Chemistry Australia has today announced the formation of the Australian Modern Building Alliance, or AMBA, to promote the benefits of polymers in the Australian construction industry.

AMBA aims to engage with construction industry stakeholders and regulators to increase awareness of polymers as a safe and sustainable solution to improve the energy efficiency of Australia’s built environment, which will be critical in Australia’s transition to a low-carbon economy.

Polymer-based materials are increasingly used in building and construction to make our buildings more sustainable and energy efficient.  They are diverse and have numerous applications, including window frames and piping, flooring, and state-of-the art insulation that protects from cold and heat. 

Australian Modern Building Alliance (AMBA) Chair, Craig Lovel said constructing and renovating buildings with sustainability and energy efficiency in mind is vital, particularly at a time when Australia’s energy costs and demands are increasing.

“In Australia, our buildings account for 19 per cent of the total energy used and 18 per cent of our total direct GHG emissions,” he said.

“AMBA will shine a light on polymer-based construction products’ ability to reduce the carbon footprint and environmental impact of our buildings.

“This allows us to deliver safe, sustainable and energy efficient modern buildings as a key part of Australia’s transition to a low-carbon economy.”

AMBA will officially mark its formation with participation in the 2019 Energy Efficiency Expo at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 October.  As part of its Expo presence, AMBA has invited global polyurethane industry expert Dr David Evans to present at the All-Energy Conference on methods to improve the efficiency of Australia’s buildings with polyurethane-based materials.  Dr Evans will deliver his presentation at 4pm on 23 October.  More information is available here.

AMBA has also launched a new website to inform stakeholders about the safe and sustainable use of polymers in Australia.  The website will host technical materials on a range of subjects such as polyurethanes in building insulation alongside news and views from the industry. The website URL is australianmodernbuildingalliance.org.au.