built environment into a green future.
Brian Unsted has 23 years’ experience in the South African property industry with a particular focus on extracting optimal value from some of our most prestigious and successful shopping centres/mixed-use properties.
His chief responsibilities within Liberty Two Degrees (L2D) involve managing the assets of Eastgate Shopping Centre, Liberty Midlands Mall, Melrose Arch and several office buildings. Unsted is the champion for sustainability issues for the L2D fund and ensures synergy on sustainability issues between the property investment portfolio and the broader Liberty Group. When Unsted is not working or co-authoring a book, he enjoys running, mountain biking and travelling. His book Sandton Places was published in 2014.
BRIAN UNSTED
Chairperson of GBCSA
Please tell us about your personal experience. When and how did your passion for sustainability arise?
I am not what you would call a natural “greenie”. My working career and studies are based in accountancy, and only about six or seven years ago, we placed a focus on sustainability in our company and I was tasked to manage this building block of our business.
BRIAN
I was nominated onto the GBCSA board in 2017 and have had a rapid learning curve. I enjoy the vibrancy, passion and energy of the GBCSA directors, staff and the sustainability industry at large.
How is the conversation about sustainability changing?
It has evolved from a “nice to have” to a business imperative. There is more urgency and importance placed on sustainability, from consumers, boards of directors and investors. Seeking funds to execute on sustainability projects has become easier in many organisations, as medium-long term business continuity is considered. Water and energy projects are equally as motivated through business resilience and continuity (loadshedding and water outages through aging infrastructure) as they are on sustainability requirements.
Please tell us about a project that you are fond of.
It would have to be the Liberty Two Degrees’ first solar project at the Midlands Mall lifestyle centre, which was commissioned in 2019. From the feasibility stage and concept development to actually “seeing” the system generating power was very rewarding. detergents and other operations can be aligned to good business practices and should be targeted by all property managers. New buildings, precincts and residential estates have more opportunity to make a greater impact through careful planning, embracing findings of environmental impact assessments, natural watercourses etc.
How should the built industry transform to mitigate the dire consequences of accelerating climate change?
The construction industry from so-called cradle to grave, and a buildings lifecycle are huge generators of carbon at a global level. There is a responsibility on the industry to innovate and operate more efficiently. There needs to be more standardised legislation across the globe on building practices that includes the incorporation of green elements, especially energy and water savings, and around the supply of energy and water.
Certain products should be banned from being produced, so that consumers, purchasing managers and quantity surveyors are unable to buy inefficient products. There also needs to be a serious effort to re-educate architects, project managers, construction companies and facilities managers to align with best practices.
Midlands Mall lifestyle centre.
What are the big questions in your industry?
I think the biggest one right now is for businesses to set realistic, yet achievable, stretch targets for sustainability goals, such as net zero targets. In many instances, setting targets for 2050 is too easy, and there needs to be a greater commitment, more urgency and the setting aside of capital to achieve goals.
Another issue is around the premium to build “green”. Many people still have the misperception that building sustainably is exorbitantly expensive, which it’s not. Also, on ESG, the weighting of the E, S and G components can’t be equally weighted in all jurisdictions, as specific economic, social and political factors impact areas of focus.
What, in your view, constitutes the built environment and what should its goals be for ecological performance?
The built environment is all buildings, broadly split between commercial or business and residential buildings. With existing buildings, there are more limited opportunities to impact the environment, but the use of chemicals,
What will the city of tomorrow look like?
It will be designed around efficiency – transport, energy and water usage as well as waste disposal. Distances for staff to travel to places of work will be reasonable. Rapid and reliable public transport will be a vital component. Quality of life will be key with nature embedded into everyday life such as parks. Natural light and fresh, good quality air. It is likely to be highly tech-enabled. It must be designed for futureproofing for re-use and re-purposing to avoid wastage. What will happen to parking lots if we are all making use of driverless, drone-type Uber facilities in 20 years’ time?
I think the city of tomorrow will also be focused on people and based on walkability and human mobility, as opposed to vehicle and buildings focused. I am hopeful that there will be a greater focus on neuroscience and make these principals more broadly understood and mainstream.
What is the key takeaway you would like people to gain from the 2022 GBCSA Convention?
Be bold. Set ambitious targets. It can be done!
KHANYI
KHANYI MLAMBO
Founding president of South African Women in Construction
Please tell us about your personal experience. When and how did your passion for sustainability arise?
I was fortunate to start my career within the built environment as a young student in architecture where I learned about the impact of environmental factors on our lives. I was made to be conscientious about the importance of sustainability working at the largest brick manufacturing company where the nature of business and product had a direct impact on the environment.
The awareness of how the use of construction materials can potentially destroy or enhance the environment and people’s lives created an interest and passion for me to play my part in the field. My passion to protect the environment is also borne out of my participation in endurance sports around the world, where the consequences of unconscious consumption leading to waste are evident with every mountain climb and longdistance run on many trails and along the seas.
How is the conversation about sustainability changing?
It is encouraging that over the years, there is more consciousness of how our behaviour and attitude have a direct impact on sustainability. While Covid-19 shook the world to the core, I think it brought more urgency and elevation to the sustainability conversations because the evidence of what could potentially happen if we did not address the agenda was glaring and is still felt today. The natural disasters that have been experienced in recent times have forced the sustainability topic to be at the top of the agenda across many quarters. The agenda
Khanyi Mlambo’s name has become synonymous with caring about giving back to communities while also being stellar in the corporate space. She has worn many hats over the years including being head of responsible business at Old Mutual, marketing executive and a board member at Corobrick as well as having various director roles at Standard Bank Group.
Mlambo is a founding president of South African Women in Construction and has held roles as an inaugural board member of the Construction Industry Development Board, a non-executive director at Motheo Construction Group and its chair of the social, ethics, and environmental committee as well as board member of the UN Global Compact (SA). She is a committee member of the Institute of Directors SA and a board member of the National Business Initiative and Southern African HIV and Aids Collaboration. Mlambo is also an associate of the Shared Value Africa Initiative and a mentor at Geo Counsellors.
Creating a long-lasting positive impact is core to who Mlambo is.
Congratulations to the GBCSA for reaching the milestone of 15 years in existence. The achievement gained over the years in influencing positive change within the built environment industry is evident in how the landscape is gradually becoming greener and eco-friendly in many aspects. Congratulations on being resolute and continuously delivering on what you set out to achieve since your inception. Your hand in driving sustainability is setting us on a path to leaving this planet better than we found it. Keep up the great work! - Khanyi Mlambo
has therefore gradually moved from being about the socalled “tree huggers”, certain demographics, age, class, or background to be centred at the core of business strategies, young people, communities as well as across the economy and divide.
There is an increased collaborated effort and commitment coordinated by organisations such as the National Business Initiative, Shared Value Africa Initiative and the UN Global Compact, including the GBCSA, which has given rise to the voice of business in driving sustainability for the sustenance of business and society. The game changer in the sustainability discussions is the progressive realisation that sustainability is not the responsibility of the government alone. Big business has a critical role to play especially in these challenging economic times.
INDUSTRY RESPONSIBILITY
There is therefore no better time than now for the built environment to lead with others, whereby professionals design, develop and construct buildings to enhance the concept of shared value, where business growth is sustained, at the same time incrementally advancing the lives of South Africans.
The creative nature of the built environment can play a part in the betterment of people’s lives, particularly in impoverished areas where there are challenges with necessities, especially shelter and water. The industry can contribute to building social cohesion through the
empowerment of the communities where they operate ensuring that no-one is left behind. The industry can play a positive role in bridging the divide through communication, inclusion and transformational leadership.
What would you like people to gain from your participation at the 2022 GBCSA Convention?
I trust that the key takeout from my talk will be an understanding that the restoration and recreation of a better planet for us all, starts with us.
CLIVE
Clive Wilkinson has over 30 years of experience working at the intersection of urban design, architecture and interior design. His practice, Clive Wilkinson Architects, was established in Los Angeles in 1991 and is an acknowledged global leader in workplace design whose large-scale projects for clients such as Disney, Google and Macquarie Group have established new paradigms for building creative and educational communities.
A Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), Wilkinson is also a Fellow of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) and a former board director of the AIA | Los Angeles. In 2005, he was inducted into the Interior Design “Hall of Fame”. Wilkinson was named a “Master of Design” by Fast Company in 2006, a “Pioneer of Design” by the IIIDA in 2011, and a “Legend” by Contract in 2018. In 2010, he was formally inducted into the GSA National Peer Registry as an advisor to the US government on architecture and design.
CLIVE WILKINSON (USA)
Architect, designer, writer and strategist
Please tell us about your personal experience. When and how did your passion for sustainability arise?
Sustainability is really a mindset. We need to live leaner lives on this earth to achieve an ecological balance. I was always inspired by the nomadic Tuareg proverb, “Whatever you do not require, will kill you”. It warns that if you overload your camel, you will never reach the oasis.
How is the conversation about sustainability changing?
I think we are moving away from a simplistic checklist of products and materials, to better acknowledge local sourcing and most importantly challenging what we build. It is crazy when houses for two to four people of 12 000 square feet (1114.83m2) can be outed as LEED Platinum, when no-one needs that much space.
Please tell us about a project that you are fond of.
We were challenged by a charity fundraiser client to design and deliver a large workspace project in a warehouse where the budget was so low there was no money for air conditioning (AC) in a hot climate or funds for any real build-out. We thought we had no project until we said, “Why does one need to air condition the whole space?” So, we targeted 40% AC workspace and left the remainder open, using large, prefabricated tents and shipping containers as anchors for the tents, which doubled as executive offices. We brought in the project at a super-low budget.
Here is a photo:
Clive Wilkinson’s favourite project to use as an example of thinking out the box.
What are the big questions in your industry?
Our industry is the Global Workplace, and the biggest questions are how will the office be shaped in the future? Fortunately, technology today has been able to support people in remote working during the pandemic and now can support permanent remote work from home. Insisting people come back to the office five days a week seems to be a thing of the past, so hybrid working is the new paradigm [in the US]. We fully support this and practice this ourselves as a more sustainable way of working. It cuts commute time and carbon footprint and enables people to manage themselves and their home lives more effectively. Therefore, better work/ life balance.
What in your view constitutes the built environment and what should its goals be for ecological performance?
As part of extending the sustainability conversation, I believe that clients and their architects should think about buildings differently. Buildings should be flexible for longer lives and to avoid redundancy.
How should the built industry transform to mitigate the dire consequences of accelerating climate change?
Build once and renovate or replace 200 years later. Long life spans with durable materials, serviceable systems and natural ventilation, etc will help us to achieve an ecological balance.
What will the city of tomorrow look like?
I believe that we will break down the segregation of uses in 20th century urban planning which lead to dull downtowns and densify the city around transportation nodes. The way this happens will make the city more vital and attractive. It will generate its own new set of challenges for protecting work/life balances and quality of life in general.
How can we shift from a human-only oriented design to a systems approach in the built industry?
A systems approach will benefit the environment and is great for multi-family housing and much commercial/ institutional development. We can also interrogate the human-centred approach to becoming more ecologically adept. This will require developing models and prototypes for testing and promoting. The industry needs better developed and persuasive “stories” to bring the public along with it on the sustainability journey.
What would you like people to gain from your participation at the 2022 GBCSA Convention?
I shall be talking about new ways of working and how these offer a better work/life balance but also how we can surmount challenges of connectivity and remote working. I’d like the work I share to inspire people to push the envelope within the workspace field – to make better, more effective and more stimulating workplaces for all.
Whatever you do not require, will kill you.
Sanne van der Burgh leads multiple teams within MVRDV, realising projects of various scales, phases and across several continents. Sanne played an integral role in high profile MVRDV projects including the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen Depot, the refurbishment of the Lyon Part Dieu shopping centre and a visionary project for revitalising New Delhi’s sanitation and infrastructure: Barapullah Springs. Van der Burgh is a versatile architect with demonstrated design achievements. In 2019, Architizer named her as one of 25 young architects to watch. In 2021, she was the winner of the Female Frontier Awards organised by World Architecture News. Van der Burgh’s strengths lie in integral project narratives with a focus on sustainability and innovation. With her personal fascination for computational workflows and methodologies, she championed MVRDV NEXT, an inhouse R&D group that focuses on the development and implementation of cutting-edge technologies in MVRDV’s projects. Currently, MVRDV NEXT focuses on the development of visionary tools that help cities become more dense, more green and more resilient. A dedicated advocate for environmental awareness in architecture, urbanism and our daily lives, Van der Burgh believes in the capacity of design to inspire and have a positive impact
on people and their surroundings.SANNE SANNE VAN DER BURGH (NETHERLANDS)
Associate Director, Head of MVRDV Next, Architect
How does the built industry need to transform to mitigate the dire consequences of accelerating climate change?
With 40% of worldwide CO2eq emissions being caused by the architecture, engineering and construction industry, it is vital we as an industry take carbon seriously for the future of our planet. From our experience as architects, carbon is usually assessed at the end of the design process. By then the design is fixed, decisions have been made and most of the design budget has been used.
Architects need to understand and design with carbon from day one of the design process. Where are the heavy hitters? Where can we have the most impact? How can we steer on reducing emissions? Carbon needs to become an integral part of the dialogue between clients, consultants and designers in order to transform the way we work and build.
What will the city of tomorrow look like?
The club of Rome and the IPCC reports are not lying. We are exhausting our planet’s resources with an increasingly growing population. Time to act is overdue, and we need to start planning our cities in a way that responds to the global climate crisis.
We know that urban sprawl causes traffic and emissions, but at the same time density can cause stress and a need for individuality and human scale and space.
MVRDV’s work is based on creating happy and adventurous places with density. Through research, we explore methods and establish principles to accomplish our goals. Our projects are built manifestos for cities that are resilient, dense, happy, social, green, connected, energy producing, adaptive, mixed, healthy and beautiful.
What would you like people to gain from your participation at the 2022 GBCSA Convention?
We would like to inspire architects, clients, consultants, policy makers, politicians, investors, developers and students, all parties involved in city making, to embrace the momentum for change. We all co-create the city and we all have a role to play in the ecosystem. But only through collaboration across the entire chain can we achieve our common goal: to act on the global urgencies.
With over 22 years of experience in the position at the company. Steve Balwin is the JSE’s only national largescale developer of turnkey sectional-title apartments and surrounding infrastructure aimed at the mid-to-upper market segment. He is also the chairman of the Balwin Foundation, a non-profit company established in 2016 aimed at making a social difference in the education, training and funding landscape.
Brookes is passionate about environmentally responsible building practices and is the driving force behind Balwin’s approach to minimising its environmental impact by achieving green building ratings at its developments, including 6-Star Green Star ratings from GBCSA for its lifestyle centres and net-zero certification.
Under Brooke’s leadership, Balwin has registered a total of approximately 35 000 apartments as EDGE Advanced since January 2021, achieving on-site energy savings more than 40% compared to conventional building methods.
How does the built industry need to transform to mitigate the dire consequences of accelerating climate change?
Embrace environmentally sustainable designs. Change our view that building a sustainable building is just including renewable energy rather it must be considered from the start of a new project.STEVE STEVE BROOKES
Founder and Chief Executive of Balwin Properties
How is the conversation about sustainability changing?
Sustainability is increasingly becoming the primary talking point rather than something that is added on to other metrics. You can no longer ignore the wider impact of doing business both environmentally and socially, the question is no longer whether you have sustainable practices but rather how good are these and what more can be done.
Please tell us about a project that you are particularly fond of.
Green brand, green bonds and sustainable schools
What are the big questions in your industry? Please share any good examples.
How do you provide safe, sustainable and aspirational spaces without them becoming unaffordable?
How can the benefits of building green be passed on to the end-user is a form they understand?
What are some of the challenges that practitioners in your field might face when implementing a living systems approach within the complexity of multidisciplinary design projects?
Perceived costs, though these are more and more being shown to not be a real issue. Additional considerations during the design and construction phase of a project. A lack of local support for certain technologies.
What will the city of tomorrow look like?
Smart (communication infrastructure and data availability), green (natural spaces, low energy and water buildings), distributed infrastructure (energy generation and storage, water treatment, etc).
How do we put regenerative development into action? Who are the key players?
Look at the space where a development is being done and embrace it. For example, indigenous planting, encouraging bird life as well as architecture which acknowledges local cultures and art. Key players are developers, government/ regulators, certifying bodies, the local communities.
What in your view constitutes the built environment and what should its goals be for ecological performance?
The built environment includes buildings both residential and commercial as well as the supporting infrastructure, including utilities, transport and recreational spaces.
The goal should be for connected spaces that are safe, clean and appealing to ensure that the environment will enjoy sustained positive use and development.
How can we shift from a human-only oriented design to a systems approach in the built industry?
Be aware of the environment. Use indigenous landscaping, have a design and implementation team which embraces these ideals.
What would you like people to gain from your participation at the 2022 GBCSA Convention?
Sustainable building is not for the elite but for everyone. The benefits of embracing sustainable buildings should pass to everyone as everyone is impacted if we as an industry do not embrace it. Let’s work together so that we can all save energy, save money and save the planet through simple everyday actions.
DR ANTONY WOOD, RIBA PhD
President of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat
CAN SKYSCRAPERS BE SUSTAINABLE?
As recently as two decades ago, the concept of a “sustainable high-rise” might have struck many people, even building industry professionals, as somewhat oxymoronic. How could these massive buildings, typically clad from top to bottom in glazing, air-conditioned day and night, and running elevators and escalators continuously – to say nothing of the plug loads of all the electronics we use – be in any way “sustainable”?
Truthfully, if the design of these buildings follows the typical status quo of the profit-driven market, they can’t be. The default method of “copying and pasting” the same generic “international” model of replicated, standardised boxes has had terrible consequences for urban character, cultural identity and environmental integrity.
But there have always been pioneering thinkers, architects, engineers and developers – even the profitdriven kind – who have found the status quo unacceptable and pushed the boundaries of physics, technology and finance to create tall buildings that show the way towards a more sustainable future.
Tall buildings can use their height to do more than efficiently stack people on a limited plot or inspire awe – though these remain aspects of their unique value – they can also collect solar and wind energy and be sculpted to provide shade or sunlight strategically to the ground plane. Natural ventilation, access to daylight, vegetated walls, and increased pedestrian connectivity at multiple levels is not only achievable, but economically beneficial to owner/developers and occupants alike. These benefits can, and must be, extrapolated to the urban scale.
The overriding principle that these pioneers have followed is “design for the context.” That means the social, economic,
Dr Antony Wood is responsible for leading the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat’s (CTBUH) thought leadership, research and academic initiatives. Prior to this, he was CTBUH CEO from 2006 to 2022. Under his 15-year tenure as CEO, CTBUH increased its outputs and initiatives across all areas of operation globally. Dr Wood is a teaching professor and director of the Masters in Tall Buildings and Vertical Urbanism program in the College of Architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago. He is also a visiting professor of tall buildings at Tongji University in Shanghai. A UK architect by training, his field of specialty is the design, and in particular the sustainable design, of tall buildings.
ANTONY
urban and environmental context, including a degree of flexibility to adapt to changes in each. It also means thinking more broadly about creating a better context – the urban habitat – and less in terms of isolated iconography.
The upheavals of the past few years alone – extreme climate events, financial crises, a global pandemic, social unrest – have shown us that the pace of change is only increasing. Given the speed of urbanisation, and the prospect of the migrations that will be driven by climate change, the future by necessity will need to be dense and vertical, and the urbanisation it supports will need to be carbon-neutral or very near to it, to avoid further cataclysms. This will only be achieved through the concerted effort of a worldwide community of professionals, in partnership with local government, to effectuate policies that encourage lower energy consumption, appropriate use of materials, vegetation and natural ventilation, greater investment in, and proximity to public transport, and reduction or elimination of minimum parking requirements.
This collective needs to further the push to substitute “mineralised” materials that harshen the urban environment and exact a huge cost on the climate, with the biophilic and carbon-sequestering properties of timber structures and planted façades and balconies, wherever possible. Differing political and commercial objectives, and short-term thinking have often stymied these efforts, but a new sense of urgency seems finally to be overtaking the built environment – and not a moment too soon.
ANDY
ANDY PAG (IRELAND)
Former BBC journalist
For 20 years, Andy Pag has been trying to travel sustainably, from driving a chocolate-powered lorry to Timbuktu to gliding around the sky on thermal currents to circumnavigating the globe in a scrapyard school bus fuelled only with waste cooking oil scavenged from bins along the way. Many of these experimental journeys proved to be quite sustainable, and now, connecting live from the sailboat he currently lives and travels on, he delivers imagination-grabbing talks sharing his experience and honestly critiquing his own attempts to live and travel sustainably.
From these entertaining tales, he draws lessons and conclusions which frame the challenge of acting sustainably for both businesses and individuals. His talks are inspiring and thought-provoking and challenge the audience into new ideas without confrontation.
Please tell us about your personal experience. When and how did your passion for sustainability arise?
I’ve been running vehicle expeditions since the late 90s. In 2005, I realised that it was hypocritical to discover the world while contributing to making it uninhabitable. So, I started experimenting with ways to travel sustainably. To my surprise, many have worked well, and they’ve given my travels a new purpose.
How is the conversation about sustainability changing?
It’s becoming more mainstream, but I see a lot of organisations still asking the wrong questions. Many of the changes they make are tinkering with the edges. Often the core business model is fundamentally unsustainable. It takes real courage and leadership to address this elephant in the room. But organisations that do are in a much stronger position.
What in your view constitutes the built environment and what should its goals be for ecological performance?
Sustainability isn’t just about carbon footprints. It’s about using all resources in a way that allows them to renew. And it’s about being symbiotic with the natural environment.
How should the built industry transform to mitigate the dire consequences of accelerating climate change?
The question of embedded carbon is a massive challenge. Especially the footprint of concrete. I also think we should be more open-minded to how we organise communities so that life in those communities can be more sustainable.
What will the city of tomorrow look like?
Crowded.
What would you like people to gain from your participation at the 2022 GBCSA Convention?
Sustainability is a multi-faceted challenge, from carbon footprints, to profitability, even to things like managing community goodwill. They can impact the very core functions of a business. Think about how your organisations skills and assets can be reshaped to meet those challenges. It’s a really exciting project.
Saint-Gobain, the world leader in light and sustainable construction, has affirmed its commitment to become carbon neutral by 2050, with the introduction of additional products and carbon neutral manufacturing plants around the world.
Having recently become the first player in the world to achieve zero carbon production of flat glass, at its glass manufacturing plant in Aniche, northern France, as well as currently developing the world’s first two carbon neutral plasterboard manufacturing plants in both Canada and Norway, the company is putting its money where it matters to help fight global climate change and develop ecologically sustainable solutions.
“Together with and for our customers, we design, manufacture and distribute materials and solutions that have a positive impact on everyone’s life and provide well-being, while caring for the planet,” says Damien Peyrelongue, MD (Gyproc & Isover) from Saint-Gobain Africa. “Our 350 year-old history, collective strength and leadership empower us to pursue our development, by addressing the major challenges facing humanity, namely, climate change, resource protection and inclusion. Our ambition and purpose are to act every day to make the world a more beautiful and sustainable place in which to live.”
A elevated standard of plasterboard
In Africa, Saint-Gobain have eco-innovated their trusted and original RhinoBoard® plasterboard, which is now manufactured using EcoTech™. This allows the board to not only be easier to handle, but also easier to install.
“EcoTech™ is our enhanced engineering technology that provides an exceptional performance-to-weight ratio, achieving a higher calibre of performance and sustainability, while elevating the standard for plasterboard in the market,” explains Anton Marais, Head of Product (Gyproc).
RhinoBoard® plasterboards, now with EcoTech™, are produced with a 10%* reduction in carbon emissions and an 8%* reduction in water use. The boards are also made from recyclable materials. Manufactured with an advanced performance-to-weight ratio, the boards are not only easier to handle, but also allow for the transportation of more square metres per load. The new technology has also allowed for efficient usability as the board is now easier to cut, snap and fix, as well as offering improved handling and installation onsite.
ABOUT SAINT-GOBAIN
Worldwide leader in light and sustainable construction, Saint-Gobain designs, manufactures and distributes materials and services for the construction and industrial markets. Its integrated solutions for the renovation of public and private buildings, light construction and the decarbonization of construction and industry are developed through a continuous innovation process and provide sustainability and performance. The Group’s commitment is guided by its purpose, “MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER HOME”.
Saint-Gobain cares about building better for people and the planet, by offering solutions that deliver sustainability and performance to drive the transformation of construction markets. These initiatives are just the beginning of Saint-Gobain’s journey towards Net-Zero, with ongoing and deliberate efforts to ensure sustainability targets are achieved.
For more information, please visit www.saint-gobainafrica.com | www.saint-gobain.com | www.gyproc.co.za For more information about Saint-Gobain, visit www.saint-gobain.com
ABOUT GYPROC
Our Saint-Gobain Gypsum brands are represented by 5 brands: Gyproc®, Placo®, Rigips®, CertainTeed® and British Gypsum®. Our Saint-Gobain Gypsum brands care about building better for people and the planet. They design, manufacture and market solutions for walls, partitions, ceilings and facades that deliver sustainability and performance. They serve those who build and those who spend time in buildings while addressing a variety of markets in construction and renovation. With over 13 800 employees, our Gypsum brands provide plaster and plasterboard solutions in 39 countries, through 100 sites. • €44.2 billion in sales in 2021 • 166,000 employees, • locations in 75 countries • Committed to achieving Carbon Neutrality by 2050
FROM OCEAN TO OFFICE –
FREEING OUR OCEANS OF PLASTIC, ONE CHAIR AT A TIME
Humanscale®, a leading international designer and manufacturer of high-performance ergonomic products using recycled ocean plastic waste in the production of their new Smart™ Ocean and Liberty™ Ocean range of office chairs. The nylon from discarded ocean fishing nets is transformed into plastic pellets which are then used to manufacture the first-ever ergonomic chairs made from polluted marine waste.
Discarded fishing nets are widely regarded as the most harmful type of ocean plastic and cause widespread damage to our delicate ecosystems, choking many of our marine animals and organisms off our coastal waters – and in many other parts of the world. Kim Kowalski, Director and CoFounder of Formfunc Studio, the exclusive distributor and dealer-partner for Humanscale® in southern Africa, says that each chair incorporates around 0.9kg of reclaimed fishing net material.
“While this is only a small step in the massive task to rid our oceans of plastic, we believe it encapsulates an earnest approach by Humanscale® to develop solutions that have a net positive impact on our environment,” says Kowalski.
HUMANSCALE® STRIVING FOR NET POSITIVE - FROM MANUFACTURING TO END PRODUCT
Apart from the use of recycled fishing nets, both the Smart Ocean and Liberty Ocean chairs are Living Product Certified. This internationally adopted certification is an overarching commitment towards producing goods in a socially responsible manner and which offer ‘net positive’ benefits for humans and the environment. Kowalski says that Humanscale® has adopted a holistic approach to bettering the environment, this includes addressing the materials and chemicals used in the manufacturing processes - and an overall commitment to the adoption of responsible manufacturing practices.
“Because the preservation and conservation of our earth’s natural resources and heritage is so important, we are working with Humanscale® to encourage other manufacturers and suppliers in our industry to do the same.”
CREATING A NET POSITIVE IMPACT - LEADING BY EXAMPLE
The Living Product Label is a certification of authenticity as to the origin and make-up of the manufacturer’s product. To achieve full product certification under the Living Product Label, manufacturers have to meet specific criteria. This standards framework is organised into seven performance areas, called Petals. Each performance area, or Petal, has additional detailed requirements called Imperatives. When a product meets each Imperative for every Petal, a product can be Living Product Certified.
The Living Product Challenge is the first standard based upon the principles of full transparency to incorporate both Life Cycle Analysis and a material health evaluation in order to create products that are Net Positive to the environment across their life cycle.
To find out more about the Living Products Challenge, check out: https://living-future.org/lpc/ Certified by the Living Product Challenge
