A new, revised standard for Adhesives, Fillers and Sealants from Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA) is now out for public comment.

GECA chose to update its adhesives standard late last year, reflecting increased demand from manufacturers to demonstrate the environmental credentials of their products. The new standard has updated criteria and now recognises joint sealants and fillers, with a stronger focus on industrial and commercial adhesives.

Following the public comment period, the finalised standard will be submitted to the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA). Once approved, products certified under it can contribute to achieving points under the relevant GBCA’s Green Star tools.

GECA welcomes comments from the public and industry professionals until 31 August. A draft copy of the standard is available here.

Please submit comments and feedback to standards@geca.org.au. Read more.

With the release of the new GECA Textiles and Leather standard, as well as heightened consumer awareness surrounding where our clothing comes from, it makes sense that more people want to know how they can buy more ethical fashion.

GECA’s new textiles standard has only just been released, so it will take some time for manufacturers to get products certified under it. This means that currently you won’t be able to find any certified clothing in stores. However, it would be great to see clothing companies get GECA certification.

Consumers need to show clothing manufacturers and stockists that there is a significant demand for certified sustainable clothing and textile products. If there’s a clear demand for certification, this will help encourage clothing brands to look for a way to demonstrate that their clothing is environmentally preferable, socially responsible and safer for human health – such as by displaying the GECA logo.

GECA encourages consumers to write to their favourite brands, telling them that this is an issue which matters and asking them to get their clothing products certified with GECA. To make this easier for you we have drafted a letter here. Read more.

We are pleased to welcome our newest licensee, ecolour, manufacturer of premium quality paint. It is the first licensee to have its products certified under GECA's new Paints and Coatings standard, after passing its audit with DLCS International.

ecolour paints contain no volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can be harmful to human health, and have been certified by The Carbon Reduction Institute as being carbon neutral. Its paints are water-based, can be tinted to any colour, and are suitable for a range of interior and exterior applications. The paints also make use of recycled and refined waste engine oil, which acts as a preservative to maintain durability and smooth application. Read more.

GECA is pleased to have worked with the Banksia Foundation to help create a new award category to recognise product sustainability as part of its awards for 2014.

The Product Sustainability through Design, Manufacture and Use Award recognises outstanding achievement in improving sustainability through the design, manufacture and commercial application of a product(s). It includes new products as well as improvements in process or design that improve the sustainability of existing products.

The Banksia Sustainability Awards is an annual sustainability awards program in Australia that recognises and rewards excellence in environmental initiative and developments. They take a broad focus of sustainability, not only in terms of environmental achievements but also achievements at a social and economic level.

See the 2014 Banksia Awards categories, deadlines and criteria and register online here. There are also sponsorship opportunities remaining. Read more.

Regupol (Australia) has been supplying sustainable flooring solutions in the region for over 25 years. The company produces flooring products recycled from rubber waste, such as old shredded tyres, cork or foam. These are processed and developed into a range of flooring materials, which are popular in gyms, office interiors, swimming pools, or as a layer of soundproofing under tiles or granite.

Regupol has products certified under GECA's Floor Coverings standard, which means its Everroll range, rubber granite flooring and selected soundproofing underlay products are all environmentally-preferable choices. Read more.

Access Office Industries has added a range of brand new items to its catalogue of GECA certified products, bringing its number of licensed products up to 16.

Seven new products passed their audits with DLCS International and are officially GECA approved, offering durable storage solutions for a variety of purposes and settings.

All meet the criteria set out in GECA's Furniture, Fittings and Foam standard, making them great environmentally-preferable options for offices, schools and other interior environments.

Below is a selection of some of its new products, or you can browse the full list of GECA certified products from Access Office Industries.

Over the past month, we've been featured in Tile Today magazine, Sourceable, The Fifth Estate, The Natural Artisan, Property Republic, and The Switch Report. We also achieved widespread coverage about our new textiles standard, including radio interviews where our CEO Rupert Posner spoke to ABC Radio Brisbane and Newcastle.