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<h3>Reducing Our Carbon Footprint Across Our Largest Facilities </h3>

At GH Commercial, efforts to advance our shared mission of a more sustainable future continue. Having already fitted 436 solar panels on our warehouses in Truganina and Laverton, we’ve now completed our largest ever installation. 

Plant 5, our north Geelong carpet tufting facility, is now the proud owner of a 500kW solar system. Covering 12,000m2 of the facility’s roof, the 1,088 460W panels generate up to 1.97MWh of clean energy per day, offsetting over 60% of daytime electricity.  

This will help to power the production of over 16,000 lineal metres of carpet each day and reduce electricity bills at the Plant by an average of 28%.

Thanks to our largest solar panel installation, we’re reducing our carbon footprint across our largest facilities.

Making Our Buildings Better With Solar

<h3>We’re doing better together, to turn waste into new products.</h3>

Striving for better, GH Commercial and Godfrey Hirst is on a journey to achieving a circular economy, by repurposing and recycling end-of-life flooring products. We’re always looking for new ways to reduce what we send to landfill.

Geelong based company GT Recycling, supported by Deakin University, approached Godfrey Hirst with the idea of recycling pre-consumer carpet waste and turning it into an innovative recycled reinforced concrete product. Eager to assist, we offered our carpet waste and industry knowledge to assist in the development of the concept product - FibreCrete.

Recycling Waste Carpet into Innovative Fibrecrete

Our sustainability journey started close to 30 years ago, when employees at Godfrey Hirst introduced the concept of recycling wool in 1994. These efforts continue as part of the GH Commercial <a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/sustainability/product-stewardship">Product Stewardship</a> initiative.

Today, we produce significantly less waste from yarn manufacturing, therefore there’s less to recycle with 2–10% of recycled yarn now being used back in product. This also means we’re making considerable savings by recycling our own waste for re-use, rather than purchasing surplus virgin wool.

<h3>A combined effort across the Tasman</h3>

In Australia, we proudly transport the waste from our Geelong tufting facility to a centre that supports the employment of people with disabilities. Here, staff remove waste from the yarn cones and place them into bales. Our New Zealand factory is set up with the right machinery (and operates more cost effectively from this location), it’s here the waste is machined back to the fibre along with waste from two local spinning factories, separated by colour and placed into the product. Any unused yarn is finally sold to a supplier to be given a second life in entirely new products. 

<h3>Believing in our people for better solutions</h3>

Under our sustainability framework of Believe in Better, we challenge ourselves and our employees to find ways we can recycle, re-use and reprocess across the business. Thanks to our inspired team in Australia and New Zealand, we’re developing local solutions to environmental challenges. And as we work towards supporting a more circular set-up, from manufacturing to end-of-life, we believe we can create a better tomorrow.

Our <a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/sustainability">sustainability journey</a> is making a difference.

GH Commercial, reducing waste and recycling wool through smarter yarn manufacturing.

Giving Wool Waste A New Life

As part of our Doing Better Together philosophy, we aim to make a difference where it counts. That’s why we were proud to be invited to join a hugely important project that offers a safe haven to vulnerable women in the community. Beyond DV is a charity founded as a result of the lived experience of supporting a loved one dealing with domestic violence. The organisation has been recognised as filling a gap in existing government services, and today supports impacted women and children as they rebuild their lives.

A Centre of Hope 

After a decade long partnership with Westfield Carindale Shopping Centre near Brisbane, Centre Manager Matt Powis reached out to GH Commercial for our support of a special project called Hope Hub.

Together with Beyond DV founder Carolyn Robinson, Matt wanted to fit out a secure area in the centre, designed to offer services to victims of domestic violence. The concealed space was created to be an easily accessible environment that doesn’t draw attention to women feeling at risk.

Hope Hub enables these women to access critical support services during routine visits to the shopping centre. The hub offers private spaces with services including tailored counselling, after-crisis support and legal advice by trained coordinators with links to the Queensland Police Service.

Doing Better Together we joined our partners Westfield Carindale and Carpet Court in Stones Corner to create a safe haven for women dealing with domestic violence. 

A Hub Of Hope For The Community

<h3>Proudly laying the groundwork for a ‘fun house’ for youth with a disability.</h3>

When it comes to supporting communities at GH Commercial, we strive to make a difference under our Doing Better Together philosophy. One way we do that is by donating to causes in need of functional, comfortable flooring, like Flying Fox.

Flying Fox is on a mission to build connections between young people with a disability and the community through the power of fun. With youth-led, social interaction and support, they’ve been providing opportunities to have fun and make friends since 2014.

<h3>Connection through carpet</h3>

Flying Fox were able to raise the funds to purchase a house and meet increasing demand for their weekend getaways during their fifth birthday celebrations in 2019. Located in the beautiful countryside of Lancefield, Victoria, the house hosts groups of Campers and their ‘Buddies’ throughout the year.

Also on the property, the Flying Fox team have converted a large shed into an activity centre for the Campers to enjoy. GH Commercial worked with Loop Architecture to specify a carpet tile to make the space comfortable and practical for purpose.

The expansive 110m2 space required a durable, high performance flooring solution made to withstand heavy traffic and resist tarnishing. We donated two carpets ideal for active kids – designed for comfortable sitting, quiet reading and group activities.

<h3>Laying a solid foundation</h3>

Using carpets from our <a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/collections/choreography">Choreography Collection</a>, we combined two ranges to create beautiful transitions and defined zones across the floor.

Our Australian made Motion and Performance ranges both offer a durable 4 star extra heavy duty ACCS rating, healthier Enviro Bac® backing, easy-care stain resistance and protective Bioshield® antimicrobial control. The tiles are not only designed for high levels of activity, but create an energetic feel in an active space.

It’s been a joy for GH Commercial to be part of an inclusive program that provides opportunities for young people and respite for families in such a welcoming space.

Read more about the ways we’re <a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/sustainability/doing-better-together">Doing Better Together</a>.

We're 'Doing Better' by donating functional, comfortable flooring to Flying Fox Foundation.

Creating A Warm And Welcoming Foundation

With the volume and cost of pallets used by the business, we asked ourselves if we could recycle and reuse them. The answer was yes.

When it comes to sustainability at GH Commercial, we Believe in Better. At every opportunity, we look for ways we can improve our processes under our 3R program (Reclaim – Recycle – Reprocess), which diverts flooring from landfill. Now, it’s a principle we’re applying to the pallets we obtain for yarn and transportation.

With the volume of yarn pallets coming into the business, together with the high cost of single-use transport pallets, and their end-of-life disposal, our team asked the question, “can we reuse these?”. The answer, after some investigation, was “yes”.

Given the global timber shortage and increasing landfill (plus the toxins and greenhouse gases associated with treated timber), recycling to divert it from scrap is more important than ever.

<h3>Rework It, Don’t Waste It</h3>

We conducted a review that found two types of treated pallets coming into the business – including imported yarn pallets, and locally made transport pallets. In asking how we could adapt these to be reused, we found five types of pallets across different sites that required different modifications to suit their needs.

Our tile plant, for instance, required a flat top pallet to prevent flooring from warping while being shipped. Our Geelong facility where yarn is stored, noticed that some suppliers delivered yarn using a flat top similar to the pallets used in our tile plant, while our Truganina warehouse needed a variety of pallet sizes.

We spoke with our suppliers about how they could modify their pallets to suit our various uses.

With the volume and cost of pallets used by the business, we asked ourselves if we could recycle and reuse them. The answer was yes.

Recycled Pallets - Cutting Costs and Waste

On 9 April, GH Commercial staff and their families once again proudly joined our partners Take 3 for the Sea for a beach clean-up.

Eastern Beach on the Geelong waterfront is a popular destination where locals and visitors gather to stroll the promenade, ride the Ferris wheel and swim the sea baths. But while the sand is raked each morning, the build-up of litter continues.

In just one hour, our 26-strong team collected 1,196 items – made up of 264 plastic items, 746 cigarette butts, plus other waste including a chair found in the water.

Annie Woollard of Take 3 was thrilled with the effort. “It was truly inspiring to see everyone, especially the younger members so committed to being involved and feeling positive about what they were doing. Our GH Commercial Take 3 clean-up forges a common goal to keep our beaches and waterways plastic free, and being part of the solution to plastic pollution.”

 

Uniting for the solution 
Our team were pleased to be a small part of a greater solution, but surprised at the volume of waste that washes up on our beaches in a day.

Says Joel Williamson, National Sales Manager at GH Commercial, “We believe strongly in what Take 3 for the Sea is doing, and it is great to be able to physically assist with cleaning up the ocean beyond our current corporate sponsorship”.

As part of our partnership, GH Commercial makes an annual donation from our Oceanic Collection to Take 3 from the Sea. This helps contribute to their clean-ups and education programs for schools and local communities, which has so far helped over 350,000 students learn about solutions to global plastic pollution.

Take 3 from the Sea shows us how we can take simple actions to address the problem – like taking three pieces of rubbish when you leave a waterway. Our team has walked away from this annual day knowing every one of us can make a difference.

Read more about our <a href="/sustainability">sustainability journey</a>.

The GH Commercial team proudly joined Take 3 for the Sea to help clean up our local beach.

A united effort to picking up the problem

Material design choices in today’s buildings have a deeper impact that goes beyond their form and function. Specified building materials can affect the indoor environment and human health, the greater ecosystem, supply chain and beyond. Product transparency is key, and manufacturers that are open about their products enable choices that can transform our industry for the better.

Product ingredients, indicators for environmental impact, toxicity and sustainable building benchmarks, should be considered as a set of performance attributes. This is why labels like Declare that allow manufacturers to voluntarily disclose product information are important.

Declare labels help specifiers quickly identify products that meet their project’s sustainability and healthy material requirements. Declare labels display all intentionally added ingredients and residuals at or above 100ppm (0.01%) present in the final product by weight. Each ingredient must be reported with a chemical name, CAS number, and percentage or percentage range.

These product constituents are presented on a label, akin to a nutritional label, along with end-of-life information, responsible sourcing, VOC content, emissions testing, LBC compliance and other information designed to help specifiers better understand each product.

By facilitating and simplifying the exchange of complex ingredient information, Declare has positively changed the materials marketplace to enable buildings that support human and environmental health and an industry with increased material health awareness.

Transformation through transparency is something that resonates with Australian flooring manufacturers. GH Commercial currently have 18 products on Declare, all of them LBC Red List Free, setting an incredibly high industry benchmark.

<blockquote>
“Naturally we were drawn to the idea of product transparency highlighting that we can make better products here and not just letting the industry rely on imported solutions from around the world,” says Joel Williamson, National Sales Manager at GH Commercial.
</blockquote>

“As a large company, getting all the stakeholders throughout the business to agree that we won’t use materials on the Red List is important because it forces our teams to ask questions and be responsible for what they do,” says Joel.

GH Commercial’s early adoption of the Declare program was spurred by a shift in industry towards holistic sustainability initiatives that addressed multiple environmental issues. A move towards materials that tackled waste, toxicity and climate rather than ticking only one box became the clear next step for GH Commercial.

<blockquote>
“We decided to pursue Declare certification early in our journey towards becoming a fully sustainable manufacturing facility because we feel it is a fundamental benchmark that helps to define our process,” says Joel.
</blockquote>

GH Commercial’s mission statement is to ‘Believe in Better’ and knowing better is a crucial step in the pathway to doing that. “We are continuously challenging ourselves to create better interior spaces and better work environments by using safe and healthy materials in our products. Our focus on material health is a never-ending journey,” says GH Commercial Corporate Sales &amp; Sustainability Coordinator, Lachlan Howell.

<blockquote>
“We actively list, screen, assess and optimise our list of ingredients across our product portfolio as we move forward to bring innovative and sustainable flooring solutions to market,” he says.
</blockquote>

The auxiliary effect of materials transparency for GH Commercial is a shift in thinking internally and externally. Joel describes a ‘significant’ shift in customer thinking as demand for transparency grows. “It’s no longer okay to hide behind complexity. Customers want to know where things are made and what is in them,” says Joel.

Programs like Declare provide a framework that can be used to meet customer expectations and help the GH Commercial team make better sourcing choices. “As Australia’s largest carpet manufacturer and supplier of resilient flooring, we understand the role we can play in generating systematic change and transforming the built environment. Our commitment to material health and product circularity is key pillars that drive our organisation in bringing new innovative and sustainable flooring solutions to market,” says Lachlan.

Better still, a commitment to holistic healthy materials creates a valued work culture. “If you walk through our facilities, you will see hundreds of people who are proud of what they do and what they produce. A Declare label is the trophy for all the care and hard work that goes into making our products every day and we are proud to share this with our customers,” says Joel.

<h3>A Closer Look at One of the GH Commercial Declare Labels</h3>
The <a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/collections/optic-reset">Optic Reset Collection </a> is one of GH Commercial’s newest carpet tile product ranges.

End of Life Options: 
Through the <a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/sustainability/product-stewardship/loop-program">GHC Loop Program</a>, carpet tiles are collected, graded and reused for their original purpose in a new installation that ranges from charities, schools, price-conscious buyers to environmentally-conscious corporate clients. This program truly closes the loop, without destroying value and requiring minimal energy needs. 
For worn-down carpet tiles and flooring types other than carpet tiles, the <a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/sustainability/product-stewardship/product-recovery-program">3R Program</a> applies. The 3R program stands for Reclaim, Recycle and Reprocess. All GH Commercial broadloom carpets, modular carpets and vinyl flooring products (including Godfrey Hirst, Feltex, IVC Commercial and Mohawk Group products) can be returned at the end of their first life to feed a number of small, innovative projects.

Red List Free: 
The LBC Red List contains the ‘worst in class’ materials, chemicals and elements known to pose serious risks to human health and the greater ecosystem that are prevalent in the building products industry.

Obtaining the level of detail required to apply for Red List Free status requires that the manufacturer compile information on every ingredient of their product – a process that relies highly on a transparent supply chain. This means reaching out to suppliers for information, sourcing relevant certificates such as emissions testing and ensuring that no Red List materials are included. In some cases, suppliers might need to change or in a more favourable situation, the supplier may agree to improve their transparency or the health of their ‘ingredient’.

It’s an extensive process that manufacturers have to commit to annually as the Red List is continually updated. The more CAS numbers of component ingredients, the more there is to be checked with the supply chain.

Declare Label products can have one of three Declaration Statuses: 
LBC Red List Free products disclose 100% of ingredients present at or above 100 ppm (0.01%) in the final product and do not contain any Red List chemicals. 
LBC Red List Approved products disclose a minimum of 99% of ingredients present in the final product and meet the LBC Red List Imperative requirements through one or more approved exceptions. 
Declared products disclose 100% of ingredients present in the final product but contain one or more Red List chemicals that are not covered by an approved exception. 
In Australia, there are only 37 products with Red List Free status.

A long-time example of worst-in-class is polyvinyl chloride (PVC). This type of plastic has many materials uses but is widely used in commercial flooring at a non-slip or waterproofing backing for carpet. PVC is on the Red List as a source material for Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP).

Persistent Organic Pollutants are a class of chemicals that aren’t easily broken down and remain in the environment (in water bodies, soil or air) for long periods of time. These toxic chemicals can accumulate in the environment and in the food chain where they can have a toxic effect on organisms. A well-known example of a POP is the herbicide DDT.

Due to its chlorine content, PVC often contains other Red List ingredients, such as cadmium, lead, and phthalates. The manufacture and disposal of chlorinated polymers can result in the production of dioxins and disposal phases. Dioxins are some of the most potent toxins known to humans, with no known safe limit for exposure and a strong propensity for bioaccumulation. In addition, dioxins are highly persistent in the environment.

The Optic Reset Collection is one of GH Commercial’s newest carpet tile product ranges that is LBC Red List Free and made with PVC free Enviro Bac®.

Source: Living Future Institute Australia, April 2022, Healthy Materials with GH Commercial, accessed 06 April, 2022, &lt;<a href="https://living-future.org.au/?p=14976&amp;preview=1&amp;_ppp=1011159e37">Healthy materials with GH Commercial - Living Future Institute of Australia (living-future.org.au)</a>&gt;

A shift in industry towards healthier, more sustainable commercial flooring.

Healthy Materials with GH Commercial

Sustainability isn’t just another buzz word at GH Commercial, it's an objective we take extremely seriously. As a proud Australian and New Zealand manufacturer, GH Commercial seek to source and develop local solutions to this global issue wherever we can.

While still in the early stages of our sustainability journey, we’re proud of our achievements so far, actively working towards reducing our environmental footprint across our local manufacturing facilities and striving to improve our processes under our broad based sustainability vision, Believe in Better. 

Under this ideological framework, our Resource Stewardship pillar supports a commitment to the health of the planet and begins with the implementation of measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. One such measure is a commitment to solar panels, an initiative that began with the installation of solar panels at the Shiny Drive warehouse in Truganina. 

We are delighted to extend this solar investment to our warehouse at Laverton. This centralised storage and distribution facility measures a whopping 24,522 square metres of internal floor space, and includes upper and lower level offices, plus storage capacity for approximately 700,000 metres of carpet. 

The facility’s roof design was ideal for an initial installation of 216 solar panels. The 99.36kw system is capable of powering over half the warehouse, generating clean, green energy, and reducing our reliance on non-renewable sources is a win-win, while measurably reducing our overall operating costs. 

This investment in reducing Co2 emissions supports our broader Climate Active Carbon Neutral certification, one of the most rigorously applied sustainability recognition programs in the world. 

As industry leaders with genuine concern for the future, we recognise that actions speak louder than words.  We have a moral responsibility to spearhead change by supporting climate action wherever we can.

You can read more about our sustainability journey by visiting us at www.ghcommercial.com/sustainability.

We are delighted to extend our solar investment to our warehouse at Laverton.

GH Commercial - Creating Positive Energy

GH Commercial are proud to be in sponsorship once again with the Living Future Institute of Australia, renewing our commitment to climate action and further developing our sustainability goals in 2022.  

Established in 2012, the Living Future Institute of Australia (LFIA) is an affiliate of the International Living Future Institute (ILFI), an environmental NGO and hub for visionary programs offering global solutions for a socially just, culturally rich and ecologically regenerative world.  

The role of LFIA is to navigate and propel change in the Australian built environment through the rapid integration of design practices that, beyond merely doing less harm, contribute positively to the environment. Their initiatives include overseeing Zero Carbon Certification, the Biophilic Design Initiative, Declare® program, industry education, regular training events and technical advisory services. 

GH Commercial have been a major sponsor of the LFIA since 2019, where we were the first floor covering manufacturer in Australia to achieve Declare Red List free accreditation. Today, we hold the most Declare Red List Free labels, and the portfolio continues to grow. 

This continuing partnership with LFIA underscores our Believe in Better sustainability pillar under our product transparency commitments; ensuring many of our products now and into the future, display Declare Red List free certification.

Declare® Certification 
GH Commercial are committed to being part of this catalyst for change, beginning 2022 with a renewed undertaking towards producing the healthiest, most sustainable and toxic free products possible.  

A key element of our product transparency sustainability pillar has been the choice to work with LFIA since 2019 and apply for Declare® certification on a wide range of our products.  The LIFA Declare® program reveals clear and honest information about material specifications via a ‘nutritional’ label of ingredients. Each label is compared against a list of worst-in-class materials, also known as the Red List.  These Red List chemicals pollute the environment, bio-accumulate up the food chain until they reach toxic concentration and create health problems for construction and factory personnel. 

Working across our entire supply chain, GH Commercial have been able to identify, source and utilise the healthiest possible manufacturing components to meet LFIA’s exacting standards. Along with the current Red List Free certification for our Australian made Solution Dyed Nylon (SDN) and Designer Jet ™ products, in 2021 we were delighted to achieve Declare Red List Free labels on a large range of wool broadloom carpets. 

The GH Commercial Commitment 
Bolstered by our partnership with LFIA, we undertake quarterly training sessions for our team, staying abreast of all market relevant information and updated sustainability developments in the areas of material health, biophilic design, product transparency and access to technical advisory services.

Part of an industry increasingly looking to incorporate regenerative design into existing sustainability paradigms, GH Commercial are not only proud to contribute demonstrably healthier flooring options, but as an Australian and New Zealand manufacturer, we are also mindful of seeking local solutions to the global climate challenge.  

Find out more about GH Commercial and <a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/sustainability">sustainability</a>.

LFIA and GH Commercial Believing in Better together.

Living Future Institute of Australia (LFIA) Sponsorship

A custom collaboration

When the three young founders of the <a href="https://caliperjournal.com/">Caliper Journal</a> were approached by the Australian Centre of Contemporary Art (ACCA) to create a public space, they turned to GH Commercial to help them design it from the ground up.

The designers of the independent, youth-led architecture journal – Lauren Crockett, Nicola Cortese and Stephanie Pahnis – were invited to design the <a href="https://acca.melbourne/whos-afraid-of-public-space/onsite/reading-space/">Reading Space</a> at the ACCA’s ‘Who’s Afraid of Public Space?’ exhibition. 

With public culture in perpetual flux, and collective social rituals transforming the ways we inhabit space, the project sought to break down the idea of the static monument. The designers wanted to create a room that would be reconfigured, added to and archived through the collected agency of the public. 

Pushing the bounds of public design 

Approaching GH Commercial with the initial idea to produce custom rugs for the exhibit, the designers learned they could do so much more. 

With the capacity to create full custom design using local <a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/designer-jet">Designer Jet®</a> technology, GH Commercial was able to create a 1.96 metre wide sheet carpet – covering their entire floor space and becoming a grounding element for the exhibition. 

Working collaboratively with the local GH Commercial in-house design team, the designers soon landed on their custom design, approved the hand trials, and watched their vision come to life on the Designer Jet® technology based in Geelong.

Designer Jet® Technology – for any design in mind

Carpet can often be an afterthought in a project but, here, it was truly at the centre of the design process. The designers noted it was the detailed texture and richness of colour achieved that really brought the Reading Space to life.

Instructional design references in the flooring guided users of the space through the room by giving them their own tools to make decisions, rather than telling them what to think. 

While the decentralised nature of the space and softness of movable materials ensured it was reflective of the public using it at any given time, instead of being a singular, centralised object. 

Realise the possibilities of public space

Nothing in life is fixed, and public spaces are no exception. From sports stadiums to convention centres, airports to libraries, designers and architects in this space demand flexible flooring solutions.

World-class Designer Jet® printing technology offers a solution you never thought possible in carpet. It works by taking any pattern, drawing or image and using precision engineering to inject the dye into the carpet, offering a flexible, creative and performance driven flooring creation.

Made in Australia and available in a multitude of formats including 1.96m wide carpet rolls, tiles and planks, GH Commercial can produce small minimum order quantities in as little as 3 weeks.

So create a unique statement in any space, and realise infinite design possibilities, with fast, flexible and cost-effective customised flooring.

Installation views, Who's Afraid of Public Space? , Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne 2021. Photography Andrew Curtis. Commissioned by the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne.

They dreamt it. We made it. Our custom flooring solution for ACCA really pulled this public exhibit together. 

Designers unite to ground a 'shifting' space

Working hard to supply flooring that meets exacting environmentally responsible standards, GH Commercial are delighted to display another globally trusted trademark, we are proud to have a range of PEFC™ CoC certified products.

Why?

Responsible forest management is critical for the global environment, population and economy. Along with supplying food, energy and renewable raw materials, forests promote biodiversity by giving habitats and shelter, and provide livelihoods for millions of people worldwide.  

Key to the cultural identity of local communities, forests mitigate the effects of climate change, capturing and storing carbon to remove volumes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. In fact, even after a tree has been harvested to be used in construction materials or to make furniture, it will continue to store carbon for its useful life. 

What?

The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC™) is a leading international non-profit organisation whose mission is to promote sustainable forest management through independent third-party accreditation. Taking local conditions and priorities into consideration, PEFC™ works to protect forests both locally and globally, forming partnerships with multiple stakeholders around the world to boost their collective impact. 

What Does PEFC™ Do?

Through the PEFC™ Chain of Custody (CoC) certification, they promote best practice throughout the entire supply chain to make certain all products from forests are produced to the highest ecological, cultural, ethical and environmental standards. This allows us to actively track every log from forest to floor, guarantying that the timber in these products is responsible through PEFC™. In providing forest owners of all sizes, with the means to demonstrate their responsible practices, PEFC™ empowers consumers and companies to buy sustainably.   

Responsible Wood

Responsible Wood is the national governing body for PEFC™ in Australia. The Responsible Wood organisation are committed to protecting and promoting Australia’s own unique environment, pioneering the development of certification standards for wood and wood products from sustainably managed Australian forests. A not-for-profit standards development organisation (formerly known as Australian Forestry Standard Ltd.). 

How?

The PEFC™ Chain of Custody (CoC) tracks forest-based products from source to market, requiring all companies along the supply chain to be certified by third party, and providing independent assurances that any forest-based products certified originate from a sustainably managed forest.

Believing in Better

As part of the world’s largest flooring manufacturer, we take the social contract of contributing to a healthier environmental future extremely seriously, continually challenging ourselves to design, manufacture and distribute products that are healthier for us and kinder to the planet.

Our long standing, leading policies on responsible wood and ethical procurement ensure the stringent requirements of government legislation are achieved on our larger product portfolio. However, PEFC™ allows us to pursue higher standards in key product categories such as engineered timber and laminate. 

To that end, GH Commercial are incredibly proud to announce that four of our leading flooring products have met the intensive requirements necessary to be officially PEFC™ CoC certified. 

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/products/corsica-oak">Corsica Oak</a> (Engineered Timber)</li>
	<li><a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/products/legacy">Legacy</a> (Laminate)</li>
	<li><a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/products/amor-classic">Amor Classic</a> (Laminate)</li>
	<li><a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/products/belle-xl">Belle XL</a> (Laminate)</li>
</ul>

 

Under our Product Transparency pillar, this third-party verification confirms our continued commitment to developing healthier interior spaces and green building standards, with the globally trusted PEFC™ label helping our customers confidently choose sustainable flooring.

Continuing the quest for a more sustainable future with our range of PEFC™ CoC certified products.

Continuing The Quest For A More Sustainable Future

When it comes to sustainability, we’ve always believed in better. That’s why GH Commercial is now proud to be certified carbon neutral. 

Part of the government program Climate Active, this certification recognises businesses that take voluntary climate action to measure, reduce and offset carbon emissions, with a result of net zero emissions.

<a href="https://www.climateactive.org.au/buy-climate-active/certified-brands#5">Climate Active Carbon Neutral certification</a> is one of the most rigorous in the world, and demonstrates our commitment to sustainability and industry leadership to drive genuine change.

When it comes to sustainability, we’ve always believed in better. 

GH Commercial is Now Proudly Certified Carbon Neutral

At GH Commercial our sustainability motto is simple but real – Believe in Better – and we feel a profound sense of responsibility to advance this shared mission of a more sustainable future. 
 
As an industry leader in flooring, one of our key sustainability pillars is <a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/sustainability/resource-stewardship">Resource Stewardship</a>.  The planning of our new palletised warehouse at Truganina involved accommodating our ever-expanding Australian operations and an important commitment to the further reduction of emissions across our operations.

The <a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/news/new-palletised-warehouse-shiny-drive-truganina">Shiny Drive, Truganina warehouse</a> is a centralised distribution centre capable of storing over 1 million square metres of commercial flooring, including carpet tiles and planks, vinyl planks, engineered timber, hybrid and laminate products. At an enormous 14,402 square metres with commensurate flat roofed surface, the facility was ideally placed to harness renewable, solar power onsite.

Following the installation of approximately 220 solar panels, the Shiny Drive warehouse now features a 100kw solar system, generating enough clean energy to power over half of the facility, while reducing our reliance on non-renewable energy sources. 

This initiative supports our <a href="https://www.climateactive.org.au/buy-climate-active/certified-members/godfrey-hirst">Climate Active Carbon Neutral Organisation certification</a> to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across our entire business operations. Under Climate Active, all remaining cO2 emissions generated at the warehouse are offset through Australian reforestation and international renewable energy projects. Co benefits of which include enhanced biodiversity, habitat protection, employment creation, facilitating people to live and work on country, improving health outcomes and provision of affordable energy.  
  
As a proud Australian and New Zealand manufacturer, we’re seeking out local solutions for the global climate challenge. To learn more about sustainability at GH Commercial, please visit <a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/sustainability">ghcommercial.com/sustainability</a>.

The installation of 220 solar panels at our Shiny Drive warehouse features a 100kw solar system. 

Solar Powered Palletised Warehouse 

GH Commercial are honoured to be recognised by Lendlease for our positive contribution and ongoing commitment to reduce our environmental impact.  

For a number of years, GH Commercial have been reviewing manufacturing practices, exploring alternative processes, and challenging ourselves to design, manufacture and distribute products with reduced environmental and social impacts. As an expanding Australian and New Zealand organisation, we are also committed to supporting local manufacturing production, with a focus on delivering the best possible experience for our customers. 

A fundamental shift in traditionally considered building practices and an awareness around the part we play in creating healthier interior spaces, has led to the instigation of seven core pillars. Each pillar reflects our overarching sustainability vision - Believe in Better, and includes Material Health, Biophilic Design, Product Transparency, Product Stewardship, Resource Stewardship and Locally Manufactured. In addition, our Doing Better Together pillar maintains a commitment to support and improve our communities through a range of company and staff initiatives

Lendlease is a globally integrated real estate and investment group founded and headquartered in Sydney, and operating across Australia, Europe, the Americas and Asia, whose corporate mantra very much echoes our own. “We Believe In Finding Better Ways”, underpins the Lendlease commitment to lead their industry towards true sustainability - environmentally, socially and economically, leaving a positive legacy for future generations.

A company that makes a point of hiring people who share their desire to make a positive impact on the world, Lendlease want to work with suppliers who also embody these values. Launching the inaugural Lendlease Supplier Awards in 2021, management and employees within the supply chain, were tasked with nominating suppliers from a pool of over 10,000, they considered to have gone above and beyond.

GH Commercial were delighted to be nominated finalists in the Sustainability Award category and absolutely thrilled when we won! Due to ongoing Covid restrictions, the award ceremony was a virtual event, so sadly the tux’s didn’t see the light of day, but there was still much celebrating amongst the entire GH team.   

Lendlease recognised our work towards achieving carbon neutral certification with the globally recognised Climate Active Organisation. We continuously strive to develop sustainable manufacturing practices to reduce green-house gas emissions, our mission towards a net-zero goal, along with a focus on safety and innovation, informing all new product development strategies. 

We were honoured to receive such an important accolade from Lendlease, a company whose guiding principles so closely mirror ours, and whose beliefs about the health of the planet we share. Winning this award serves to bolster our sustainability efforts and we look forward to announcing further sustainability initiatives and doing better together.

Learn more about our sustainability journey <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkEG6a0Xf_I">here</a>.

GH Commercial are proud to have won the Lendlease Supplier Award in the Sustainability category. 

Lendlease Supplier Awards 2021, winner in Sustainability

Local Geelong-born artist Rone has spent two decades building an exceptional reputation for large-scale wall painting and immersive installations. Exploring the concepts of beauty and decay, Rone’s latest installation is a full feature exhibition, whereby he completely transforms a room within the walls of the Geelong Gallery. The exhibition pays homage to the architecture and history of the Geelong Gallery building and the historic art collection held there.

Local Geelong-born artist Rone has spent two decades building an exceptional reputation for large-scale wall painting and immersive installations. 

RONE in Geelong Exhibition

The Godfrey Hirst name is intrinsically woven into the cultural fabric of Geelong, with a history of designing textiles dating back over 150 years. Linked to the very identity of the community, we were delighted to commission local wildlife artist, Geoffrey Carran, to create a mural on the wall of our Geelong tile plant. 

The Tile Plant in Breakwater, South Geelong, having produced carpet tiles for over 20 years, has recently undergone a multi-million-dollar upgrade, an investment that resulted in a high-tech, one-stop shop for our global suite of GH Commercial carpet tile and plank products. Innovative and technology driven, the GH Commercial story also speaks to fostering positive relationships with the local community – a community that, as one of the regions largest employers, comprises much of our valued and diverse workforce. 

Research into workplace art points to its value in promoting social interactions, stimulating emotional responses and enriching relationships; all key priorities for a healthy and engaged staff culture. Tapping into our Believe in Better sustainability pillar and corporate responsibility, the mural commission not only acts to beautify an industrial site, but turns accessible art into an everyday experience for GH Commercial staff, local residents and visitors to the area at large.

Two split backdrops, an elevated section of the plant wall and brick fence directly below it, provided the blank canvas for Geoffrey Carran to work his magic. New Zealand-born Carran, well known for his vibrant paintings of birds, possesses an artistic style instantly recognisable for its energy and passion. Incorporating wildlife images from the respective environments he works in, Carran spent the summer researching avian life surrounding our tile plant. Two Laughing Kookaburra’s, native to the Bellarine Peninsula and frequently spotted along the banks of the Barwon River, became the resultant image.  

The stunningly rendered pair, writ large, at around 5.5m high and 14m across, and painted against a wetland backdrop, serves to both depict the areas natural heritage, inform community identity, and reinforce our long association to it.

Local wildlife artist Geoffrey Carran, creates a striking mural for the GH Commercial carpet tile and plank plant Geelong.

Celebrating our Community with Mural Art

Doing Better Together is a fundamental pillar of GH Commercial’s sustainable practices. Through a raft of company and staff enterprises, both big and small, our commitment to support and improve our communities is no empty promise. 

GH Commercial are proud to have partnered with Take 3 For the Sea in tandem with the launch of our premium Oceanic Collection. This global organisation promotes the simple activism of removing three pieces of rubbish from our beaches, waterways and greens spaces to assist with cleaning up our oceans. Their education programs have inspired a global movement of people invested in a healthier planet.  

The opportunity to walk the talk came in late January, when the Victorian GH Commercial Marketing, Sales and Admin team participated in a Take 3 for the Sea clean-up event at St Kilda beach. During an official welcome and safety briefing, we learnt that over 8 million tonnes of new plastic enters our waterways every year, killing wildlife who mistakenly ingest it as a food source, and upsetting the vital balance of our ocean ecosystems.  

Made predominately from finite fossil fuels, plastics do not break down, instead degrading into increasingly smaller pieces to create microplastics and nanoplastics. Both creation and break down of these plastics release harmful greenhouse gases, contributing to the changing climate and threatening the health of our planet.  

It’s predicted that if we continue on our current path of manufacturing and discarding single use plastics, by 2050 there will be more plastic pollution in the ocean than fish. Motivated by this sobering statistic and observing COVID safe protocols, our intrepid GH Commercial team ventured forth – gloves on, tongs out, buckets at the ready.  

Despite the council having raked the beach post public holiday, in one hour the crew managed to collect 2,452 assorted items of rubbish, of which 84% were derived from plastic and 46% were cigarette butts and filters made from cellulose acetate – that’s a staggering 1,157 cigarettes!  

The GH Commercial staff community are passionate about issues around sustainability and valued the event focus on measures to reduce plastic pollution and waste we can integrate into our own lives and workplace. We felt genuinely privileged to be part of such an important community initiative, and were delighted to do our small part to help.  

Assisting more broadly, we make an annual donation to Take 3 for the Sea from the proceeds of the Oceanic Collection, contributing to on-going ocean clean-ups and promoting education programs for schools and local communities. 

 

This striking and versatile range draws its inspiration from the Tasman and Coral Seas, incorporating biophilic design principles that visually represent sea-life’s myriad elements, including the magical Great Barrier Reef. See our <a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/collections/oceanic">Oceanic Collection</a> for the full range of creative flooring solutions.

GH Commercial are proud to have partnered with Take 3 For the Sea in tandem with the launch of our premium Oceanic Collection.

Take 3 for the Sea Beach Clean-up

<h4>For a Growing Business</h4>

A growth business needs a warehouse facility that can meet its requirements today and well into the future, the newly built GH Commercial warehouse in Truganina does just that.

Located in the appropriately named Shiny Drive, this state-of-the art facility commenced construction in April 2019 and was completed mid-2020.

The Shiny Drive warehouse is a centralised distribution centre that has consolidated all palletised goods previously housed at two facilities in Laverton and an additional three smaller complexes. Designed for maximum efficiency, the new facility is a whopping 14,402 square metres in size, storing over one million metres of our best-selling commercial products, including; <a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/products?orderby=dateDesc&amp;type[]=TIL">carpet tiles, carpet planks</a>, <a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/products?orderby=dateDesc&amp;subType[]=laminate_hf&amp;type[]=HF">laminate</a>, <a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/products?orderby=dateDesc&amp;subType[]=vinyl_plank_hf&amp;type[]=HF">vinyl planks</a>, <a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/products?orderby=dateDesc&amp;subType[]=engineered_timber_hf&amp;type[]=HF">timber</a> and <a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/products?orderby=dateDesc&amp;subType[]=hybrid_hf&amp;type[]=HF">hybrid flooring</a>.

From picking to dispatch, to enabling speedy order turnaround times and improving overall inventory management, the wholly integrated and vastly increased capacity of the new warehouse streamlines all our processes, while a dedicated customer pick-up point offers convenience and flexibility for local client orders.  Quicker turnaround times from order placement to dispatch is also ideal for any project with a short lead time or strict time constraints, helping to avoid unnecessary scheduling delays. 

As an expanding Australian organisation, GH Commercial is especially proud to not only operate on Australian soil but support local manufacturing production in Geelong. Our focus has always firmly centered on delivering the best possible experience for our customers, incorporating innovative technologies and improved systems wherever we can.

A growing Australian business needs a warehouse facility that can meet its requirements today and well into the future, the newly built GH Commercial warehouse in Truganina does just that.

 New Palletised Warehouse – Shiny Drive Truganina

A heritage enterprise – then and now

Now more than ever, supporting local industry and manufacturing is vital to rebuilding the economy, which is why Godfrey Hirst is proud to announce our partnership with the official Australian Made campaign. 

The Godfrey Hirst name is synonymous with Geelong, dating back to the late 19th century when Charles Shannon and an entrepreneurial young Godfrey Hirst purchased two established woollen and cloth mills. From these humble beginnings, Godfrey Hirst has grown to be one of Australia’s largest and most successful flooring brands. 

Backed by a heritage of local manufacturing at three Victorian facilities, plus two distribution centres, including our state-of-the-art palletised distribution centre in Truganina, Godfrey Hirst are leaders in the production and supply of premium floorcoverings throughout Australia and New Zealand. 

Our local investment in design, manufacturing, warehousing and distribution provides total supply chain oversight, ensuring quality control and consistency from product creation and consistency right through to delivery. While at the heart of the business, a dedicated, diverse and inclusive local workforce reliably delivers outstanding service across each process. 

Partnering with the official Australian Made campaign aligns us with Australia’s most trusted, recognised and widely used country or origin symbol, underpinned by a third-party accreditation system which authenticates genuinely Australian products. 

Key among our collection of global GH Commercial products is an extensive range of Australian made tiles, planks and broadloom carpets. Given 90% of Australian consumers recognise the familiar green and gold tag and are more likely to buy Australian-made products, a licence to display the iconic logo is more important now than it has ever been.  

Learn more about our <a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/sustainability/local-manufacturing">local manufacturing</a>.

Godfrey Hirst is proud to announce our partnership with the official Australian Made campaign.

Proudly Australian Made

Investing in innovation and technology are the hallmarks of GH Commercial, and when it comes to improving existing systems and processes our commitment to excellence is continually at the forefront.

The multi-million-dollar upgrade of our Breakwater plan in Geelong, has increased local manufacturing capacity and houses the entire global suite of GH Commercial <a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/products?orderby=dateDesc&amp;type[]=TIL">carpet tile and plank products</a>.

A faster carpet tile and plank press, a slick conveyor belt system and two robotic pallet loading arms, has enhanced our ability to meet the rising demand across our core brands of Mohawk Group, Feltex and Godfrey Hirst.

Along with existing metric tile and plank dimensions, GH Commercial can manufacture imperial size products. The larger format allowing for greater versatility along with more immersive, technologically advanced designs.

Our range of tile sizes includes: 
• 250 x 1000mm 
• 500 x 500mm 
• 304.8 x 914.4mm (12 x 36 inch) 
• 609.6 x 609.6mm (24 x 24 inch)

Additionally, fully automated box maker, constructs cardboard packaging from 100% recycled materials and can accommodate carpet tile sizes across all of our brands. 
These upgrades to the production plant result in faster and more efficient product delivery, while still keeping to the highest standards of safety, environmental protection, and sustainable manufacturing processes ensuring the viability of GH Commercial into the future.

Investing in innovation and technology are the hallmarks of GH Commercial.

Carpet Tile Plant Upgrade

GH Commercial are delighted to have achieved Global GreenTag’s GreenRate, Level A certification for a number of our commercial vinyl and hybrid flooring products.  

Global GreenTag™ is a third-party certification system used by architects and designers. It provides independent, evidence-based research on product solutions that contribute to a more sustainably built environment. Including a universal product search interface showcasing over 10,000 sustainable products, Global GreenTag features several different certification programs. Requiring complete transparency from manufacturers, one such program, GreenRate, uses an ecolabel system and assesses exactly how and from what each product is made, rating their overall health and environmental impact, while also examining other criteria like local sourcing, ethical labour and supply chain principles.  

GreenRate Certified  

LVP and Hybrid Flooring  

We are pleased to announce that the following GH Commercial Luxury Vinyl Plank and Hybrid flooring products have been awarded GreenRate Level A, the highest possible GreenRate certification.  

Luxury Vinyl Plank 

<ul>
	<li>Transform Collection (AU only)   
	includes Moduleo 55 Woods &amp; Moduleo 55 Tiles </li>
	<li>Impress Collection (AU only)  </li>
	<li>Includes Moduleo 55 Impressive &amp; Moduleo 55 Expressive  </li>
	<li>Aquila DS+ </li>
	<li>Aaria DS &amp; Aaria DS+ (NZ Only)  </li>
</ul>

Hybrid Flooring 

<ul>
	<li>Apollo </li>
	<li>Apollo XL </li>
	<li>Apollo Stone </li>
	<li>Apollo Hardwood  </li>
</ul>

As an increasingly aware marketplace looks to source materials that conform to stringent sustainability and toxic-free manufacturing standards, clear and unambiguous information is key.  

Both the Green Building Council of Australia and New Zealand recognise Global GreenTag as an important independent arbiter in verifying sustainable products; vital for achieving a Green Star certified building. Specifically devised by Global GreenTag to comply with Green Star’s rating tools, GreenRate certified products are examined for ‘Fit-for-Purpose’ criteria and confirmed for Building Code compliance.  

As a transparency program with full disclosure of product ingredients, GreenRate looks at a product’s health and ecotoxicity, plus a multitude of other aspects, including ingredients at various stages and conditions such as resource use, waste reduction greenhouse gas and water footprints.  

GreenRate is entirely designed to support architects and designers looking to select products for their Green Star rates projects.  

How Does GreenRate Level A Certification Translate? 

Featuring a multitude of diverse criteria open for review, GreenRate Level A certification provides 100% of the credit points available in the Green Star rating tools.  

Here’s how our GreenRate, Level A certification translates across the widely used sustainable building programs in Australia and New Zealand.  

Green Star 

<ul>
	<li>100% points under the ‘Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) / Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)’ credit (GreenRate, Level B = 75% points &amp; GreenRate, Level C = 50% points) </li>
</ul>

<ul>
	<li>Points available under the ‘Sustainable Product’ credit  
	 </li>
</ul>

Well™ Building Standard  

<ul>
	<li>Recognition under the VOC’s / IAQ and Enhanced Material Safety credits </li>
</ul>

LEED® 

<ul>
	<li>Recognition under the ‘VOC’s / IAQ credit  
	 </li>
</ul>

Infrastructure Sustainability (IS) Rating Scheme  

<ul>
	<li>Recognition under the ‘Sustainable Product’ credit  </li>
</ul>

 

GreenStar ‘Sustainable Products’ Credit  

Given the increased emphasis on sustainable building practices, certified, environmentally responsible vinyl products are a frequent commercial tender request. PVC products in materials such as hard flooring, blinds, cables, pipes and permanent formwork, are often recognised as the most fit for purpose, with no available alternatives or possible substitutions, and as such, the Green Building Council of Australia has established that vinyl material cannot be rules out for use. Therefore, vinyl products that have achieved the stringent GreenRate certification can earn points under the Green Star ‘Sustainable Products’ credit.  

Learn more about GreenTag and our other product certifications <a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/sustainability/product-transparency/product-certifications">here</a>.

GH Commercial are delighted to have achieved Global GreenTag’s GreenRate, Level A certification for a number of our commercial vinyl and hybrid flooring products. 

GreenRate Top Score for Healthier Hard Flooring

In a marketplace increasingly focused on environmental consideration and issues around sustainability, GH Commercial are incredibly proud to have products officially certified Declare™ Red List Free.  

The International Living Future Institute (ILFIA), and local affiliate the Living Future Institute of Australia (LFIA), are organisations committed to the notion of a socially equitable, culturally rich and ecologically responsible society, and have developed leading edge programs designed to radically change our approach to building and construction.  

Predicated on creating a healthier built environment, the Declare™ Program delivers clear, unambiguous information about building material specifications. Participating manufacturers are required to disclose a Product’s entire constituent chemical composition to a threshold of 100-parts-per-million; essentially creating a ‘nutrition’ label of ingredients.

A Product Transparency Program  

Each Declare label is compared against a list of worst-in-class materials, better known as the Red List. Chemicals on the Red List are responsible for:  

<ul>
	<li>Polluting the environment  </li>
	<li>Bio-accumulation of contaminants progressing up the food chain </li>
	<li>Negative health implications for factory personnel, construction industry workers and building occupants.  </li>
</ul>

Aware of our role in developing products that Architects and Designers can comfortably specify to meet leading green building initiatives, we worked with our entire supply chain to identify, source and utilise the healthiest possible manufacturing ingredients. When we were confident our product met the stringent sustainability and toxic free chemical standards, we applied for the LFIA Declare certification.  

The Declare Initiative Has Three Levels of Potential Certification: 

<ul>
	<li>LBC Red List Free – Complete ingredient disclosure revealing ZERO Red List chemicals.  </li>
	<li>LBC Compliant – Where chemicals or product ingredients have no available public information, or a manufacturer is unable to publicly identify an ingredient due to proprietary registration. Products may potentially contain Red List chemicals, which, if identified, will be highlighted in orange.  </li>
	<li>Declared – This base level of transparency, while revealing a product’s ingredients, will nevertheless contain some Red List ingredients, which will also be highlighted in orange.    
	 </li>
</ul>

 
We are delighted to announce the following Australian Made products have achieved the highest possible Red List Free Certification:  

<ul>
	<li>SDN Carpet Tiles &amp; Planks (on Enviro Bac® and Enviro Bac Plus®) </li>
	<li>Designer Jet® Carpet Tiles &amp; Planks (on Enviro Bac® and Enviro Bac Plus®) </li>
	<li>Designer Jet® Carpet (on Action Bac®) </li>
	<li>Designer Jet® Carpet (on Health Bac®)  
	 </li>
</ul>

Manufactured locally, these products are all PVC, BPA and Phthalate free.   

Learn more about Declare and our other Product Certifications <a href="https://www.ghcommercial.com/sustainability/product-transparency/product-certifications">here</a>.

In a marketplace increasingly focused on environmental consideration and issues around sustainability, GH Commercial are incredibly proud to have products officially certified Declare™ Red List Free.  

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