Sustainability Action Plan

We care deeply about the planet, and recognise our part in its peril. Through our work, advocacy and integrity we can build a better future.

While electrification of our building stock continues to take necessary precedence, it’s time we expand our focus toward higher performing and low-resource-dependent buildings, embodied carbon reduction, circularity and adaptation.

For all new projects, our pledge is to deliver net-zero-ready buildings. No new gas — no question. To meet industry leading energy performance targets. To track and to taper upfront carbon toward a climate positive 2040.

Core goals

Our business and our buildings must shoot beyond zero. To be climate positive. Circular. Resilient. Healthy. Not just less bad. Genuinely good.

Here we have documented our current thinking, efforts and aspirations for our built work. This is our commitment. A call to our clients, collaborators and community to not look back, and to charge forward. To build a better future by tackling the significant climate impacts of our industry, and enabling the community they serve to live sustainably.

Current and projected impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss are truly startling. Yet it is the context for every site and underlying brief and therefore requiring direct response.

Some data to motivate response:

Our regional climate has warmed on average by around 1.4C since 1910, leading to an increase in the frequency, duration and intensity of heatwaves in most parts of Australia. (Source)

A rise of 1.5C is generally seen as the most that humanity could cope with without suffering widespread economic and social upheaval. (Source)

If emissions continue unabated, floods could cost the Australian economy $40 billion per year by 2060. (Source)

Since 1890, heatwaves have killed more Australians than bushfires, cyclones, earthquakes, floods and severe storms combined. (Source)

Currently Melbourne experiences 9 very hot days (where temperatures exceed 35 degrees) on average each year. Climate models suggest this number will increase by up to 26 days on average by 2070. (Source)

We are change agents using the integrity of our brand and built works to advocate for people and the planet.

Breathe is a Melbourne-based studio, creating world-class architecture with an enduring and meaningful impact on housing affordability, accessibility and stainability.

In 2022, Breathe achieved B Corp certification for our purpose-driven approach to governance, our people, community, environment and customers. We became a B Corp because we believe that sustainable business is better business, and that we can use our business as a force for good. It is a global and independently verified benchmark that requires continual maintenance and improvement.

Breathe has been carbon neutral since 2018. As a founding signatory to Architects Declare, we helped lead the campaign to have Australian architects commit to carbon neutrality by 2030.

Our office is powered by 100% renewable energy, and operates in a building with a photovoltaic array and energy storage. We purchase carbon credits to offset our business’ carbon footprint and that of our projects. We offset travel and avoid it entirely when we can, partnering with local practices for site involvement if we’re not proximate to site.

Breathe targets zero waste, and offers composting and recycling facilities. All catering is vegan and cruelty-free.

Reinforced by our dedicated Director of Sustainability, innovation team and advocacy position, we are invested in making every project evolve and improve on the last.

We balance every decision against its environmental, social and financial impacts.

More with less

At every turn we strive to do more with less. Reducing cost and carbon by questioning anything inessential to the construction of our comfortable, healthy and uplifting spaces.

Our buildings provide generosity and material luxury as co-benefits of exceptional functionality, rather than ornament.

Resources are precious. Size does matter.

We make smarter, more resilient buildings by adopting climate appropriate passive design strategies, demand management and efficient systems design. By proactively optimising building performance we can reduce operational carbon in parallel with increased adaptive thermal comfort.

Perfectly imperfect

We are after progress not perfection. We see beauty in strategic refinement and choose to focus our efforts where they count most.

Our projects are comprised of materials that are ethically sourced, non-toxic, wear well and patina with age. We prioritise renewable, reusable, recyclable, repurposeable and biodegradable materials, and share our research in our evolving Sustainable Houses and Sustainable Materials guides. Offering a filter of scrutiny for every scheduled material, we seek to promote supply chain decarbonisation, high internal environment quality and improved wellbeing.

Connected to nature

We work to bring life to the city, to crack the pavement, to let nature back in. To embrace the organic, chaotic joy of thriving communities — not to curate a sanitised, sterile version of it.

However imperfect, the greatest weight will be given to the lowest carbon outcome.

Our mission is to accelerate change for a regenerative, fair Australia. To lead industry response to the climate and biodiversity emergency.

From 2022, we will be explicit in our focus. As standard, all Breathe projects will now:

Contact

Bonnie Herring
Director of Sustainability
bonnie@breathe.com.au