Written by Amanda Marsh | Co-Founder, Otetto®
August 2025
As someone deeply invested in creating sustainable, high-performing homes, I’ve become increasingly aware of a hard truth: the built environment accounts for nearly 40% of global carbon emissions. It’s clear that if we want to create a climate-resilient future, the way we design and construct our homes must change—and fast.
That’s where Otetto comes in.
At Otetto®, we’re proud to be pioneering the use of hemp in residential construction across Australia. Our mission is to reimagine how homes are designed, built, and lived in—by making healthy, climate-resilient housing more accessible and achievable for all Australians.
We’ve developed Living Canvas®, a prefabricated hempcrete wall system designed to integrate regenerative materials into everyday building projects. As builders and designers ourselves, we knew the barriers—hemp has often been seen as niche, labour-intensive, or experimental. Our goal was to remove those barriers and prove that hemp not only belongs in the mainstream but can outperform traditional materials in comfort, health, and sustainability.
Fast-growing, fire-resistant, and naturally insulative, hemp requires no synthetic inputs and supports the creation of healthier, more energy-efficient homes. But for us, it’s not just about the material—it’s about the system. We’ve developed a modular approach that allows for faster delivery, greater precision, and significantly less waste. This system empowers architects, builders, and homeowners to confidently incorporate hemp into their projects without compromising on design or performance.
Our Living Canvas Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) are made from locally grown Australian hemp and include wall, floor, and roof cassettes—offering a full building envelope that regulates heat and moisture, while also meeting high bushfire performance ratings and achieving a 7-star NatHERS energy rating.
Looking beyond materials, we’re also passionate about changing how Australians think about homebuilding. We’ve launched two architecturally designed off-the-plan homes—Corymbia and Mulloway—to showcase what’s possible when you pair regenerative materials with thoughtful design. Created in collaboration with award-winning architects, these homes reflect our belief that beautiful, high-performance homes can also be accessible, sustainable, and built for the future.
