Eco Outdoor’s vision is to help people create inspiring spaces using natural materials that stand the test of time. For 25 years we’ve been proud to be part of incredible architectural projects around the world. But we can’t ignore the fact that the building industry is a major contributor to the climate crisis and waste to landfill. Our materials come from nature, and protecting the environment that sustains them is something we care deeply about. That’s why we’re working hard to do more for the environment we share, so our products can continue to have great impact on design, but with a lighter impact on the planet.
Sustainability is complex and full of competing priorities
The built environment generates approx. 35% of global CO2 emissions – 9% from embodied carbon (e.g. building materials) and 26% from operational carbon (e.g. heating and cooling). But with growing populations and housing shortages, stopping construction isn’t an option. How can we build well-designed, resilient homes? With what type of materials should we build? How do we balance the embodied carbon of materials with their service life (how long they last)?
Each material has its benefits and concerns
Clay-fired bricks and concrete are durable but carbon-intensive to produce. Wood regenerates but is less durable and vulnerable to fire. Natural stone is incredibly long-lived and fully returnable to the earth, but requires extraction and transportation. It can be hard to know where to start.
Our Sustainability Approach
At Eco Outdoor, we believe that it’s not about which material is perfect – it’s about how we can make and use
each material better – tackling the biggest problems first and making things better one step at a time.
We’ve developed a two-pronged sustainability approach addressing the most significant environmental challenges
linked to our work: reducing CO2 emissions from the extraction, production and transportation of our materials,
and reducing waste to landfill through circular design and our commitment to product longevity.
Reducing CO2 Emissions
CO2 emissions are the most urgent environmental threat we face. The global built environment accounts for 35% of them – 9% from embodied carbon (e.g. building materials) and 26% from operational carbon (e.g. heating and cooling). Our approach focusses on reducing the CO2 emissions of our products, supply chain and operations in three ways:
Radical Measurement
Real change starts with clarity. To reduce our emissions and empower clients to make informed decisions, the first step is to get full visibility of our CO2 emissions in a robust way. We are now measuring the CO2 emissions of our surfaces, supply chain and operations and working with leading sustainability firm, Thinkstep-anz, to not only validate the data, but set a new standard in our industry. By December 2026, 100% of our surfaces will have clear, credible and easy to understand CO2 emissions data so clients can compare the environmental impact of each product and make informed choices.
Reduction by Design
But measurement alone isn’t enough. Reducing emissions at their source is the goal. As we measure, we are identifying where our hot spots are and looking for opportunities to cut emissions where they matter most – from product and supply chain to company operations. Reduction initiatives include:
1. Minimising transport
2. Increasing renewable energy
3. Electrifying machinery and vehicles
4. Designing low-impact products
5. Helping clients use our materials efficiently
Collaboration with Partners
Sustainability is a journey for us. We have much to do and much to learn. Collaborating with our partners at every level of our business is vital. We are working with our suppliers on how best to make our materials, with our freight partners on how to better transport them, and with our architects and designers on how to design with our materials more effectively and efficiently. The knowledge, experience and ideas of our partners will help us strengthen this journey.
Why are we focusing on reduction, not offsetting?
An important part of our sustainability approach is our decision to not offset carbon emissions. While offsets can play a role, they often lack certainty, permanence and immediate impact. We’re focussed on what matters most: reducing our emissions at their source, not paying to offset so we can claim to be ‘carbon neutral’.
For more background, see research by The Australia Institute: Research that matters.
Reduce Waste to Landfill
Stone is a precious, finite natural resource. We respect it by using it fully and committing to its longevity. Every stone block represents millions of years of geological history. Our design-led approach and direct relationship with quarries allows us to transform every part of the block – from the purest to the most imperfect – into purposeful and beautiful surfaces. And once our materials are installed, we want to keep them there, and out of landfill. That’s why we offer 25-year and 100-year warranties on our entire flooring and walling range.
Quarry Waste
The purest parts of the block become large-format tiles and pavers, expressing the stone’s most striking natural qualities. The imperfect blocks are not wasted - they become new formats like our stone bricks and crazy pavers where variation is celebrated.
Factory Waste
At our manufacturing sites, factory offcuts become new smaller formats like our batons and cobblestones, revealing textures and patterns not possible with larger scales. Remaining fragments are crushed and reused as aggregate, closing the loop and ensuring nothing is wasted.
Longevity Commitment
Once our materials are installed, we want to keep them there, and out of landfill. We source only the very best raw materials and commit to a 25-year and 100-year warranty on our entire flooring and walling range.
