Built Environment

Adaptable Structures’ modular system reduces waste during the initial construction phase.

The company’s Anyplace modular construction system uses components made from low carbon remelt alloy aluminium. The 50 interchangeable components can be adapted to commercial, industrial and residential construction. This modular approach enables parts to be reused, creating a resale market that reduces long-term costs and reduces construction waste. The parts are also recyclable.

Clevaco’s Cleva Pod addresses the environmental issues caused by traditional polystyrene pods, commonly used in concrete foundations since the 1980s.

By replacing polystyrene with a material that can be recycled, Cleva Pod reduces the long term impact of construction waste. This product encourages a circular economy approach, by also supporting the recycling and reuse of foundation materials, including concrete, steel and plastic.

Cleanstone panels are made from 100% recycled plastics. The production of each panel diverts more than 75 kilograms of plastics from waste and has a near-zero carbon footprint.

Cleanstone by Critical. transforms hard-to-recycle plastics into durable, fully recyclable building materials with a buyback programme, significantly reducing carbon emissions. This innovative material challenges traditional five-to-seven year fit-out cycles, providing a sustainable alternative for commercial and hospitality spaces. Under Rui Peng’s leadership, Critical. envisions a world where waste is continuously upcycled, creating durable products.

Envirocon diverts 30,000 tonnes of concrete waste every year, reducing annual emissions by 2.8 million tonnes.

Envirocon addresses New Zealand’s concrete waste challenge by repurposing excess concrete into reusable precast elements. This circular economy model reduces embodied carbon, supported by a buyback guarantee that fosters long term use. Envirocon’s Envirotrac software further optimises waste reduction, providing concrete consumers with actionable insights. By diverting concrete from landfills, Envirocon leads a sustainable approach to construction waste.

Fletcher Living’s LowCO initiative, in partnership with Watercare, focuses on the development of low-emission, climate-resilient homes. 

This project prioritises reducing embodied carbon, operational emissions and water use, while also supporting biodiversity, energy generation and circularity. A LowCO project reduces lifetime carbon emissions by seven times, compared to the average New Zealand home. This comprehensive approach addresses sustainability holistically, integrating best practices in community design and stormwater management.

45% of the cyclone-affected homes assessed by Henderson Demolition have been successfully relocated, reducing waste and landfill impacts.

Henderson Demolition prioritises the reuse and relocation of homes affected by cyclones. This saves valuable resources, reduces landfill waste and provides affordable housing options. Henderson Demolition’s approach addresses both environmental and housing needs, as an alternative to conventional waste-heavy demolition methods.

Jerome Partington’s leadership, innovation, advocacy, partnerships and practice for sustainable design and regenerative development has helped create transformational change across the construction industry. 

Jerome's 15-year career in sustainable design has helped introduce Aotearoa New Zealand to transformative practices like the Living Building Challenge and whole-systems thinking. His work with Whakaora and Jasmax focuses on driving the construction industry toward a regenerative future. Jerome’s holistic approach, rooted in ecological and indigenous values, encourages the building industry to rethink practices for authentic, lasting impacts on communities and the environment.

JT Group has developed innovative technology – an electric water blaster and robotic wash machine.

This reduces energy and water use in building maintenance. It also improves safety and reduces environmental impact, while reducing the use of hazardous chemicals.  The company has an aspiration to reduce the use of drinking water across its services. 

Kaynemaile’s patented architectural mesh is made up of polycarbonate, 88% of which is made from reprocessed wood pulp or similar bio-based materials.

The mesh can be applied like chainmail to buildings to produce a range of shading, cooling and architectural effects. This reduces the urban heat island effect by providing up to 70% solar reduction and promoting airflow, challenging traditional metal facade materials.

Lanaco’s EcoStatic filter media represents a breakthrough in sustainable air filtration.

EcoStatic uses natural wool and plant-based fibres to deliver effective air purification with reduced environmental impact compared to synthetic filters. By using renewable resources and unique design, Lanaco’s filter media reduces energy use and emissions and promotes sustainable practices in air filtration. It also results in cleaner air in homes, helping prevent mould and mildew. The filters are used in air purifiers, HVAC systems, filter canisters, automotive cabins, electronics and more. They have also been used in Space, in NASA’s Artemis missions to the moon and Mars.

LMA Timber has sequestered 2,160 tonnes of carbon by repurposing reclaimed timber.

The business reclaims materials such as Australian hardwoods and power poles, reducing the need for imported, environmentally impactful tropical woods. With more than 680 educational presentations delivered to architects, LMA Timber promotes awareness of sustainable timber sourcing. Its innovative approach provides a responsible alternative to traditional hardwoods, helping to protect rainforests and lower the carbon footprint of New Zealand’s construction industry.

Under CEO Nick Davenport’s leadership, Lanaco has developed wool-based EcoStatic filter media, recognised by major brands like Unilever’s Blueair.

Nick’s dedication to environmental responsibility is at the heart of Lanaco’s innovative approach to air filtration. By using natural wool, Lanaco creates effective air purification solutions that have a lower environmental impact than traditional synthetic filters. This commitment to renewable resources not only helps reduce emissions but also fosters sustainable practices in the air filtration industry. Nick’s vision illustrates how harnessing natural materials can achieve high-performance standards while advancing sustainability goals.

NILO’s plastic-to-adhesive technology aims to divert plastic waste into useful products. 

NILO transforms plastic waste into industrial adhesive, offering an alternative to traditional urea-formaldehyde-based adhesives. This seeks to address plastic waste and toxic adhesives in the wood fibreboard sector. NILO’s innovation diverts plastic from landfills and provides a safer adhesive. It presents a scalable model for reducing plastic pollution and industrial emissions.

RETEX by Easy Access is a recycled textile mat made from recycled uniforms and safety gear, designed for multiple applications in construction and surface protection.

Unlike typical single-use plastics and cardboard that end up in landfills, RETEX can be reused and returned for recycling through major suppliers like Mitre 10 and ITM. The products support the adoption of circular economy approaches, by encouraging reuse and recycling, reducing waste and promoting environmental responsibility within the construction industry.

Rui Peng’s leadership at Critical. has resulted in more than 450 tonnes of hard-to-recycle plastics being diverted from landfills. Instead, they have been turned into low carbon building materials.

Rui, founder of Critical., leads with a transformative vision and personality to redefine waste in the construction industry. Driven by environmental responsibility and indigenous values, Rui aims to reshape the industry’s impact through Cleanstone, which turns hard-to-recycle plastics into durable building materials. His mission includes establishing a global network of microfactories to scale Cleanstone’s reach and blending cultural values with pioneering technology.

saveBOARD’s two factories have the capacity to recycle 8,000 tonnes of packaging waste into building materials every year.

saveBOARD addresses difficult-to-recycle waste, by transforming soft plastics and beverage cartons into building materials. Founded by Paul Charteris, saveBOARD’s scalable technology now operates out of plants in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia. This innovative solution aims to meet the building industry’s need for low-carbon materials.

Shower Canary is an innovation designed to tackle water and energy waste by reducing shower time.

Shower Canary produces a compact sensor for showers and pipes. It provides real-time feedback of water usage via a mobile app. The technology aims to encourage shorter shower times, reducing water and energy use. Analysing over 7,000 data samples, Shower Canary users have achieved a 26% reduction in average shower time.

SpaceBar Design has diverted more than 33,000 kilograms of short-lifespan materials from waste by using sustainable, repurposable materials in more than 50 projects.

The business specialises in sustainable interiors for residential and commercial spaces, incorporating materials like recycled plastic, organic wools and chemical-free plywood. By prioritising circular design, SpaceBar ensures that its cabinetry and furniture can be reused, reconfigured and repurposed, reducing waste. SpaceBar’s commitment to sustainability in design supports environmental stewardship, reshaping traditional material life cycles for long term use and wellbeing.

TROW Group deconstructs houses, salvaging around 80% of resources for reuse. So far, this has led to the repurposing of more than 500 tonnes of materials.

By integrating Māori and Pasifika values, TROW Group brings cultural heritage into modern sustainability, repurposing materials for community projects in Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. This approach promotes environmental responsibility and social impact.

Using a new approach of fast, adaptable design and delivery, Wellington City Council has installed more than 24 kilometres of bike, bus and pedestrian improvements in less than three years. 

The bike network connects 15 suburbs and 20,000 households. Its rapid rollout challenged Wellington’s car-centric transport system, enhancing safety and accessibility for residents and providing city-wide climate-friendly transport infrastructure.

XFrame has deployed more than 50,000 circular building components, promoting zero-waste construction.

XFrame originated from Victoria University research. It offers a kit-of-parts system that allows components to be reused and repurposed. This modular approach suits a range of sectors, including retail and office spaces, meeting evolving spatial needs without generating waste. XFrame’s partnerships with prominent organisations reflect its impact in promoting sustainable, adaptable building practices that challenge traditional linear construction.