A 2026 Guide for ESG Managers Leading the Next Era of Responsible Workplaces
For years, construction has been one of Australia’s most waste-intensive industries, contributing more than 27 million tonnes of waste annually. Yet in 2026, ESG managers are being asked to do more than simply offset environmental impact. They’re being asked to prove measurable reduction, circularity, and responsible resource use across their organisation.
The good news?
A sustainable fitout, delivered with the right methodology, can eliminate up to 70% of stripout and construction waste before it ever enters landfill.
This guide breaks down how that’s possible, what ESG managers should demand from their fitout partner, and why Agero’s Sustainable Stripout program is changing the industry standard.
The Problem: Traditional Fitouts Create Massive Hidden Waste
Despite sustainability commitments, most office fitouts still follow a linear, “rip-and-dump” model:
- Stripout everything (workstations, kitchens, carpet, ceilings, partitions)
- Demolish what can’t be reused
- Dump everything in skip bins
- Rebuild the new fitout from scratch
The problem?
Up to 70% of that material is still usable, repairable, recyclable or highly valuable to community organisations.
Traditional builders treat stripout as a cost centre.
Agero treats it as an opportunity to eliminate waste, reduce carbon, and generate community impact.
Where Waste Comes From in a Typical Office Fitout
ESG managers need visibility — so here’s the breakdown.
The top contributors to fitout waste:
- Furniture and workstations
- Carpets and flooring
- Lighting and ceiling systems
- Doors, glass partitions, hardware
- Joinery (kitchens, storage, cabinetry)
- Electrical components
- Loose items and soft furnishings
In a standard 1,000sqm fitout, this represents 18–30 tonnes of waste, most of which historically goes directly to landfill.
But in a sustainable fitout, each of these categories can be diverted, reused or reallocated, drastically cutting carbon footprint and cost.
How Agero Eliminates 70% of Fitout Waste
Agero’s approach is intentionally different: designed, measured, and integrated from the earliest stage of the project.
This is made possible through Sustainable Stripout, a circular-economy initiative that aligns environmental outcomes with genuine community benefit.
Here’s how the waste reduction is achieved:
1. Inventory & Audit (Before Stripout Begins)
Most builders don’t do this stage at all, they quote demolition and move on.
Agero does the opposite.
We audit every material, component, fixture and asset in the space to determine:
- Reusable items
- Items that can be repaired or repurposed
- Items suitable for donation
- High-value items that can be sold
- Material streams that can be recycled
- True waste (smallest category)
This forms the sustainability baseline and helps pricing accuracy, a core part of Agero’s design-led methodology.
2. Deconstruction, Not Demolition
Traditional stripout is fast but wasteful.
Agero’s stripout teams are trained in careful disassembly, selective removal and material separation, preserving reusable components rather than destroying them.
This reduces landfill and increases successful reuse by 2-3x.
Common recoverables:
- Workstations
- Doors & partitions
- Lighting fixtures
- Loose furniture
- Appliances
- Joinery
- Flooring
- Server racks and hardware
- Mechanical components (when appropriate)
3. Reuse Pathways (Internal & External)
Once materials are recovered, we allocate them to specific reuse streams:
▪ Reuse within the client’s new fitout
Reduces material cost and carbon footprint.
▪ Reuse within the building
Landlords use retained items for future spec suites, amenities or back-of-house spaces.
▪ Reuse with partner organisations
Agero maintains a network of “circular partners” across community, not-for-profit and educational groups.
▪ Resale for community impact
Items with resale value are sold, with proceeds contributing to youth-centre initiatives and community programs.
4. Recycling Streams
Materials unable to be reused are separated:
- Metals
- Plastics
- Timber
- Plasterboard
- Glass
- E-waste
These are directed to certified recyclers rather than general waste facilities.
5. Carbon & Waste Reporting for ESG Compliance
Every sustainable fitout with Agero includes:
- Waste diversion reporting
- Tonnes of landfill avoided
- Carbon reduction equivalent
- Itemised materials list
- Donation/resale impact report
- Alignment with Green Star requirements
- Audit trail for ESG and CSR reporting
This allows ESG managers to quantify and communicate the impact, and demonstrate progress against organisational targets.
Sustainable Fitouts Reduce More Than Waste, They Reduce Cost
One of the biggest misconceptions is that “sustainable = more expensive.”
In reality, sustainable fitouts often cost less overall, because they reduce:
1. New Material Spend
Reusing lighting, joinery, partitions or furniture reduces procurement costs.
2. Landfill Fees
Landfill disposal is one of the largest stripout expenses, reducing waste reduces cost.
3. Transport & Logistics Costs
Less to dump = fewer skips, fewer trips, fewer charges.
4. Program Delays
Deconstruction is structured and planned, not chaotic.
This allows faster commencement of construction.
5. ESG Penalties & Compliance Risks
Many organisations now face internal ESG procurement requirements.
A sustainable fitout ensures full compliance from day one.
What ESG Managers Must Demand in 2026
If a fitout partner can’t provide the following, the project risks falling short of sustainability requirements.
1. A documented circularity plan
Ask for:
- A written waste-reduction methodology
- Deconstruction vs demolition strategy
- Material reuse pathways
- Recycling approach
2. Measurable waste and carbon reporting
Minimum requirements:
- Tonnes diverted
- Carbon equivalent
- Landfill percentage
- Donation/resale impact
3. Real-world evidence
Look for:
- Previous sustainable stripouts
- Case studies
- Results, not promises
4. Integrated design + construction
Sustainability is lost when design and construction are separated.
Agero’s integrated D+C model eliminates the handover gap and ensures sustainable decisions are embedded, not optional.
5. A sustainability-aligned partner
Look for partners with values aligned to environmental and social impact.
Agero’s commitment to youth centres, community outcomes, and waste minimisation is a core part of our identity, not a marketing line.
Real Agero Projects: Sustainability in Action
Below are examples where Agero delivered significant sustainability outcomes through thoughtful design, careful deconstruction, and strategic reuse.
Hanwha Defence Australia – 1,200sqm
Key Outcomes:
- Careful deconstruction in a restricted security environment
- Reuse of joinery and partitions
- Reduced new material procurement
- Cultural uplift alongside sustainable execution
60 Brougham Street, Geelong
Key Outcomes:
- Delivered during COVID with complex site constraints
- Major material reuse across mezzanine and office build
- Sustainable Stripout contributed to community initiatives
Why Sustainable Fitouts Will Become Standard by 2030
ESG managers are driving the shift, but regulatory and market forces are accelerating it:
Mandatory reporting frameworks
- Modern Slavery
- Circular Economy roadmaps
- NABERS Waste
- Climate-related financial disclosure reporting
Corporate leasing pressures
Tenants increasingly choose buildings with sustainability credentials and circular fitout pathways.
Talent & culture expectations
Employees want to work for environmentally responsible organisations, and workplace design is a visible proof point.
Landlord competition
Landlords that minimise waste and refurbish sustainably lease space faster and more profitably.
Sustainable fitouts aren’t a trend, they are becoming a baseline expectation.
The Agero Difference: Sustainability With Purpose
Sustainability, for Agero, is not a checkbox. It is a core part of our identity, reflected through:
✓ Sustainable Stripout – eliminating waste from the start
✓ A values-led mission to fund 100,000 youth centres
Every sustainable stripout contributes to community uplift.
✓ Award-winning design that maximises resource efficiency
✓ Integrated D+C delivery that removes the friction
One team. One process. One seamless outcome.
✓ ISO-aligned systems & safety
Ensuring sustainability never compromises safety or compliance.
Want to Reduce 70% of Waste on Your Next Fitout?
A sustainable fitout starts with one decision:
choosing a partner that knows how to design, deconstruct and deliver responsibly.
Agero can help with:
- Sustainable Stripout planning
- A sustainability-first workplace strategy
- Carbon and waste impact modelling
- A full D+C fitout proposal
- Circularity roadmap for future projects
👉 Book a Sustainable Stripout Consultation
Discover how much waste, carbon and cost your organisation can eliminate.
