Green Star rating
Targeting a 5 Star Green Star — Fitouts v1 rating
Location
Gamaragal land
Victoria
Completion
2025
Type
Retail
Targeting a 5 Star Green Star — Fitouts v1 rating
Country Road Chatswood Chase is a flagship store targeting a 5 Star Green Star rated fitout – but it’s not Country Road’s first Green Star rodeo.
As an early access partner for the new Fitouts Green Star rating tool, Country Road’s Chatswood Chase store builds on what the team have already achieved across 23 stores in Australia – including in Ballarat. When it comes to the projects currently in the works, the team’s goal is clear.
“Our goal is to create beautiful stores with the least impact on the environment. We achieve this by considering all areas we can control, this includes energy efficiency and powering with renewables – which is part of Country Road Group’s Good Business Journey.
“On site, our goal is to aim for 90% diversion from landfill for all construction waste. We aim to ensure compliance on site not only supports sustainability goals but also creates a healthier environment for the construction team, customers, and team members” explains Sage Calamari, CRG Sustainability Specialist.
A responsible fitout challenge
Located within a Green Star rated building, Country Road’s (CR) aim for the Chatswood Chase store and the new rating tool, was to maximise achievement in the Green Star Responsible category.
Cross team collaboration from the earliest stages to ensure material selections achieved the highest possible Responsible Product Value (RPV). This collaboration continued with the shopfitters throughout the project, reviewing materials as they were brought on site to maintain sustainability standards.
Across all sustainability projects, early communication, informed planning, and transparency are essential. However, retail fitouts also demand flexibility and rapid decision-making.
“Success depends in part on having partners you can trust to prioritise Green Star principles – not only when everything is running smoothly, but also when inevitable challenges arise. CR Chatswood was no exception, but we were lucky to work with One68, our longstanding Green Star partner, who was able to pivot and address our Green Star requirements as needed,” said Sage.
The challenge presented the team with sage advice for others striving for certification in the new fitouts tool.
“This evolution of Green Star Interiors, now known as Green Star Fitouts, will require more data gathering than before. But, if you prepare your team and help strategise record keeping, the benefit of knowing the information will outweigh the effort you put in,” explained Sage.
Green Star Fitouts at scale
Country Road has been targeting Green Star in new fitouts as part of the corporate commitments for the last 5 years. The internal team, fitout contractors, and partners are aware of the requirements and have experience executing world class designs. The benefit of now applying Green Star at scale, is a surge in innovation and a change in expectation of the standard fitout.
For Sage and the rest of the team, it shifted the design strategy, supply chain and contractor expectations.
“These expectations help drive innovation in materials, construction, and operations with the goal of creating a ripple effect and shifting the industry.
“We have created a Sustainable procurement guide, a Sustainable design guide, and incorporate better construction practices as a standard. This is most clearly demonstrated by our partnership with our fixture manufactures, who we have supported in becoming GreenTag certified”.
One of the key innovation strategies for the team was the decision on how to use in-store signage. The team decided to illuminate and highlight various Green Star features throughout the space to encourage customers to engage with Country Road’s sustainability story and have a deeper experience with the store’s environment.
Sustainable features:
The Country Road team is still in the thick of their Green Star submission, and so we can’t divulge all the sustainability features in detail at this time.
However, we can share a few:
Over 90% of the construction waste was diverted from landfill.
The team has set a target of 40% of all products used scoring an RPV of 7 or higher.
They have implemented a Nature Inspired Design, which includes plants throughout the store and Back of House.
100% of the store’s electricity will come from renewable energy sources.
A de-fit plan and asset register is in place to enable Future Reuse of materials and fixtures.
According to Sage, the design choices also highlight CRG’s commitment to staff and customer wellbeing
“Green Star has a direct and meaningful impact on our team members, reinforcing our commitment to their wellbeing. Our stores are designed to be healthier and more ergonomic, incorporating nature-inspired elements and greenery that enhance interest, comfort, and the overall in-store experience.”
Circularity and impact in numbers
Circularity is central to CRG’s fitout strategy, focusing on what they can retain and reuse from fixtures to furniture, equipment, and architectural elements.
“CR Chatswood Chase and the new Fitouts tool have prompted a fresh review of our internal processes, enabling us to enhance circularity through more effective fixture tracking. In addition, the Fitouts Circularity Calculator will help us plan for end-of-use outcomes during the design phase, ensuring future projects are more attentive to sustainable procurement,” said Sage.
But for Sage, the reduction in waste is not the only win coming out of the fitout strategy, a reduction in energy consumption is equally important to the team.
“Guided by Green Star requirements, our lighting design at CR Chatswood Chase achieves a 37% reduction in wattage compared to baseline standards. All IT equipment procured has recognised energy ratings, and our printers are Blue Angel Certified.
“While Green Star may have served as the impetus for these initiatives, they have proven to be smart, practical choices that are simple to implement and deliver long-term operational benefits.”
First Nations design collaboration
The team collaborated with Nguluway DesignInc for First Nations design feedback, and through this process of collaboration, met with the Gaimaragal Group. Within these conversations, they discussed how to root the design in Country authentically. The result is demonstrated through an artistic recreation of Country Road’s Acknowledgement of Country, topographical elements throughout the store, and colours that are connected to place.
“CR Chatswood represents the natural evolution of our Green Star journey, enabling us to carry our learnings forward and apply them to future fitouts. The Circularity and Upfront Carbon calculators will allow us to make informed design decisions that consider the full lifecycle of materials, not just their use phase. Our team is energised by the possibilities of this next step and committed to creating the most sustainable retail experience possible,” concluded Sage.
Contours of Country
Artist: Jennifer Louise Moylan, born on Cammeraygal Country
Contours of Country reflects the living patterns of Cammeraygal Country – the flowing patterns of land, water, and sky that connect all things. In nature there are no straight lines; the curves of waterways, the shifting sands, and the paths of wind tell stories of movement and relationship.
This artwork honours the deep connection between people and Country – a bond of care, respect, and reciprocity. Each line and contour represents the rhythm of life that continues beneath the city surface, reminding us that Country is alive, ever-present, and holds us within its embrace.
“As a young woman born on Cammeraygal Country, my work is a conversation with the land — a way of listening to Country that continue to speak beneath our feet.”
