Abstract
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This study examines supply chains within the sustainable buildings industry. Two illustrative
examples of supply chain maps are developed for key products used in the construction of the
Illawarra Flame House for comparative analysis. It investigates the current state of supply chains in
this industry. Results indicate a heuristic that suggests the longer the supply chain, the more
unsustainable the final product or service is. The iceberg of sustainability proposes that while a
product may appear sustainable on the surface, the whole supply chain must be analysed to gauge
overall sustainability. As such greater geographic proximity of supply chain partners in a cluster
structure facilitates greater sustainability as the overall offering can be optimised.