Designing out waste

Designing Out Waste: Why Smarter Construction Starts with Better Architecture

Canopy CLT house under construction, using a 1.2m grid to reduce wastage on site

A new report, Australia’s Wasted Opportunity 2025, reveals a confronting reality: the Australian construction industry generates an average of 141 kg of waste per square metre built. Left unchecked, this could equate to $64 billion in lost value over the next five years—much of it tied to materials that never even make it into the finished building.

Commissioned by Coreo in partnership with the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA), the report sets national benchmarks for construction and fitout waste. But more importantly, it calls for a rethink of how we design and deliver buildings—from concept to completion.

While many projects report high landfill diversion rates, the report highlights a more troubling issue: low material recovery.

As architects and clients, we have the opportunity—and responsibility—to address this early, through design. At our recently certified Passivhaus project, Canopy CLT House, waste reduction started on the drawing board. The entire building was designed to a 1200mm grid, aligning room dimensions with standard material sizes. This allowed us to minimise cutting and offcuts, reduce construction time, and deliver a cleaner, more efficient build.

The most commonly discarded materials across the industry—concrete, masonry and tiles—are often wasted due to lack of coordination or rushed site decisions. But thoughtful detailing, clear documentation, and circular thinking can significantly reduce that waste.

Coreo CEO Ashleigh Morris puts it simply: “When we cut timber and throw away the offcut, we’re not just losing materials—we’re cutting into the budget.”

To help the industry respond, the report introduces a new Green Star Leadership Challenge, mandatory waste reporting for Green Star buildings from 2027, and practical tools for better material tracking. It also offers design guidance to embed circular economy principles in daily practice—from more precise take-offs to improved collaboration with builders and suppliers.

For clients, this isn’t just about sustainability—it’s about protecting value, improving build quality, and designing with intention from the outset.