Achieving zero emissions from New Zealand’s buildings and to transition to a circular economy is undoubtedly one of the biggest challenges the construction sector will face in the next three decades.  

We encourage MBIE’s Building for Climate Change team to adopt a systems approach based on a ‘Cradle to Cradle’ (C2C) approach which includes not just new but also existing buildings and includes the operation/maintenance of buildings and end of life/deconstruction, reuse/repurpose or landfill.    

C2C is about seeing waste as an eternal resource and doing the right thing from the beginning.  It is about making community and product development function in the same way as a healthy ecological system where all resources are used effectively, and in a cyclical way – as opposed to the current linear system also described as a Cradle to Grave.

Aluminium is the ideal C2C material, infinitely recyclable and seldom ends up in landfill as it has significant value for recycling locally or internationally.

ALENZ would like to see a Building for Climate Change approach that is: 

  • developed in partnership with construction sector stakeholders and the significant supporting manufacturing sector 
  • transparent as to what the roadmap to zero emissions 2050 for the sector will look like enabling stakeholders to understand/respond to the challenge/opportunity
  • inclusive of all buildings – new and existing  
  • referenced to international best practice enabling New Zealand to transition to a low emission circular economy
  • explicit as to how imported products (of unknown carbon content) will be addressed
  • informed by life cycle data – critical information that is lacking for many imported materials and some local 
  • understands how carbon off-set instruments will be included

Read more about our stance on the proposed Building for Climate Change framework here >