Siniat takes a serious approach to sustainability and is focused on making a company-wide difference.
The Australian construction industry is under pressure to improve sustainability in practice. The Green Building Council of Australia has warned that embodied carbon made up 16% of Australia’s built environment emissions in 2019, which will increase to 85% by 2050 without intervention.
Assisting architects and designers seeking new ways to enhance environmental efficiency through material choices, Siniat offers a carbon neutral opt-in program for a wide range of its locally made plasterboard and metal products, certified under the Australian Government’s Climate Active program.
“We encourage customers who wish to include carbon neutral products in their projects to come and talk to us,” said Siniat Australia managing director Gavin Burton.
Siniat’s plasterboard is GreenTag GreenRate certified, and the company’s manufacturing facilities operate under the ISO management system standards for health and safety, quality and environmental management.
Siniat Australia’s parent company Etex Group unveiled its first sustainability report in October. This report formalizes sustainability ambitions, initiatives and processes. As a company dependant on the use of raw materials, energy, water and other resources, Etex is extremely conscious of its responsibility across four main sustainability areas: carbon neutrality; health, safety and wellbeing; waste management and circularity; and diversity and inclusion.
Siniat Australia WHS and sustainability manager Kathryn Walker says the company has taken significant steps to improve its sustainability offering.
“We were the first plasterboard manufacturer in Australia to offer carbon neutral certified board to the market. We have also taken the necessary steps to improve energy efficiency and will continue to do so by significant upgrades to plant and equipment, consideration of alternative energy sources as well as by changing work practices and the education of employees,” says Walker.
A key focus for Siniat Australia is to further grow its standing as a company to partner with, while improving value for its customers.
Burton said that sustainability remains a key area of growth for the business and that they are committed to working with customers to help them reach their sustainability goals.
“While developing high quality products will always remain important, it’s becoming more difficult to differentiate based on product alone, so Siniat is investing heavily in adding value through our broader service offerings to the industry,” Burton said.
“We take a partnership approach and work together with customers to more closely match what they expect from their construction systems provider. With the backing of the Etex Group, we are committed to increasing our sustainability offering.” siniat.com.au