When Ecoliv revealed their new display home in The Gurdies, Victoria, it was not just another launch. It was a strong move towards climate-positive living in Australia’s modular home market — showcasing innovations like green kitchen benchtops that blend style with sustainability.
This prefab modular home is certified as climate positive by Cerclos through a Life Cycle Assessment. More than just a building — it shows how sustainability in the kitchen and throughout the home can be stylish, practical, and good for the planet.
In the middle of the open-plan kitchen is a centrepiece that reflects Ecoliv’s design approach — ECO Benchtops’ Whitsunday surface, used on the island bench. Known for its environmental benefits, high quality finish, and long-lasting durability, it’s a shining example of how green kitchen benchtops can make a big difference to a home’s environmental impact.
Behind it, the back bench continues the theme with ECO Benchtops’ Ironbark surface, bringing a warm, earthy tone that ties seamlessly into the Butler’s pantry, bathrooms, laundry, and outdoor BBQ area. Both colours prove that a sustainable product can look beautiful and work well across multiple spaces.
A partnership built on shared values
Ecoliv has long been a leader in sustainable prefab modular homes, delivering eco friendly products that balance design, performance, and responsibility. In creating this display home, they needed every material to reflect that mission.
For the kitchen — a space that often sets the tone for the whole home — the choice of benchtops was key. ECO Benchtops’ Whitsunday, made from recyclable glass and other recycled materials, offered exactly what the design needed: a sustainable product that is plastic free, low-impact, and made with a focus on reducing waste. Ironbark, also crafted with the same sustainable principles, provides a rich contrast in tone while delivering the same high-performance qualities.
Ecoliv Founder & Director Ashley Beaumont summed it up:
“Simply meeting minimum standards is no longer enough. Every product in this home had to go beyond — to actively make things better for the environment, not just avoid harm.”
Why the kitchen matters in sustainable homes
The kitchen is often where sustainable kitchen materials can have the biggest impact on both carbon footprint and day-to-day living. Surfaces are important for strength, hygiene, and being good for the environment. They matter just as much as energy-efficient appliances and eco-friendly kitchen design.
ECO Benchtops’ Whitsunday adds a fresh, light look that complements the home’s natural lighting. Ironbark offers warmth and depth in other areas of the kitchen and throughout the home. Both are smart choices for reducing environmental impact over time, with surfaces made from up to 85% recycled content, minimal water use in production, and manufacturing powered by renewable energy. This fits perfectly with Ecoliv’s targets:
- 112% cut in carbon emissions from running the home over 60 years
- 151% improvement in energy efficiency through solar power, passive design, and efficient all-electric systems
- 21% lower upfront carbon footprint by choosing sustainable materials and building methods
Designed to give back to the environment
This display home isn’t just a sustainable kitchen — it’s a whole-house commitment to low-impact living. Built off-site in Ecoliv’s EcoHub using modular homes technology, it features:
- A green roof for better insulation and temperature control
- Indoor gardens to connect people with nature
- Rainwater tanks to cut water use by 66%
- Zero-carbon cladding and renewable structural materials
Inside, the kitchen supports these features with eco benchtops that truly show what sustainability in the kitchen looks like. Whitsunday on the island bench and Ironbark on the back bench combine to create a balanced, timeless design that will keep its high quality for decades — lowering the need for replacement and further cutting environmental impact.
Project Info
From display home to everyday living
Visitors to this home often notice the freshness and natural brightness of the kitchen. The mix of eco friendly kitchen design, natural light, and the clean, coastal tone of Whitsunday with the grounding warmth of Ironbark creates a space that feels modern but also welcoming.
While the home also includes the latest energy efficient appliances and LED light solutions, it’s the benchtops — Whitsunday on the island and Ironbark across the back bench, bathrooms, Butler’s pantry, laundry, and BBQ area — that often get the most attention. They prove that green kitchen benchtops and other sustainable kitchen benchtops can be style features without losing strength or ease of use.
Reducing environmental impact at every stage
This installation is a great example of teamwork — where Ecoliv and ECO Benchtops share the same vision for better living.
- Making it: Both Whitsunday and Ironbark are made from recycled materials and recyclable glass, keeping waste out of landfill.
- Using it: Their strength means they last for decades, reducing replacements and lowering the carbon footprint.
- After use: They can be recycled again, helping keep valuable materials in use and out of the waste stream.
Such qualities support not just the sustainable kitchen benchtops trend but also the broader move towards eco-friendly products in building and kitchen renovation.
The bigger picture: Ecoliv Homes’ commitment
Ecoliv Homes has built its name on more than stylish modular homes — they are showing Australians new ways to live sustainably. By using eco benchtops, low-impact construction, and renewable energy systems, they are creating homes that don’t just limit environmental damage but help improve the planet.
This new display home shows how choosing sustainable products like Whitsunday and Ironbark can improve the way a whole house performs and how long it lasts.
Experience it yourself
The display home is open to the public at Ecoliv’s EcoHub. Here, you can see how green kitchen benchtops and other sustainable design elements can fit seamlessly into a beautiful, modern home. From the freshness of the Whitsunday kitchen island to the earthy warmth of Ironbark in the back bench, bathrooms, Butler’s pantry, laundry, and BBQ area, every detail shows a focus on the planet and on creating a home that will last.
For those who can’t visit, the home is featured on Open Homes Australia, offering a closer look at how Ecoliv and ECO Benchtops are building the future of housing.
ECO Benchtops’ Whitsunday and Ironbark in this home are not just for show. They prove that good choices in sustainable products — like green kitchen benchtops — can be beautiful, strong, and long-lasting.
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Find out more about Ecoliv here.
