SETTING THE STAGE

As we conclude a successful financial year, Cachet Group is eagerly embracing the exciting opportunities that lie ahead. Our journey over the past year has been marked by significant achievements, and we are poised to build on this momentum as we step into the coming year.?

One of our standout accomplishments this year has been our progress in sustainability. In partnership with a long-standing client, Cachet had successfully diverted?99% of construction waste from landfills. This milestone demonstrates our commitment to environmental responsibility and sets a new benchmark in the industry. We are eager to continue applying our learnings to more sites, already committing to 2x additional zero-waste sites since.?We’re proud to share our efforts feature in news & media across New Zealand,?highlighting our ongoing efforts and achievements.?

Supporting our team is a top priority, and we're excited to share our recent partnership with MATES in Construction NZ . This organisation is dedicated to promoting mental health and well-being in the construction industry. As a proud partner to MIC, we're?looking forward to continuing our efforts to promote positive mental health and foster a culture of compassion across all our construction sites.?

Innovation and growth are at the core of Cachet Group. Our team is growing, and we’re thrilled to welcome many new experts to our ranks. These talented individuals bring a wealth of experience and fresh perspectives, enabling us to continue delivering personalised spaces and transforming existing ones. Their addition to our team enhances our capabilities and reinforces our commitment to providing top-tier solutions to our clients.?

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our valued clients. Your trust and support have been crucial to our success. We look forward to continuing our cherished partnerships and forming new ones in the coming year.

As we surpass?our 10-year mark, we’re excited to gear up for?the next chapter in our journey. This milestone is not just a celebration of our past achievements but a launchpad for future innovations and successes. Watch this Space.?

Until then, take care.?

Mark Turek | Cachet Group

Project Spotlight | A Stitch Above the Rest

As a global leader in jeans and one of the world's largest brand-name apparel companies, 利维·斯特劳斯公司 partnered with Cachet to revitalize their new headquarters at Eleven Eastern, Melbourne. Building on our successful collaboration on their previous office, our team delved deep into Levi's brand essence to create a space that not only supports but enhances their dynamic team and innovative work culture.?

This new workspace sports an organic layout that supports dedicated focus rooms, wellness rooms, and versatile collaboration areas defined by curtains, embodying a hybrid and modern work environment.

Inspired by serenity, elegance, and tactile appeal, the design reflects Levi's timeless yet contemporary identity. Their iconic brand?colours, reminiscent of their renowned "blue jeans," are woven throughout the office alongside dynamic brand graphics, highlighting Levi's rich history, style and cultural heritage, showcasing their journey as a brand.

Check out the full project here.

Tell us a little bit about yourself, your current and past research, The Environmental Innovation Centre, and your role there.I am the Founding Director of the Environmental Innovation Centre (EIC), a private research institute investigating practical solutions to sustainability challenges. I am also a part-time Associate Professor in the School of Future Environments at Auckland University of Technology. Before that, I was a Professor of Environmental Engineering and Director of the Environmental Solutions Research Centre at Unitec Institute of Technology leading research projects in construction waste minimisation, asbestos risk management and indoor air quality. With my team at EIC, I explore solutions for sustainability issues and help companies implement achievable solutions to solve them. This includes assessing waste production on construction sites and consulting on product stewardship schemes and waste separation and recycling methods. To achieve that we work with manufacturers, construction companies, waste management providers and recyclers.??

Given your role and background, what emerging trends or technologies do you see shaping sustainable practices in construction over the next five years??Product stewardship schemes will be of increasing importance. Instead of commingling waste and then struggling to extract recyclable components, product stewardship schemes ensure that waste goes back to the manufacturer where they can be reused or recycled in a prescribed way. Using information technology for traceability and reverse logistics to reduce transport emissions will greatly aid these schemes.

In this sector, what have you noticed as some of the most impactful and harmful practices that must be addressed???The historic use of harmful substances such as asbestos and lead paints is throwing a long shadow. Many buildings today still contain dangerous materials and if renovations are done without the correct knowledge in place (e.g.?by DIYers) the consequences can be devastating. As Chair of the Mesothelioma Support and Asbestos Awareness Trust, I am often confronted with people suffering from cancer as a result and wish that more people were aware of the risks and sought professional help when working on older buildings. Sustainable practices for demolition waste are not without risks and awareness needs to be improved.

Collaboration often plays a crucial role in advancing environmental goals in large organisations and projects. Can you highlight any successful partnerships or collaborations that have significantly contributed to achieving sustainability objectives in recent projects??Initially funded by SARNZ (Scaffolding, Access and Rigging New Zealand) we worked on recycling options for building shrinkwrap which was taken up by Shrinkwrap Supplies. They partnered with Mainfreight as their logistics partner to establish a reverse logistics system to bring used shrinkwrap back to them to have it recycled and turned into other construction products. The project has been featured in Registered Master Builders magazine Building Today (https://buildingtoday.co.nz/2024/04/23/what-to-do-about-your-plastic-construction-waste-shrinking-the-shrink-wrap-problem/)

What are some effective methods and areas of improvement that leaders in the industry can improve on, in the short term? Get reliable information about the resources you use and the waste you produce on a fine-grained level (which we call "waste Characterisation"). Many decision-makers don't know where their waste exactly comes from and without these details, it is impossible to come up with tailored solutions.

Looking ahead, what is your vision for the future of sustainable design and construction?I believe that closing the loop and connecting manufacturers, construction companies, waste management companies and recyclers is crucial for building a truly circular economy. Getting to zero waste in a specific project will always be challenging but on an industry ecosystem scale, especially if we use more renewable materials, we can come closer and closer to this ideal.?

In case you missed it | Striking Silver!

Cachet is proud to receive SILVER?at the 2024 DRIVENXDESIGN Melbourne Design Awards for our recent work with MMG.?

MMG's dedication to “mining for progress” inspired a workplace design that resonates with their industry and core values. Immersed in natural earth tones and minerals, Cachet worked closely with the team to create a truly personalized space that authentically feels like an extension of the brand itself.

We are honoured to receive this prestigious award, which celebrates?creativity and boldness in design on a global scale.

Read the project story here.

Thank you for tuning into this issue of The Cachet Collective. We hope you enjoyed reading, and continue to connect with us for future issues.

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