EQUITONE & Green Star – Sustainable Fibre Cement Facades in Australia

At EQUITONE, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. As part of the Etex Group, we have over 110 years of experience in fibre cement and more than 40 years dedicated to facade solutions. Our materials are trusted worldwide, with over 3.5 million m² of pre-finished fibre cement facades produced each year. Green Star certification provides a clear framework for delivering buildings that are efficient, responsible, and future-ready.

EQUITONE materials help projects secure critical credits under the Green Star Buildings v1 rating tool in responsible sourcing and embodied carbon reduction without compromising design intent.

What is Green Star?

Developed by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA), Green Star is the nation’s most widely recognised sustainability certification. It sets benchmarks for reducing environmental impact, improving building performance, and creating healthier, more resilient spaces for people.

For facade manufacturers like EQUITONE, the focus lies in Green Star Buildings v1, which includes credits directly linked to the building envelope.

Discover more about Sustainability at Equitone

Green Star and the Building Envelope

Green Star, developed by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA), is the benchmark sustainability rating system in Australia. Within the latest Green Star Buildings v1, the facade is central to performance, and two credits are especially relevant to architectural specification:

Credit 7: Responsible Envelope

This credit acknowledges materials sourced with verified sustainability credentials.

2 points: when 30% of the building envelope (by cost) achieves a Responsible Products Value (RPV) ≥10.
4 points: when 60% achieves RPV ≥10, or 10% achieves RPV ≥15.

EQUITONE fibre cement products carry Cradle to Cradle (C2C) Bronze Certification, which Green Star recognises as good practice. Specifying EQUITONE allows architects to secure Responsible Envelope points with confidence, while demonstrating due diligence in material selection.

Credit 21: Upfront Carbon Emissions

Carbon reductions at the design stage have long-term impact.

3 points: for reducing upfront carbon by 20% against a reference building.
6 points: for reducing upfront carbon by 40%.

EQUITONE’s Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) show that our fibre cement has a significantly lower embodied carbon footprint than typical cladding alternatives. For instance, a standard 7.5mm fibre cement sheet produces just 16.9 kg CO₂e/m² (A1–A3). This enables architects to design facades that materially contribute to upfront carbon reduction pathways under Green Star.

Why Choose Fibre Cement for Green Star Projects?

Fibre cement is increasingly the preferred material for architects designing to meet Australia’s National Construction Code (NCC 2022) and evolving sustainability benchmarks:

Design for Circularity – a material that can be recovered and re-purposed at end-of-life.
Low Embodied Carbon – supporting high-impact carbon reduction credits.
Lightweight yet High-Performing – reducing structural demands and associated emissions.
Design Freedom – adaptable finishes, textures, and forms to meet architectural vision.

For architects, this means material choices that elevate both aesthetic outcomes and sustainability performance.

EQUITONE helps architects design buildings that are smarter, cleaner, and future-ready.

EQUITONE’s Broader Sustainability Commitments

Green Star certification is one part of EQUITONE’s global sustainability journey. Our credentials include:

Cradle to Cradle Certification (C2C)

Recognised globally as a benchmark for product responsibility and circularity.

Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)

Independently verified data on environmental impact.

First Movers Coalition Membership

Demonstrating our commitment to decarbonisation and clean technologies.

R2S2030 Sustainability Targets

Clear, measurable goals set to transform our operations and product development.

Building a Greener Future, Together

By choosing EQUITONE, Australian architects and specifiers can confidently deliver projects that align with Green Star Buildings v1 and the nation’s broader sustainability goals. Our fibre cement facades not only enhance architectural expression but also reduce embodied carbon, promote responsible sourcing, and contribute directly to achieving high-performance Green Star ratings.

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Together, we can shape the built environment into one that is resilient, low-carbon, and sustainable for generations to come.

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EQUITONE and Green Star