Why Sustainable Construction is a Core Business Driver
The approach to sustainability is one of the most marked transformations in construction in recent decades. Today, sustainability is at the core of our business. It drives decision making from strategic objectives down to the day-to-day activities of everyone we employ.
Documenting every aspect of how we work differently to be more sustainable would probably fill a book. But here’s a summary of the main points.
Procurement and Supply Chain Management
The drive for greater sustainability in construction has to recognise that every project relies heavily on supply chain partners. We can’t fix sustainability just by looking inwards. We keep our supply chains as short and efficient as possible to ensure consistent standards.
100% of the timber we buy is FSC or PEFC certified and we source materials locally wherever possible to minimise emissions from transport. 70% of our spend is with SMEs, which helps to build economically sustainable communities.
We’re working to achieve BES 6002 Ethical Labour Sourcing accreditation this year and ISO 20400 Sustainable Procurement standards by 2024.
Towards Zero Carbon
Net zero carbon doesn’t just involve what we build. It includes how we build and how we operate our business. Since 2014 we’ve commissioned an annual independent verified carbon footprint report that looks at the whole of our business.
We are well on our way to achieving a 1 tonne CO2/£m turnover reduction by 2022 against the 2015/2016 baseline. We aim to build on this to become Net Zero Carbon by 2035.
Changes introduced include Eco Cabins on our sites. These are highly insulated with PIR lights and metered energy. Hybrid energy solutions, batteries and renewables are also employed to reduce our carbon emissions and air pollution. Solarpods – solar panel hybrid generators – save an average £2000 of fuel and around 8 tonnes of CO2 per site per month in the summer months.
Green travel plans, hybrid company vehicles and EV charging points at our main office help to manage our overall carbon footprint.
In terms of what we build we have partnered with Innovaré – market leaders in offsite construction technologies to develop Flexihomes – a new, innovative systemised housing concept that delivers energy-efficient, high quality and affordable homes to a dependable timescale and budget.
Read Osborne’s Sustainability Strategy
Reducing Waste
We are ISO 14001 accredited. This reflects our robust approach to environmental management. Our waste management portal allows instant access to waste data, digital permits, licenses and waste transfer notes. Every project has a Site Waste Management Plan administered through SmartWaste.
Osborne aims to reduce waste through better design and using offsite construction where possible. By following the Waste Hierarchy and Circular Economy principles we’ve reduced our waste tonnage by 20% on the 2016/2017 baseline year.
All our projects monitor water use via the SmartWaste portal. Our Eco Cabins save water through push button taps and waterless urinals. Water harvesters are also found on many of our projects.
Biodiversity
An Environmental Management Plan is produced for every project to ensure protected species are preserved, invasive species are controlled, biodiversity is preserved and environmental risks are minimised to safeguard our natural environment.
The Future
Despite the progress, we’re conscious that there’s a long way to go, which is why sustainability will remain a core driver for our business.
For more information about Osborne’s approach to sustainability, contact Richard King ([email protected]).
