Responsible Products Framework

All Green Star rating tools released from 2020 include credits that seek to reward the use of products that meet the criteria set out in our Responsible Products Framework (Framework). Rating tools released prior to 2020 will continue to use the original process. 

The vision of the Framework is to drive the supply chain to deliver transparent, healthy, low-impact and net zero carbon products that are part of a circular economy. The Framework outlines criteria for scoring how ‘responsible’ a product is, to support the built environment industry in adapting to and driving this change. More information on the long term strategy for the framework can be found here. 

The Framework is currently used to recognise initiatives that a product or manufacturer can comply with for the purposes of contributing to a Green Star certification. 

This page provides the following guidance:

• The vision for the framework
• Recognised initiatives
• List of initiatives that is compliant with
  • Responsible Structure
  • Responsible Envelope
  • Responsible Systems
  • Responsible Finishes
• Additional requirements for timber, paints, adhesives, sealants, engineered wood products and PVC
• Guidance for product manufacturers seeking more information on the updates to the Responsible Products Framework.
• Guidance for Schemes and Initiatives seeking to be recognised under the Framework. 
• Change log

Recognised Initiatives

In addition to reused products and building components, the below initiatives have been recognised under the Responsible Products Framework.

• Climate Active Carbon Neutral Standard for Products & Services [1]
• The New Zealand Ecolabelling Trust (ECNZ) [4]
  • Building Insulants (EC 25-17) [4]
  • Furniture, Fittings & Floorings (EC 32-17) [4] 
  • Paints (EC 07-18) [4] 
  • Pre-painted and resin-coated steel products (EC 57-16) [4]
• Environmental Product Declarations (Industry-wide) [1]
• Environmental Product Declarations (Product-specific) [1]
• The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) [1]
• Global GreenTag International Standard v4 (Green Rate - Level A) [1]
• Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA)
  • Adhesives, Fillers and Sealants (AFS v1.0ii-2014) [2]
  • Building Insulation Materials (BIMv2.0i-2018) [3]
  • Carpets (C v3.0-2021) [2] 
  • Cement, Concrete & Concrete Products (CCPv1.0ii-2017) [3]
  • Floor Coverings (FC v3.0-2021) [2]
  • Furniture and fittings (FF v3.1i-2017) [2]
  • Furniture, fittings, foam and mattresses (FFFM v3.1i-2017)
  • Hard Surfacing (HSv2.0i-2019)
  • Paints and coatings (PC v2.3i-2012 [2]
  • Panel boards (PB v3.0-2021) [2]
  • Recycled Products (RPv1.0ii-2015) [3]
  • Steel and Steel Products (SSP v1.0i-2019) 
  • Sustainable Products and Services (SPSv2.0i-2020) [3]
• Literature Review and Best Practice Guidelines for the Life Cycle of PVC Building Products [1]

How to use the information below

The sections below list the ways Recognised Schemes and Standards can be used to meet Credit Achievement and/or Exceptional Performance for each credit. If a product has been certified under a listed Scheme or combination of Schemes, then the product meets the RPV benchmark required for a 'Best practice product' or 'Good practice product'. See the Credit Achievement and Exceptional Performance requirements for the relevant credit in the Submission Guidelines for more information. GBCA notes that this is an interim measure, and the intention is to release individual product RPVs in due course. By specifying that you have used products and materials that have been certified by these Schemes and Standards, you will be on your way to meeting the credit requirements.

For more information on these credits, please see the Green Star Buildings submission guidelines.

To assist project teams further, we will be releasing additional information over the coming months and will release online calculators shortly after the release of our online system.

Responsible Structure

(updated 8 December 2021)

Good practice products (RPV ≥ 10)

• The following schemes:
  • FSC Certification
  • GECA Building Insulation Materials (BIMv2.0i-2018) 
  • GECA Cement, Concrete & Concrete Products (CCPv1.0ii-2017) 
  • GECA Hard Surfacing (HSv2.0i-2019) 
  • GECA Steel and Steel Products (SSP v1.0i-2019) 
  • GreenRate Level A
• The following combinations are accepted:
  • Vinyl Council of Australia Best Practice PVC + Climate Active Carbon Neutral for Products & Services
  • Climate Active Carbon Neutral for Products & Services + Product Specific EPD

Best practice products (RPV ≥ 15)

• Reused products or building components
• The following combinations are accepted:
  • FSC Certification + Climate Active Carbon Neutral for Products & Services
  • FSC Certification + Product Specific or Industry Wide EPD
  • GECA (any of the above-mentioned standards in this credit) + Climate Active Carbon Neutral for Products & Services  
  • GECA (any of the above-mentioned standards in this credit) + Product Specific or Industry Wide EPD
  • GreenRate Level A + Climate Active Carbon Neutral for Products & Services
  • GreenRate Level A + Product Specific or Industry Wide EPD

Note: products with the Schemes or Combination of schemes listed under ‘Best practice products’ can be used towards meeting the ‘Good practice products’ benchmarks.

Responsible Envelope

(updated 8 December 2021)

Good practice products (RPV ≥ 10)

• The following schemes:
  • FSC Certification
  • GECA Building Insulation Materials (BIMv2.0i-2018) 
  • GECA Cement, Concrete & Concrete Products (CCPv1.0ii-2017) 
  • GECA Hard Surfacing (HSv2.0i-2019) GECA Panel boards (PB v3.0-2021) 
  • GECA Steel and Steel Products (SSP v1.0i-2019) 
  • GreenRate Level A  
• The following combinations are accepted:
  • Climate Active Carbon Neutral for Products & Services + Product Specific EPD
  • Vinyl Council of Australia Best Practice PVC + Climate Active Carbon Neutral for Products & Services

Best practice products (RPV ≥ 15)

• Reused products or building components
• The following combinations are accepted:
  • FSC Certification + Climate Active Carbon Neutral for Products & Services
  • FSC Certification + Product Specific or Industry Wide EPD
  • GECA (any of the above mentioned standards in this credit) + Climate Active Carbon Neutral for Products & Services 
  • GECA (any of the above mentioned standards in this credit) + Product Specific or Industry Wide EPD
  • GreenRate Level A + Climate Active Carbon Neutral for Products & Services
  • GreenRate Level A + Product Specific or Industry Wide EPD

Note: products with the Schemes or Combination of schemes listed under ‘Best practice products’ can be used towards meeting the ‘Good practice products’ benchmarks.

Responsible Systems

(updated 8 December 2021)

Good practice products (RPV ≥ 6)

• The following schemes are accepted:
  • Climate Active Carbon Neutral for Products & Services 
  • ECNZ Building Insulants (EC 25-17) 
  • ECNZ Furniture, Fittings & Floorings (EC 32-17)  
  • ECNZ Paints (EC 07-18)  
  • ECNZ Pre-painted and resin-coated steel products (EC 57-16) 
  • FSC Certification 
  • GreenRate Level A
• The following combinations are accepted:
  • Vinyl Council of Australia Best Practice PVC + Climate Active Carbon Neutral for Products & Services 
  • Vinyl Council of Australia Best Practice PVC + Product Specific or Industry Wide EPD

Best practice products (RPV ≥ 11)

• Reused products or building components
• The following combinations are accepted:
  • Climate Active Carbon Neutral for Products & Services + Product Specific EPD or
  • Industry Wide EPD
  • FSC Certification + Climate Active Carbon Neutral for Products & Services
  • FSC Certification + Product Specific or Industry Wide EPD
  • GreenRate Level A + Climate Active Carbon Neutral for Products & Services
  • GreenRate Level A + Product Specific or Industry Wide EPD

Note: products with the Schemes or Combination of schemes listed under ‘Best practice products’ can be used towards meeting the ‘Good practice products’ benchmarks.

Responsible Finishes

(updated 8 December 2021)

Good practice products (RPV ≥ 7)

• The schemes are accepted:
  • Climate Active Carbon Neutral for Products & Services
  • ECNZ Building Insulants (EC 25-17) 
  • ECNZ Furniture, Fittings & Floorings (EC 32-17)  
  • ECNZ Paints (EC 07-18)  
  • ECNZ Pre-painted and resin-coated steel products (EC 57-16) 
  • FSC Certification  
  • GECA Adhesives, Fillers and Sealants (AFS v4.0ii-2014)  
  • GECA Carpets (C v3.0-2021) GECA Floor Coverings (FC v3.0-2021)  
  • GECA Furniture and Fittings (FF v3.1i-2017)  
  • GECA Furniture, Fittings, Foam and Mattresses (FFFM v3.1i-2017)  
  • GECA Hard Surfacing (HSv2.0i-2019) 
  • GECA Paints and Coatings (PC v2.3i-2012)  
  • GECA Panel Boards (PB v3.0-2021)  
  • GECA Recycled Products (RPv1.0ii-2015) 
  • GECA Sustainable Products and Services (SPSv2.0i-2020)
  • GreenRate Level A
• The following combinations are accepted:
  • Vinyl Council of Australia Best Practice PVC + Climate Active Carbon Neutral for Products & Services
  • Vinyl Council of Australia Best Practice PVC + Product Specific EPD 

Best practice products (RPV ≥ 12)

• Reused products or building components
• The following combinations are accepted:
  • Climate Active Carbon Neutral for Products & Services + Product Specific or Industry Wide EPD
  • FSC Certification + Climate Active Carbon Neutral for Products & Services
  • FSC Certification + Product Specific EPD or
  • Industry Wide EPD
  • GECA (any of the above mentioned standards in this credit) + Climate Active Carbon Neutral for Products & Services
  • GECA (any of the above mentioned standards in this credit) + Product Specific EPD or Industry Wide EPD
  • GreenRate Level A + Climate Active Carbon Neutral for Products & Services
  • GreenRate Level A + Product Specific EPD or Industry Wide EPD
  • Vinyl Council of Australia Best Practice PVC + Climate Active Carbon Neutral for Products & Services

Note: products with the Schemes or Combination of schemes listed under ‘Best practice products’ can be used towards meeting the ‘Good practice products’ benchmarks.

Additional requirements for product certification schemes for timber, PVC, paints, adhesives, sealants, and engineered wood products.

Timber

There are additional requirements that must be met by all products where more than 20% of their mass, cost, volume, or other weight, whichever is smallest, is composed of timber materials.

These products must have a valid FSC, Responsible Wood, or PEFC chain of custody.

Note: Responsible Wood (only timber certified to the upcoming revision to AS4708. For more information on the release contact Responsible Wood).

Paints, adhesives, sealants, carpets and engineered wood products

There are additional requirements that must be targeted by all paints, adhesives, sealants, carpets, and engineered wood products that are applied internally.

These products must meet the Minimum Expectations as defined in the credit Exposure to toxins in Green Star Buildings.

PVC

For PVC products, the manufacturing of the PVC complies with the Vinyl Council of Australia’s Best Practice PVC Guidelines.