Rethinking Resources for a Low-Carbon Built Environment

Material choices are now one of the defining features of sustainable architecture. In Australia, where the construction sector accounts for nearly a quarter of national emissions across embodied and operational carbon, the question of what we build with is becoming as critical as how we build. Increasingly, architects are recognising that the journey to net zero begins long before construction; it starts at the point of material selection.

The Australian Government has committed to a 43% emissions reduction by 2030 and net zero by 2050. The National Construction Code (NCC) is progressing in step, with future versions expected to include embodied carbon reporting provisions. This signals a fundamental change in expectations for manufacturers, designers and specifiers who will be required to consider the performance of buildings as well as the climate impact of every component within them.

The Carbon Cost of Materials

Across the life cycle of a building, materials represent one of the largest opportunities for carbon reduction. By specifying low-carbon, recycled, renewable or carbon-storing materials at design stage, architects can reduce embodied emissions before the first ounce of energy is used. Products such as cross-laminated timber (CLT), mass timber and recycled steel are already being adopted across commercial and residential projects, while Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are becoming a critical tool in comparing material impacts.

Australia is particularly well positioned to lead this transition. With vast forestry resources, innovation in engineered timber is advancing rapidly. Timber building systems are now being utilised at growing scale, from Queensland social housing developments to Melbourne’s residential mid-rise market. As the NCC evolves, products that demonstrate carbon sequestration and circularity are expected to become increasingly specified in digital design workflows and BIM object libraries.

Image: A construction worker joins two panels whilst working within a pre-fabricated open-panel timber building system.

Returning to Natural Systems

While innovation is reshaping material technology, there is also renewed interest in natural building systems. Traditional materials such as hemp, straw, earth and fibre are being reconsidered for contemporary use; not as novelty alternatives, but as high-performance, low-carbon solutions.

Hempcrete has gained significant traction in Australia, supported by CSIRO research and local manufacturing initiatives across New South Wales and Victoria. Made from the woody core of the hemp plant and a lime-based binder, hempcrete panels store carbon, regulate internal temperatures and offer thermal mass without the emissions of conventional concrete. Builders of hemp homes in regional Victoria report that their buildings perform exceptionally well in both hot and temperate climates, reducing reliance on mechanical heating and cooling.

Similarly, straw-based prefabricated panels have attracted growing interest for their insulating performance and lifecycle benefits. While bamboo does not grow commercially across Australia at scale, bamboo plywood and structural products are being imported and specified in interiors and temporary structures. Its rapid growth cycle in neighbouring Southeast Asia makes it an ongoing material of interest for renewable regional supply chains.

Image: Recycled gypsum plasterboard

Local Materials for Local Climates

Australia’s geographic diversity presents both challenges and opportunities for material specification. High temperatures, humidity and bushfire risk require materials that are not only sustainable but resilient and compliant with stringent performance standards.

Earth blocks are one such material gaining interest in dry inland climates. Stabilised earth products sourced locally have extremely low embodied carbon and offer high hygrothermal performance. Architects working in remote First Nations communities have been exploring earth construction as a culturally appropriate and environmentally responsible alternative to more conventional masonry.

Recycled and reclaimed materials are also becoming part of the mainstream market. Major Australian manufacturers have started producing concrete blends with reduced clinker content, steel with recycled input, and plasterboard made using industrial by-products. These products will soon start appearing in BIM libraries with detailed lifecycle data, enabling specifiers to compare environmental impacts at a granular level.

Digital Tools Driving Informed Decisions

As carbon literacy increases, architects are turning to digital tools to evaluate materials during early design stages. Lifecycle assessment platforms and BIM-integrated carbon calculators are now commercially available in Australia, allowing practitioners to forecast whole-of-life emissions and optimise material use.

For manufacturers, this creates a strong incentive to publish digital objects that include embedded carbon metrics. As more clients request transparent reporting, products with verified environmental data will have a competitive advantage in specification.

The Direction of Design

The future of Australian architecture will be shaped by materials that are regenerative, locally sourced, low-carbon and digitally verified. Whether through engineered timber in commercial towers, hempcrete in regional housing, or recycled composites in infrastructure, material intelligence is becoming integral to how buildings are conceived.

Image: ForestOne, Australia’s largest independent distributor of plywood and timber, are leading the way in sourcung locally manufactured wood-based and decorative building products

Every decision, from the structural frame to interior linings, is now an opportunity to reduce environmental impact. As government regulation tightens and industry standards rise, the materials of the past are being re-evaluated in light of the future we must urgently build.

Australia stands at a pivotal moment. By embracing material innovation and applying it through data-driven design, the architecture and construction sector can lead the nation’s transition to a low-carbon economy. The path forward is clear: our buildings will only be as sustainable as the materials we choose to create them.

This article was featured in the Spring ‘25 edition of BIMCRUNCH Australia. Find the full magazine here.