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Sustainable development

We’re developing new materials, new practices and new policies that will reduce our planetary footprint, while improving quality of life for all.

Our research is helping address the UN’s global sustainable development goals and solve challenges posed by climate change, resource depletion and other issues, to create a net-zero emissions and zero-waste future.

This research integrates a variety of ecological, economic, social and cultural perspectives. It is primarily led by experts from the Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute (CUSP), with the support of the Sustainable Built Environment National Research Centre.

A new range of novel building materials will help shape the next generation of homes and roads, such as hybrid ‘green’ composites and biocement. And with many homes in Australia designed for just a 30-year life span, we’re exploring the concept of modular living, where different types of building materials are reduced, reused and recycled instead of going to landfill.