The Sustainable Materials Programme at the Centre for Design, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) has one of the best programmes of practical research and development you can find. They developed the Ecospecifier service over several years.

I remember the hospitality of RMIT staff and students when I made a research trip to Australia back in 2003, where I met a bunch of designers just starting to develop their thinking on sustainability at the time, coached by Kjell Grant.

This excellent online resource by the Sustainable Materials Programme is worth a look if you are interested in specifying sustainable materials (click on the logo)…

Here’s what the RMIT has to say about the initiative…

History of Ecospecifier

Ecospecifier is an award-winning database of eco-preferable products and materials, developed by the Centre for Design in 2000. It aims to be a reliable and informative source for environmentally preferable building products and materials, intended for building professionals and keen homeowners.

Originally in paper form, Ecospecifier took on a new life as a web-based tool in 2003 when the Centre for Design partnered with Natural Integrated Living.

In 2004, Ecospecifier won both an HIA Greensmart Award and was a Banksia Award Finalist.

By mid 2005, Ecospecifier had become the tool of choice recommended by many organisations including the Green Building Council of Australia, forging close ties with the Australian Ecolabelling Association in support of ongoing transparency and certainty in the identification of eco-preferable products in Australia.

The Centre for Design completed its partnership with NIL, and concluded its role in the development of ecospecifier in 2005.