After a massive effort from our team, we have been awarded the first Climate Active certification in the shopfitting industry and proudly created our first carbon-neutral project with long-time client, Aesop, for the new Collins Street store.
Read more in the media release below:
27.10.22
"Leading premium retail and hospitality fitout specialist, EMAC, have been awarded the only Climate Active accreditation in the Australian Shopfitting Industry to date. To be considered for this requires a commitment to bold change in reducing the environmental impact of projects, starting with a deep analysis of everything from Operations to Logistics, Energy and Waste.
“We went through an extensive auditing process to calculate the emissions and waste our team and projects produce. Now we can measure it, we can always be improving it.” says EMAC CEO, Ryan Macwhirter.
In an industry first, EMAC is making the ‘Net-Zero’ offering available to their client’s projects. “Early signs are that retailers are excited by the opportunity to develop projects sustainably, given it mostly already aligns with their brand values.”
Genuine impact is already being seen in the review of all EMAC’s current and completed projects, including Aesop’s Stores, with the first carbon neutral project being the new Aesop Collins St store – opened in early October. Aesop have an ambitious sustainability agenda, and the partnership is an ongoing endeavour to reduce their impact on the planet, across all facets of business.
The Aesop Collins St store explores materials through the lens of sustainability including a salvaged Palladiana floor using local travertine off-cuts and an impressive vaulted ceiling –finished in an aggregate stucco crafted from amber bottles recycled from Aesop products.
This unique accreditation is just one part of EMAC’s commitment to Carbon Neutrality for both their organisation and the wider industry. The team is collaborating with the country's top architects and designers to create ‘The Future Fitout Project’. The catalyst for this is the fact that Shopfitting, as an industry, generates massive waste and power consumption.
“Often a shop’s lease finishes and the landlord wants it all ripped out, starting from scratch. Few elements are recyclable, still generating large volumes of waste. EMAC has a focus on innovating and developing ways to fit out with recyclable and reusable materials, and sharing what we are learning with the wider industry, trying to inspire change across the board.”
With the aim to offset all projects, EMAC is hopeful their commitment and innovations will filter down to the wider industry, making the Shopfitting industry active in reducing their significant impact on the environment.
If you would like to interview Ryan on EMAC’s current and future plans in more detail, please contact Brie Wright on brie@emac.net.au"