As the national event series officially concludes, Safetyline Jalousie reflects on the power of transparency, collaboration, and progress across the built environment.
After travelling across Australia throughout 2025, the Product Aware National Symposium has now reached its final destination in Perth, marking the completion of a landmark CPD-accredited event series that united architects, designers, manufacturers, and advocates around a shared goal — building a more transparent and accountable industry.
The built environment contributes nearly 40 per cent of global carbon emissions, and as expectations for sustainability and disclosure grow, so too does the need for accessible, comparable information. Developed by a consortium of architectural practices and industry professionals, Product Aware was created to simplify that process — turning complex sustainability data into actionable insight.
At its core, Product Aware translates supplier information into five key pillars — human health, climate and ecosystem, circular economy, waste minimisation, and social responsibility. The platform allows specifiers and suppliers to work from a consistent framework, supporting better decision-making and encouraging transparency throughout the supply chain.
According to Adrian Taylor, Regenerative Practice Coordinator at BVN and member of the Materials Working Group of Australian Architects Declare, the initiative has already begun reshaping how the industry engages with sustainability.
“Product Aware starts conversations across the industry,” says Taylor. “One of our most powerful tools is the question — especially those we are all asking. Sometimes ‘I don’t know’ is a valid, if not preferred, answer. That’s where we know where to start.”
For Safetyline Jalousie, supporting the Product Aware Symposium aligns with a long-standing belief that true progress comes from openness and collaboration across all corners of the built environment, from architects to suppliers and manufacturers.
“At Safetyline Jalousie, we’ve always been open about our testing data, certifications, and where we are on our sustainability journey,” says Leigh Rust, Director of Safetyline Jalousie and founder of Suppliers Declare. “It’s about honesty and progress — acknowledging what we’ve achieved and where there’s still more to do. Product Aware encourages that same transparency right across the industry.”
In 2025, Safetyline Jalousie achieved another milestone with its Declare Label certification, joining a growing network of manufacturers making material health and environmental data publicly available. This builds on its continued use of Hydro REDUXA low-carbon aluminium and Hydro CIRCAL recycled aluminium, which carry among the lowest CO₂ footprints in the Australian market.
“Our commitment to performance and transparency go hand in hand,” Rust continues. “We’ve built our reputation on delivering systems that meet the highest standards for strength, acoustics, and durability, while being transparent about how we achieve that. Sustainability isn’t a box to tick — it’s a journey of learning, improvement and accountability.”
Through the Product Aware Symposium, Safetyline Jalousie has also been engaging directly with other suppliers and manufacturers, helping to open dialogue and foster cross-industry connections.
“What’s been inspiring is seeing how many different voices are now part of this conversation,” Rust says. “It’s not just architects — it’s suppliers, builders and designers coming together to share insights and challenges. When that happens, everyone benefits.”
Now that the national symposium series has wrapped up in Perth, it’s clear that the appetite for accountability is growing. More than 1,200 architectural practices have signed the Architects Declare Charter, and a growing number of suppliers are pledging their own commitments through Suppliers Declare and Product Aware.
“Every product choice has an impact,” Rust adds. “The more openly we share data and collaborate across the supply chain, the better positioned we are to build a genuinely sustainable future.”
Through initiatives like Product Aware and Suppliers Declare, Safetyline Jalousie continues to demonstrate that transparency, performance and sustainability are not competing priorities — they are shared values defining the next chapter of Australia’s built environment.
