Advancing Sustainable Building Materials
Photography: Durra Panel, AW Nicholson, Luna Park Sydney Pty Ltd
K5 speak to Ainslee Haslemore, General Manager at Durra Panel and discuss how they are making an impact with their entry into The Influencer category at the 2024 INDE.Awards.
"Durra Panel transforms the built environment from having a minimal negative impact to a maximum positive carbon impact," says Ainslee Haslemore. This innovative product, engineered from reclaimed straw, is not only 100% biodegradable but also 99.9% free from volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Located in Bendigo, Victoria, Durra Panel strategically sources straw within a 100km radius of its manufacturing facility, fostering generational partnerships with local farmers. By purchasing waste straw, Durra Panel provides farmers with a secondary source of income and helps reduce agricultural waste. This sustainable approach highlights the company's commitment to environmental responsibility. "We create spaces that embody a natural feeling while providing healthy living and working environments," Haslemore notes.
Durra Panel has been in production for 70 years, continuously refining its manufacturing process. Today, it uses a dry extrusion method that requires no water or gas, relying solely on heat and pressure. This technique releases a natural element within the straw, allowing the panel core to self-bind without the need for resins or binding agents. The result is a versatile product with significant thermal, acoustic, and fire resistance benefits. Durra Panel is used in a variety of projects, including theatres, residential homes, sound stages, industrial facilities, ice rinks, sports centres, and schools.
"The built environment contributes 40% of the world's waste, and the burning of straw stubble after harvest creates environmental and health hazards globally," Haslemore explains. Durra Panel addresses these issues by using straw stubble, a waste by-product of harvesting grain, to create a building material that mimics the natural carbon cycle. This innovation helps reduce waste, preserve natural resources, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. "Durra Panel provides the design world with the opportunity to implement systematic change," Haslemore states. Each square metre of Durra Panel captures 8.5kg of carbon, making it a carbon-negative product that challenges conventional construction materials.
Durra Panel's commitment to sustainability extends beyond its product. The company values transparency and invites professionals to tour its manufacturing facility and participate in educational sessions. "We hope to show that sustainably conscious building is possible," says Haslemore. By presenting the full picture of their manufacturing process, Durra Panel aims to combat greenwashing and demonstrate the viability of truly sustainable building materials.
Collaboration is key to Durra Panel's success. The company works closely with environmentally conscious architects, acoustic engineers, building designers, and homeowners to create sustainable, carbon-storing buildings. This collaborative approach ensures that each project benefits both humans and the environment.
The company's marketing strategy heavily focuses on sustainability, not just of the product but of the entire building industry. Durra Panel aims to make sustainable materials top of mind for architects, builders, and homeowners. "Sustainability has always been integral to the success of Durra Panel, and we continue to innovate and educate to drive the overall sustainability of the construction industry," Haslemore adds.
K5 is the proud sponsor of the INDE Influencer category in the 2024 programme. The shortlisted projects, such as Govetts Leap Bach, embody our company ethos; create only when necessary and always consider the impacts on the future. Congratulations Anderson Architecture.