By Ms.

Farhanah Yusof
What is SUSTAINABLE?
Efficient use of resources so it will not be depleted or permanently
damaged. Thus, it will be there for a long time for the future
generation’s needs.
EXAMPLES
What is SUSTAINABLE IN
ARCHITECTURE WORLD?
In construction and architectural field, sustainability is associated
with GREEN BUILDING, which related to a well designed
building that conserve energy and waste consumption through
passive and active design elements.
EXAMPLES
What makes a building SUSTAINABLE?

o Efficient use of water

o Efficient use of electricity

o Use of recyclable/
biodegradable construction
materials & finishes

o Reduce of waste
 Myth
“Natural is always more
Sustainable”

“Synthetic is bad for the

Environment”

Fact
It depends on how it was
manufactured & disposed
Which of these considered SUSTAINABLE ?

Made from
Meranti wood
Marble

Made from
Made from
plastic
Pine wood

Made from
Plastic &
aluminum Natural cork Made from
Made from Composite
floor marbles floor finish Meranti wood
Not sustainable
Sustainable

Not Sustainable
Sustainable
 Facts
CRADLE TO CRADLE CONCEPT
Material that have been used and recycled or repurposed.
The manufacturing and recycling of this material begin
and closed in one loop / cycle.

Example of cradle to cradle is; a raw material

manufactured from the factory, used by consumer until
the end of its life then been recycle or repurposed to
become new materials.

Cradle to cradle material is better than cradle to grave.

CRADLE TO GRAVE CONCEPT

Material that have been used and disposed to landfill. The
lifespan of the material stopped once it is disposed.
 1 2

Source to Manufacturer
Cotton Manufacturer to Consumer

Fabric Upholstery

Consumer to
Recycle to Recycle
Manufacturer
3
4 Recycle

Cradle To Cradle Concept

 2
1
Manufacturer
to Consumer
Source to
Manufacturer Fabric 3
Upholstery
Consumer to
Waste
Cotton

Landfill

Cradle To Grave Concept

In sustainable concept, disposal is the least favoured options, while prevention is
placed on the top of the pyramid.
When choosing materials, consider the following list of sustainable
options:

o Salvaged materials
o Eco-certified products
o Rapidly renewable materials
o Sustainable purchasing policy
o Low-emitting materials (no VOCs)
o Recycled content and recyclability
o Green building assessment or ratings
o Locally/regionally produced products
o Low or non-toxic ingredients or components
Salvaged materials
Also known as ‘reused’ or ‘reclaimed’, salvaged material is waste
that is saved and used again in its original form.

Eg: Timber floor that have been stripped from an old building and
installed in a new building, thus, saves the cost & resources without
having to purchase new flooring materials.
Salvaged materials
Salvaged materials

Example of reclaimed construction materials using

electrical utility poles as columns
Salvaged materials

Example of residential design made from reclaimed

highway parts
Comparison of materials
Acquisition Processes
Eco-certified products

Forest Stewardship
Council Logo
Products that have been certified by FSC
Rapidly renewable materials

Bamboo Wheat Cotton Flax Seed

Rapidly renewable materials

Rapid growth of bamboo plant makes it sustainable materials

Sustainable Purchasing Policy (SPP)
Referring to conscious purchasing practices by a company or
organization towards greener environment.

Example of SPP include buying from local vendors, choosing green

products and transporting products via ground instead of air.
 Sustainable Purchasing Policy (SPP)

Ikea Store
Support local
labor
Sustainable Cotton
Farming in various Textile products
countries

Waste

Leftover fabric
Consumer Ikea’s flatwoven rug scraps
 Sustainable Purchasing Policy (SPP)

Emeco & Cola Cola collaboration

Coca Cola bottles

Bring back to the

manufacturer for
recycle
Emeco’s
Navy Chair
Low-emitting materials (no VOCs)

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are gas emitted from certain

solids or fluid that contained chemicals. These chemicals may cause
short or long-term health effects.

VOCs can be found in many products such as:

o Paint
o Lacquer
o Pesticides
o Furnishing (foam, carpet backing, synthetic yarn & dye, etc)
o Adhesives (found in mdf board, laminate, plywood, chipboard
etc)
o Paint strippers
o Cleaning supplies
o Building materials (gypsum, vinyl, asbestos, lead etc)
Low-emitting materials (no VOCs)

Material & finishes with high VOCs content

Paint

Caulk

Paint,
adhesives,
laminate

Lacquer
Low-emitting materials (no VOCs)

Material & finishes with high VOCs content

Paint

Mdf, laminate,
adhesives,
lacquer

Cushion
Foam

Carpet
backing
Low-emitting materials (no VOCs)

Material & finishes with low VOCs content

Low VOC paint Wood finishes with low VOC content

Low VOC carpet pad

Recycled content and recyclability

Materials and finishes made from recyclable resources is considered

sustainable because of its lifespan end in one loop.

By recycling, the once non-sustainable materials became

sustainable.

Example of recyclable materials is cardboard boxes, glass bottles,

aluminum cans, metal and plastic that can be repurposed as new
materials.
Recycled content and recyclability

Plastic bottle & aluminum can

 Recycled content and recyclability

Cardboard & Newspaper

Recycled content and recyclability

Wood Pallet
Recycled content and recyclability

Tyre
Recycled content and recyclability

Glass Bottle
 Recycled content and recyclability

Fabric scraps
Green building assessment or ratings

The assessment and ratings standard set by one green building-

based organization (usually NGOs).

Example of green building standards are LEEDS (US & Canada),

BREEM (UK), Green Building Index (Malaysia, Singapore) and Green
Star (Australia)

Each of the assessments pertained to the tools issued by these green

building organization.
Green building assessment or ratings

The Diamond Building in Putrajaya

earned Platinum Ratings (highest
rating in GBI) for its efficient use of
energy within the building.
Locally/regionally produced products

Materials comes from the local area or regional means shorter routes
and less use of transport and fuel. This also will save cost of the
building construction.
Locally/regionally produced products
 Low or non-toxic ingredients or components

Cork Linoleum

Handmade Tile Eco insulation made from

recyclable jeans
The IAQ is important to determined the quality state of a building.
Without good IAQ reading, the occupant of the building are
exposed to SBS and BRI.

IAQ
Indoor Air Quality refer to the quality of air that is free from pollution
or any toxic fumes.

SBS
Sick Building Syndrome refers to the illness or symptom of the
occupants of the building due to inhalation or being exposed to the
VOCs and toxic fumes inside the building.

BRI
Building Related Illnesses is a temporary sickness experienced by the
occupants of the building which goes away once they exit the
building.
ANY QUESTIONS?