Six countries, six concepts
19.11.2009 — Online-Redaktion Verlag Dashöfer. Quelle: ArchVision, Inc..
As sustainable construction is gaining importance, the choice of building materials is becoming more and more dependent on their sustainability. But most manufacturers try to label their own products as “sustainable”. So, only those products are preferably chosen that are regarded the most sustainable by the persons who decide to use them - like architects, for example. An international study launched by Arch-Vision among architects shows which material types are regarded as sustainable products in six countries. The result reveals remarkable differences between national concepts of “sustainability”: For example, certified hardwood is seen as a
sustainable product in Germany, France and the UK, but not at all in the Netherlands and Spain.
In the study carried out by Arch-Vision in telephonic interviews, architects were asked whether they thought certain materials were sustainable or not. Both for the sustainable, as well as for the unsustainable materials, there are no material types upon which the majority of architects agree. To name the most remarkable differences from country to country: the vast majority of the British (75 per cent) and Italian architects (88 per cent) believe that softwood is a sustainable product, which is a much higher share than in all other countries.
On the other hand, unlike their UK and Spanish colleagues, the majority of the German, French, Italian and Dutch architects feel that natural stone is a sustainable product. Certified hardwood is regarded as sustainable by all architects except by those from the Netherlands and Spain. Nearly three quarters of the Dutch architects think that carpet and paint are unsustainable, these shares being significantly higher than in the other countries.
As illustrated by these results, it can vary from country to country which product is regarded as sustainable by an architect. This may have a number of reasons: First, different definitions of the term “sustainability” are possible: Is a product regarded as sustainable already if it consists of recyclable material, or does it have to be made of renewable resources? Or, can a product be called “sustainable” only if it helps reducing the building’s energy consumption? The focus differs from country to country.
Furthermore, the communication factor can also be an important influence: If suppliers shout loudly enough that their material helps changing the world for the better, people will start believing them. Especially as for architects, it is just impossible to overlook all the aspects of sustainability across the complete life cycle for every single product used in a building. So, the study also sheds some light on the question which aspects are considered important by architects when judging the sustainability of materials, as well as showing which materials have the loudest “lobbies” in each country.
The table below presents the top 3 of the most sustainable and unsustainable products per country. In all countries, except for the Netherlands, certified hard wood is part of the top 3. Natural stone is part of the top 3 in the Netherlands, Italy and France. Finally, plastic is in the top 3 of unsustainable materials in all countries, except for Germany where almost one out of two architects considers plastic products sustainable.
Haben Sie Fragen oder Anregungen zu diesem Artikel oder zu unserem Newsletter?
Wenn Sie möchten, können Sie hier Ihre Meinung, Anmerkungen, Fragen oder Kritik hinterlassen.
In the study carried out by Arch-Vision in telephonic interviews, architects were asked whether they thought certain materials were sustainable or not. Both for the sustainable, as well as for the unsustainable materials, there are no material types upon which the majority of architects agree. To name the most remarkable differences from country to country: the vast majority of the British (75 per cent) and Italian architects (88 per cent) believe that softwood is a sustainable product, which is a much higher share than in all other countries.
On the other hand, unlike their UK and Spanish colleagues, the majority of the German, French, Italian and Dutch architects feel that natural stone is a sustainable product. Certified hardwood is regarded as sustainable by all architects except by those from the Netherlands and Spain. Nearly three quarters of the Dutch architects think that carpet and paint are unsustainable, these shares being significantly higher than in the other countries.
As illustrated by these results, it can vary from country to country which product is regarded as sustainable by an architect. This may have a number of reasons: First, different definitions of the term “sustainability” are possible: Is a product regarded as sustainable already if it consists of recyclable material, or does it have to be made of renewable resources? Or, can a product be called “sustainable” only if it helps reducing the building’s energy consumption? The focus differs from country to country.
Furthermore, the communication factor can also be an important influence: If suppliers shout loudly enough that their material helps changing the world for the better, people will start believing them. Especially as for architects, it is just impossible to overlook all the aspects of sustainability across the complete life cycle for every single product used in a building. So, the study also sheds some light on the question which aspects are considered important by architects when judging the sustainability of materials, as well as showing which materials have the loudest “lobbies” in each country.
The table below presents the top 3 of the most sustainable and unsustainable products per country. In all countries, except for the Netherlands, certified hard wood is part of the top 3. Natural stone is part of the top 3 in the Netherlands, Italy and France. Finally, plastic is in the top 3 of unsustainable materials in all countries, except for Germany where almost one out of two architects considers plastic products sustainable.
Haben Sie Fragen oder Anregungen zu diesem Artikel oder zu unserem Newsletter?
Wenn Sie möchten, können Sie hier Ihre Meinung, Anmerkungen, Fragen oder Kritik hinterlassen.
X
