Description
The webinar will explore the critical role of sustainable materials in shaping the built environment. It will highlight how material transparency and health are becoming essential for reducing carbon footprints, increasing circularity and enhancing occupant well-being, supported by real-world case studies that demonstrate their transformative impact on building performance.
A key focus will be the alignment between sustainable building practices and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals, especially as driven by legislation. The discussion will cover how leaders in the luxury retail, banking and hospitality sectors are raising their ESG performance by including sustainable materials, with insights into metrics and benchmarks that help evaluate their impact. Participants will learn how adopting these materials can satisfy both regulatory and investor expectations.
The webinar will also dive into the role of technology in advancing material sustainability. It will showcase innovations in tracking and verifying material health and environmental performance, with examples from GIGA’s tools and the RESET Standard, which enable real-time data to inform better decision-making in construction and operations.
The conversation will expand to address urban challenges such as air quality, resource efficiency, and climate adaptation, emphasizing how sustainable materials contribute to healthier cities and resilient infrastructure. Examples of practical applications and emerging trends will provide actionable insights.
Looking ahead, the session will share a forward-thinking vision for sustainable materials - as being implemented by industry leaders - offering strategies for integrating them into construction and urban development. Collaboration across industries will be emphasized as a key factor in driving systemic change in material sourcing and usage.
Register and watch webinar here
Speakers
Raefer Wallis, Founder of GIGA and the RESET Standard
Raefer Wallis is a visionary architect, sustainability expert, and the founder of GIGA, an organization dedicated to creating healthier, smarter, and more sustainable built environments. With a background in science and decades of experience in green building, Raefer has pioneered innovative solutions for transparency in material health and environmental performance.
Under his leadership, GIGA launched programs and tools such as the RESET Standard, a globally recognized certification that focuses on building performance data, bridging the gap between science, health and environmental sustainability. Raefer is a passionate advocate for integrating technology, data, and design to ensure the built environment evolves toward ecological, social and economic regeneration.
As a sought-after speaker and thought leader featured on TED, Forbes, NYT, WSJ and countless other publications, Raefer inspires professionals across industries to rethink the relationship between people, buildings and the environment.
Guy Eames, VP Growth at earthbot.io
Guy Eames MSc. BA. is a Sustainability Protagonist and Social Entrepreneur with over 20 years of international business development experience in Multinationals, Start-ups, Industry Associations. Guy believes in delivering change through developing business tools, online training and launching new cutting-edge technologies in emerging markets. Lived and worked in 6 countries.. He has a Master degree in Climate Change and Sustainable Development from Demontfort University, Leicester and a BA in European Business from Reutlingen University (Germany) and Middlesex University. Guy has played various roles in establishing Green Building Councils in 5 countries and has been engaged as a sustainability expert in many large scale projects. He was co-author of the reports to the International Olympic Committee for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. More recent projects include advising the BRE to adapt BREEAM for implementation in non English speaking countries and creating instruments to expand sustainable construction techniques between the BRICS countries. Guy is one of the founders of earthbot.io.
