Our auditing partners, NCS International would like you to take their '5 minute Corporate Sustainability Climate Change Survey'. In return, they'll donate $20 to the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) for every completed survey and send you a copy of their 'Benchmarking Report' when the survey wraps up!

GECA licensee Sturdy Framac adds a selection of lounges and chairs to its licence this week in addition to its list of certified, Green Star applicable items. The new items added are the Tafe Lounge, Euro Lounge, Hamilton Lounge, Momo Lounge, Alpha Lounge, Globe Lounge, Broadway Tub Chair, Rachel Tub Chair, Regent Tub Chair, Verona Lounge, Sienna Lounge, Amalfi Lounge, Genesis Lounge, Venetian Lounge and Atari Lounge.

A minor revision of GECA’s Machine Dishwashing Detergents Standard was undertaken to widen the scope and incorporate requirements for detergents used in commercial dishwashing machines. GECA is pleased to issue for public comment the revised draft standard for environmentally preferable machine dishwashing detergents.

GECA licensee Anibou was recently specified to supply tables and stools to Cranbrook Junior School in Rose Bay, Sydney. A selection of pieces including the GECA certified Artek 80B tables and 96 tables create an environmentally preferable, functional and stylish school space.

This week, long-standing GECA licensee Jardan achieved certification for five more of its products. Meeting all the requirements set out in the Furniture, Fittings and Foam standard, Jardan has been granted certification for its Wilfed, Seb, Sidney, Harrison, Navy and Stanley Stool. All additional products are recognised as Level A & B except the Stanley Stool, which is recognised as Level B.

This week we are happy to announce six products have passed their audit to achieve GECA certification. The Una Mini Cut, Epoca Plait, Epoca Structure, Una Mini Loop, Una Mini Loop Modular and Una Mini Cut Modular products have been added to Egetaeper's and Rugs, Carpet & Design's licences. Certification has been granted in addition to the existing 32 products that have already achieved certification on these same licences.

We’re pleased to announce that GECA licensee Specfurn Commercial Furniture has achieved certification on a fourth product. The Matrix Workstation System is now verified as being environmentally preferable and meets all the requirements outlined by GECA’s Furniture, Fittings and Foam standard.

Tower 8 is an exciting new development in Adelaide’s city centre precinct, which sits on the North Eastern corner of Franklin and Bentham Streets and acts as a southern gateway to the City Central Precinct. Completed in September 2012, GECA licensee Studform was selected to complete the aluminium partitions, ornate commercial doors and washroom cubicle packages.

One of GECA’s Conformance Assessment Bodies (CABs) — BSI incorporating NCS International — which audits against GECAs standards, has chosen to fit out their new office space with a selection of GECA certified products.

The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) is planning to expand an existing Assessment Framework, meaning more GECA standards may be recognised next year. This new expansion would enable adhesives and paints to be recognised for fitout submissions, and cleaning products to be recognised by the Green Star Performance tool. More GECA certified products may therefore support Green Star developments achieve their Green Star rating.

The second annual Australian Sustainability Conference & Exhibition took place on Wednesday 9th and Thursday 10th October and was a thought-provoking and engaging event bringing together leading practitioners from around the country. The Hon. Greg Hunt provided the opening address and spoke on the theme of turning vision to action. His address was the first major presentation outlining the government's sustainability agenda.

The recently completed Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre in north-east Melbourne is a holistically responsive design solution to the varied and intricate facets of cancer care. The centre was founded by Olivia Newton-John, herself a high-profile cancer survivor. She brought her own understanding and experience of patients' needs to the design.

Comseat specialises in furniture items that are suitable for commercial fitouts including healthcare, industrial and office environments. The full ranges of Scorpion chairs, Block Tub ottomans and Spirit lounges have now been approved as sustainably preferable. All Comseat’s products are Green Star applicable making them eligible for Green Star projects.

Interviews conducted by The Bravery is Here show that Australia’s leading climate change business experts are urging corporate Australia to continue to mitigate climate risk and environmental impact. This information comes following the launch of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report which was released on Friday 27 Sep, and ahead of Australia’s largest business and government sustainability event of the year — the Australian Sustainability Conference.

Mark Perry Business Furniture has added four products to its GECA licence after passing the audit process; including the Web Stool, Web Chair, Nett Stool and Nett Chair.

GECA licensee Deb Group has achieved certification for five of its skin care products after being audited against the Personal Care Standard 2013, which was developed earlier this year.

Australian Workstation Manufacturers (AWM) lately provided its GECA certified Monorail workstation over two floors of The White Agency’s primely located Sydney office at 1 Kent Street. The Monorail workstation achieved GECA certification in 2012 and is nearly 100 per cent recyclable. It is manufactured in AWM’s factory in Alexandria, which is ISO14001 certified meaning the factory meets environmental management systems standards.

GECA is proud to announce that it is a supporting partner of this year’s much anticipated Home Design Magazine Australian Living Green Interior Awards. The awards highlight those who choose to implement green interior products into their homes, offices, shops, educational facilities, hotels, restaurants and bars and are about celebrating designers' and individuals' commitment to sustainability. The awards are now open for entries.

This week we welcome Abax Systems Pty Ltd as a new GECA licensee, which is a Sydney-based company specialising in library fit-outs, storage solutions and office furniture.

Melbourne furniture maker Jardan was recently chosen to supply a variety of colourful and contemporary GECA certified pieces for many common areas in the Science and Engineering Centre at Queensland University of Technology (QUT). The Centre is a premier research base for science, technology, engineering and mathematics in the heart of Brisbane. Jardan supplied a range of Level A GECA certified products including the Horizon and Milo sofas, Kelly and Ned armchairs and Coast ottomans.