Congratulations to our CEO Rupert Posner who has made it on to the ABC Carbon Global Sustain Ability Leaders 2013 list. The list celebrates sustainability leaders from a variety of sectors from Not-for-profits to large commercial organisations.

On Tuesday November 19 GECA held a Green Star information session and AGM at the Commonwealth Bank Place, Darling Harbour. This session was an opportunity to bring together GECA licensees and members, product specifiers including architects, engineers and designers, green star practitioners and provided an introduction to both the Commonwealth Bank Place and the future of Green Star.

GECA CEO Rupert Posner joined his counterparts from the Global Ecolabelling Network’s (GEN) 26 members from 60 countries in Brussels this month to discuss issues regarding the labeling of sustainable products and services.

More environmentally preferable products are likely to be available for consumers with a second well respected conformance assessment body (CAB), DLCS International, now accredited by JAS-ANZ to audit products for GECA certification.

This week Innova achieved certification for its Rim Fabrics Honeycomb range of fabrics; adding it to its existing GECA licence in addition to the Evolve, Fusion and Harmony ranges. Aptly named Honeycomb TA 412, the product is inspired by nature and features intricate gossamer hive forms reminiscent of timeless bee creations.

The Enviro range by Okka Products forms part of a specialist range of material handling plastic products from leading injection moulding and plastics manufacturer and GECA licensee A Plus Plastics. The Enviro range is an exciting product that is changing the way crates are manufactured, recycled and used.

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.