Data is crucial for sustainability. Australia's circularity rate falls below the global average due to construction and demolition waste. Retail fit-outs are key to advancing the circular economy. Gathering comprehensive data on their impact is essential. By tracking materials from construction to demolition, we can pave the way for sustainable practices.
At Butterwood, our design philosophy centres around empathy for users and meticulous attention to sustainability. By implementing thoughtful design strategies, we can create enduring destinations that benefit both the community and the environment.
Relying on constant product innovation to attract customers to physical retail spaces is highly unsustainable. Bulk selling requires large-scale manufacturing, extensive material usage, and significant carbon emissions. The sell-through rates for new product ranges are often minimal.
The solution to this sustainability problem lies in designing captivating experiences within your physical spaces. By enticing customers to your branded retail locations for the experience, your brand can secure sales at a premium. Consider that customers may not necessarily need more of your products; there may even be potential in reclaiming some products from them. Can your business explore additional ways to use or repurpose the things you create or sell?
Australia's circularity rate of 5.4% is lower than the global average of 7.2%. There is room for improvement in the country's waste management practices. One prominent source of waste in Australia is construction and demolition, witnessing a 22% increase in volume since 2016-2017 (ABS). This accounts for more than 40 percent of the nation's overall 62 million tonnes of 'core' waste (National Waste Report 2020).
We need to find new uses for retail fit-outs post demolition in a circular economy. It is imperative to gather more data on retail's contribution to construction and demolition waste
In order to drive sustainable practices in the retail sector, it is essential to generate more data about construction and demolition waste. Contractors and suppliers need to prioritise sustainability and actively contribute to data generation.
Before selecting materials for a retail construction project, it is important to have a clear plan in place for their disposal after demolition. Tracking the entire journey of these materials and creating comprehensive data sets will enable others to learn from and iterate upon these practices. If one business discovers a sustainability challenge, it is highly likely that their contemporaries face similar issues. By sharing these challenges and working together, we can collectively address them.
Australia should prioritise thoughtful retail design, from system implementation to construction and fit-outs. One key aspect is designing durable spaces with longer lifespans. Make design choices that minimise wear and tear in busy retail environments.
Create enduring destinations that are flexible, adaptable, and capable of hosting diverse experiences. Entertainment destinations that engage customers. Eliminate wasteful systems, toxic materials, and wasted energy. Rethink practices like "free return shipping" that encourage wasteful consumer behaviours. Avoid toxic materials that end up in landfills. Select local materials to reduce carbon footprint. These choices promote sustainability and provide more opportunities for reuse and recycling.
Designing Enduring Adaptable Destinations for physical spaces.
Track materials, construction, fabrication of environments and fittings.
Rethink models and systems, focus on experiences over product turnover.
Understand the local community culturally and architecturally.
Design to integrate your business into the precinct and community.
Retail Format Design adaptable across multiple precincts and locations.
Understand your customer, your brand and the role of retail in your business.
Retail systems and elements designed for usefulness and adaptability.
Divert retail waste from landfill by designing spaces and objects for extended use.
Creative concepts developed to a brief via design thinking processes.
Concepts you’ve designed assessed for technical feasibility and viability.
Technical drawings to help you bring your concept to life for a wide variety of contractors.
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