The Sustainability Award is open to projects across multiple typologies, including but not limited to, interior design, public and community spaces, and product design.

The Sustainability Award is presented to the submission that demonstrates and possesses a comprehensive and effective response to sustainable design. The successful project will exemplify a holistic approach to the challenges of sustainable design and successfully address a considerable number of the following goals:

GOAL 1: HEALTH AND WELLBEING

• Supports and enhances health and wellbeing of users and those impacted by the project. 
• Emphasises whole-of-life performance, including production, serviceable life and after-life. 
• Integrates regenerative principles across the project’s entire lifecycle, including material extraction, manufacturing, operational performance, serviceable life and post-use recovery strategies.
• Ensures the effective use of materials and processes by prioritising non-toxic, low-VOC and red-list-free materials.
• Demonstrates positive contributions to the community, fostering social wellbeing, inclusivity and resilience. 

GOAL 2: SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION

• Built to last. Built for easy repair. Built for easy repurposing and recycling.
• Demonstrates effective use of climate-positive materials and processes by prioritising the use of renewable, recyclable, local and ethically produced materials.
• Supports a regenerative circular economy by applying circular principles, including the reuse and repurposing of onsite materials. Prioritises collaboration with suppliers who uphold these values and consider the end-of-life impact of materials.
• Targets waste reduction throughout design and construction.
• Demonstrates a commitment to renewable energy, such as operating on 100 percent electric power and sourcing 100 percent green energy.
• Ensures responsible timber sourcing by using only FSC-certified and/or recycled timber within the project, if applicable.

GOAL 3: INNOVATION

• Delivers an innovative solution in achieving goals 1 and 2.
• Demonstrates a clear advancement in the practice of sustainable and regenerative design, pushing the boundaries of environmental responsibility and innovation.

In addition to these qualities, the judges will be looking carefully and critically at the submission to determine the degree to which it authentically centres both humans and the environment at its nexus. 

Submissions that include proven, measurable evidence of delivering on the intended sustainability objectives across the above qualities, will be well regarded.