Following the meeting of world leaders in Egypt for COP27, we are all reminded that we must make substantial progress in transforming how we live and work.
The built environment presently contributes approximately 33% of Britain's carbon output. The measures taken by the construction sector will therefore have a decisive influence on whether the UK achieves net-zero emissions by 2050.
Cutting carbon pollution in the building trade has emerged as an ever more pressing concern in the last few years. In 2017, the sector agreed with the government to cut emissions in half by 2025.
Reusable hoarding saves resources
Building site owners have a duty to ensure their site is safe for their workers and visitors, and for the wider community. In addition, site owners will want to secure their property against damage or theft.
Plas-Hoard UPVC hoarding is a sustainable solution for meeting site security needs. Made from 50% recycled material, these are the durable and sustainable approaches to site hoarding. UPVC hoarding has many of the same benefits of timber hoarding – robust, quick and easy to install - but, because it can be reused many times offers an environmentally friendly solution.
We believe products that can be reused are the future for the built environment sector and we look forward to hearing more from COP27 on how single-use plastics can be reduced.
For a more traditional sustainable hoarding option, timber should also be considered. Wood is a natural resource that uses minimal energy in the construction of hoardings. At SafeSite Facilities all of our timber hoarding products are made from sustainable wood sources, and we often work with local recycling schemes, to ensure the wood is reused once it is no longer required on site.
Flood defence the green way
Climate change is making the threat of flooding ever more real, and site owners are waking up to the fact that they need to plan ahead and prepare for adequate defence against flooding.
Sandbags were once the workhorses of flood defences. However, the sacks are typically non-organic and involve the manufacture and expenditure of polypropylene plastic . This material adds to the amount of microplastics in the earth's seas and it cannot be recycled.
It makes much better sense for the environment to use reusable flood defence barriers. These barriers can be bought or hired so that a site can always be prepared. Self-filling barriers are lightweight for transport and placement, but provide robust defence against flooding when in action. Because they are lightweight for transporting and are reusable, these flood barriers are the sustainable, tried-and-tested answer to keeping your site free from water damage.
Green ground mats
Most of our ground protection mats are made from recycled High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) which is extremely strong and lightweight. Some from our lighter-duty range are made from Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE). The FastCover range of mats is made from recycled PVC.
Our suite of floor protection products is highly eco-friendly and consists of 100% recycled material. The matting is sturdy and resilient and provides a total life span of up to 10 years or more, depending on the frequency and nature of use.
They are simple to disassemble, re-package and reuse from contract to contract. By offering reusability, these solutions help to lower CO2 impact and associated manufacturing waste when in service. When the mats eventually reach the end of their service life, they can be completely recycled for other uses.
When you opt to buy or hire from SafeSite Facilities, you’re choosing a partner that is fully committed to considerate construction. For more information visit https://www.safesitefacilities.co.uk/knowledge-base/what-is-sustainable-construction
