“The built environment accounts for up to 40% of all CO2 emissions”
The startling statistic may come as a shock at a time when multiple industries are pushing to cut carbon emissions, but it’s also an opportunity for the construction sector, argues builders merchant EnviroBuild…
With 60 years’ experience in the construction industry, Envirobuild is carving a reputation as a leading builders merchant for sustainable building materials by applying the latest technological innovations to provide highly engineered and lasting environmentally friendly solutions over traditional building materials.
The firm has produced the EnviroBuild 2021 Environmental Impact Report to set what it says are new standards when it comes to sustainability and accountability in the carbon-hungry construction sector. The report not only details the company’s own carbon-busting measures, but also outlines its vision of a carbon neutral construction sector.
“A carbon neutral construction sector”
The UK government’s aim is to cut emissions by 78% by 2035, compared to 1990 levels. EnviroBuild has outlined a number of steps it wants to take over the coming years to play its part in helping hit that target.
Measures have so far included:
- Reportedly becoming the first company in the UK to publish a complete environmental impact of its composite products with an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD).
- Changing production so that its Composite Ranges and Sisu LVT are all produced using energy from renewable sources.
- Joining the World Land Trust's Carbon Balanced programme, allowing it to offset any residual greenhouse gas emissions through the restoration of wildlife habits that sequester carbon.
- The company continued to donate 10% of its profits to Rainforest Trust UK, which has now saved 300,000 acres, or an area equivalent to the size of the Isle of Wight.
The Impact Report is not the end of the story, as well as cataloguing the progress the company has made over recent years, it also sets out a direction of travel for the future. In practical terms this will mean;
- EnviroBuild will continue to carry out life cycle assessments for all major products. This will identify how it can reduce its carbon footprint.
- The company already offset the workforce carbon footprint whether they're working from the office or remotely. This will be taken further, as they aim to do the same for every emission for which they are directly responsible, and which cannot be reduced by another sustainable means.
- EnviroBuild's ultimate goal is to become a completely carbon neutral company. Through this, it hopes to provide inspiration, and a viable roadmap for other companies in the construction sector and beyond to do the same.
The link above will download a .pdf file
