Company name:
Arhaus

Website:
www.arhaus.co.nz

Address:
89A Ponsonby Road, PO Box 147301, Ponsonby, Auckland

Phone:
09 376 9997

Chief contact:
Nat Holloway

1. Give a brief description of your company size, history, the scope of its work and the market it is trying to reach.  Include any other information you would like shared about your company.

Arhaus is a young design and build company specialising in healthy, energy and water-efficient homes. Arhaus’ market is people who aspire to a superior performing home for energy consumption, interior comfort and low toxicity. The houses are all designed by architects who are recognised leaders in the field of passive solar design, and sustainability is core to their practice.

Arhaus takes pride in its sustainability. When specifying materials, Arhaus carefully chooses the more sustainable options.

2. What piqued your interest in the BRANZ Sustainable Foundations Programme?

Sustainability is what we are about. We would love every builder in
New Zealand to follow sustainable practices as the norm. We want to show that it can be done, it is relatively easy and that the benefits are real.

3. What is your current understanding of sustainable business practices?

Treading lightly. Being smart with choices and consumption, minimising energy use, particularly transport, and minimising waste through recycling and smart procurement.

4. In terms of your business practices, what areas do you anticipate could be run more sustainably?

Reduce paper consumption in the office, reduce car travel, better waste separation on-site, better awareness training of builders and sub-contractors.

5. List some benefits you hope to achieve through participating as a case study company.

Highlighting the areas of my company that are the least sustainable, and helping to find ways to make sustainability habitual and fun.

6. What value does management see in running a sustainable business?

Cost savings, market differentiator, leadership, encouraging involvement and ideas from employees.

7. How do you think your clients/customers will perceive your efforts?

As genuine moves to do things better.

8. Describe your perception of the construction/building industry.  What are the strengths of the industry and what challenges does it face?

The strengths are the monopolies that are out there, such as Hardies, or Fletchers. If they can be the leaders of sustainability, all will follow. The challenges are changing the mindset of the nation from bargain hunters to conscientious buyers.

9. How do you envision sustainable business practices improving the construction/building industry?

Generally raising awareness of sustainability in the industry and for the consumers. Waste is a primary concern that could easily be addressed.

10. Is there any other information you would like to share or comments you would like to make at this time?

Sustainable is a very difficult word to define. Rather than define it we should accept it as an approach to doing anything – whether it is turning the tap off while brushing your teeth, walking to the post box or recycling all steel waste on a building site. Most people understand what is good and bad, most people understand what is sustainable and what’s not.