The future of Australian building needs a stronger foundation, and a new industry-led initiative has just stepped up to the challenge.
A new not-for-profit organisation, the Sustainable Foundations Group (SFG), has officially launched, spearheaded by three industry leaders: Marc Noyce (Director at Noyce Environmental Pty Ltd), Jim Prior (Managing Director of Biax Foundations), and Tony Milone (National Sales Manager at Cupolex). Together, they’re bringing decades of experience and a bold, practical vision to one of the most overlooked, but critical, parts of Australia’s residential construction industry: our slabs.
Backed by deep industry expertise and united by a shared concern for long-term outcomes, the Sustainable Foundations Group aims to improve the way we design, educate, regulate and think about the systems beneath our homes.
“There’s been a huge push in recent years around sustainability in energy, water and materials, but foundation systems have barely been part of the conversation,” said Jim Prior, co-founder and MD of Biax Foundations. “We believe the slab system you choose has just as much impact, and it’s time we treated it that way.” to hear your perspective.
Why This Matters
Australia has been pouring waffle pod slabs since the 1980s. They’re quick, familiar, and cost-effective, but they come with an environmental legacy few are talking about.
As homes built in that era approach the end of their life, we’ll begin to see a wave of demolitions. And when those waffle pods are uncovered, they won’t be recycled, they’ll be sent straight to landfill. The polystyrene pods, the concrete stuck to them, and even the surrounding soil are often classified as contaminated waste.
Multiply that by tens of thousands of homes each year and we’re looking at a looming problem for Australia’s waste system, and for the builders and clients footing the bill.
“The waste implications are massive,” said Marc Noyce, SFG Chair and sustainability advocate. “We’re talking about hundreds of thousands of tonnes of material that shouldn’t even exist, let alone become a burden on the future of Australia.”
More concerning still is that we’re still laying many 10’s of thousands of these slabs every year. It’s a legacy issue, and one we’re actively making worse.
From a slab that could have been fully recyclable if it were designed as a raft or alternate system, we’re instead creating foundations that will cost us down the line, environmentally, financially, and reputationally.
“This isn’t about blaming builders,” said Tony Milone. “It’s about giving them better options, better education, and a clearer path to sustainability.”
A New Kind of Industry Leadership
The Sustainable Foundations Group is built on a simple but powerful idea: when builders, engineers, suppliers and industry bodies come together around shared goals, meaningful change becomes possible.
The group will act as an independent, not-for-profit industry body focused on:
- Promoting more sustainable, cost-effective slab systems
- Educating the market, from apprentices to engineers, on compliant and lower-impact solutions
- Supporting alternatives that meet or exceed NCC 2022 and 2025 standards
- Providing open access to training, research and technical guidance
“We’re not here to sell one solution,” said Jim Prior, Managing Director of Biax Foundations. “We’re here to raise the bar. That means helping people understand their options, and why better slab systems matter not just to the environment, but to long-term business success.”
Unlike product-led initiatives, the Sustainable Foundations Group is committed to staying technology-neutral, ensuring its resources and education materials can serve the whole industry, not just a niche.
A Movement Builders Can Get Behind
This is not about regulation. It’s about taking responsibility for the systems we choose to work with and understanding their long-term implications, especially as building practices evolve and climate pressure intensifies.
The Sustainable Foundations Group is setting out to become the trusted voice for practical, industry-backed guidance around slab systems, with a focus on outcomes, not opinions.
At The Good Builder, we’re proud to support its formation. The truth is, if we want to build better homes, healthier, safer, and more sustainable, we have to start from the ground up.
“The foundation system you choose affects everything, cost, compliance, performance, and waste,” said Noyce, Chairman of the Group. “It’s time we considered the long term sustainability of these assets.”
Want to Get Involved?
To learn more or join the movement, visit: https://sustainablefoundationsgroup.com.au
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