Cartons of milk are a commodity in most UK households, however, most disregard these and throw them away. Milk bottle tops can be broken down and turned into pellets to be used in the production of other items such as traffic cones as long as they are responsibly cleaned and separated. Introducing Friends of Water Search and Rescue Team, a…

The UK construction industry has one of the highest rates of waste, and as a manufacturer of plastic temporary protection materials this contractor is passionate about sustainability and changing the way people think within the industry and the wider economy. This contractor has invested in a state-of-the-art wash plant and recycling line. This enables them to collect used, contaminated materials…

This project has introduced a ‘Grab a Bag’ initiative onto site with plastic bag holders located at the site exit and in the drying room, canteen and offices. This has promoted and encouraged to promote and encouraged the re-use of plastic bags rather than buying more from the local shops when heading out for lunch and breaks. The bag holder…

The site is using plant based cleaning products in a form which eliminates the large quantity of waste plastic spray bottles that is usually generated by cleaning the site welfare and the finished building. Their spray bottles are re-used multiple times because refills of the active ingredients arrive in small capsules which simply dissolve in water. To find out more,…

In keeping with current best practice and to reduce adverse environmental impacts from the use of plastic products, the project is using a biodegradable product instead of plastic tree shelters. 5000 non-plastic shelters are being installed at four locations with diverse micro-climates which allows their environmental specialists to monitor and understand the performance of the shelters in different conditions. The…

This contractor has designed a single use plastics virtual work experience programme that is being delivered to schools across the country. The programme designed by the Social Value Manager has been delivered face to face and virtually across 5 days and has also been accredited to an Industrial Cadet Silver award. As part of the programme students learn about Single…

As part of environmental initiatives put in place by the project team to contribute to reduction in the CO2 emissions, the GreenHoard hoarding system has been used. The GreenHoard hoarding system is a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to the traditional plywood hoarding. It comprises of boards made from 100% recycled plastic waste fixed to a recycled steel frame and supported…

To remain compliant with Site Operating Procedures, this project has used the Plasloc system due to its flexibility to construct around existing set ups and waste reduction capabilities. At a time where there is a focus on maintaining a clean and sterile environment, Plasloc PVC-U allows for easy clean and upkeep of welfare and office environments. The standard internal site…

A continual issue found on construction sites, from both an environmental and health and safety focus, is the use of traditional timber pallets for material delivery. These usually have a very limited lifespan, and after one delivery can very rarely be used as is again, requiring further manufacture to make them fit for use. Fire loading is also a common…

On this project they are implementing a site wide plastic reduction campaign. Within this campaign they are actively looking for new solutions to reduce the amount of plastic that ends in a landfill. On top of this, the site are carrying out a ‘get into construction’ scheme where they are involving local schools and colleges in their day to day…

The new installation of a stick-on stair protector benefits both the environment and safety of the workforce. Historically, the project used single-use, hard plastic nosing protectors on staircases. These were not durable and so would break easily on regular footfall in stair wells. This not only became a hazard due to the loose or broken ends but would also be…

The Considerate Constructors Scheme’s Plastics and Packaging Task Group have created a guidance document to be an additional resource of the ‘Spotlight on… plastics and packaging’ campaign. This guidance document is intended to provide ‘quick wins’ in order to assist companies and construction sites in reducing their use of plastic and minimising plastic waste. The document provides ideas for the…

It is estimated our industry disposes of 2 million plastic sealant cartridges each week in the UK. This contributes to a significant amount of single use plastic, in an industry which consumes nearly a quarter of all plastic. Alternative ‘foil sausages’ or ‘chubs’ are readily available for all sealant applications and can reduce waste by up to 95%. The benefits…

A significant amount of signage is used each year and typically this is made from a PVC plastic called Foamex. This project is now looking at using an alternative product for a majority of signs and boards. The alternative product called Akyprint is made from polypropylene. This is less harmful to the enviroment in its manufacture and is also more…

Everyone knows it’s important to stay hydrated, however it’s also important for the environment that we minimise our use of single use plastics, such as disposable water bottles. To balance these two needs on the Rochester Bridge Refurbishment Project, reusable branded plastic water bottles have been purchased for use by lead contractor FM Conway. The reusable water bottles were a…

The Mace team at GPE’s Hanover Square project introduced a PPE recycling service in partnership with Terracycle, to reduce single use plastics waste ending up in landfill. The boxes on site can recycle a range of products including earplugs, beard nets, hair nets, disposable gloves, safety glasses, disposable garments, shoe covers and masks. The items are safely collected on site…

In our normal process of work, we are regularly stripping small sections of UPVc coating off our lightning protection tapes and the method we use produces quite small slivers that could easily be picked up or even digested by birds and animals, as well as the more obvious creation of waste in working areas when left. To combat this, we…

The project team carried out an investigation into what items produced the highest amount of single-use plastic. Through this investigation it was identified that plastic cable ties used to hold scaffold guards and Heras fencing were one of the biggest issues. These have been replaced with reinforced and reusable fabric Velcro ties.

At Great Portland Estate’s Hanover Square project, the Mace team have implemented a closed loop recycling scheme for site signage. This initiative has meant that signage made from plastics that are traditionally disposed of via the waste and logistics contractor, are instead collected on site and returned to the supplier as part of a closed loop recycling scheme, meaning they are…

After being asked by several leading construction companies about the need for a reduction in single use plastic, Lee Brothers set about the usual challenge of reducing areas like plastic cups, packing etc. However, one area that stood out where they could make a considerable difference was around single use signage and how they dispose of it. After discussing with…

As part of delivering our corporate responsibility targets relating to community engagement on this project, we have partnered with a company called Mad Science to deliver an informative series of sustainability workshops to a local school. Mad Science’s Sustainability Lab workshop programme is much easier to teach, more engaging and is much less stressful than a mass field trip to…

As part of Mace’s Time to Act campaign to reduce single use plastics on site, the Hanover Square project team procured oxo-biodegradable overshoes rather than the widely used non-biodegradable overshoes. During fit-out and installation of permanent floor finishes, a significant number of overshoes can be used to access apartments or specific areas each day, creating a high volume of single-use…

We have started using a spray on window protection, which is more environmentally friendly than protecting glass with plastics and tape. It is easily applied with a roller or spray, and it protects window panes from plaster, mortar and paints. If you use a long handled roller, it reduces the need for working at height. But in times of being…

In light of the ever growing awareness of plastic waste and its impact on the environment, JRL Group has launched a plastic reduction campaign across the business. As part of our strategy, we are going further than working with our supply chains and are incorporating ways to support reducing plastic within the day to day activities of our employees. We…

As part of our Responsible Business Strategy, one of our commitments is to reduce the 3,000 tonnes of plastic waste that Mace generates each year. Plastic cups and bottles are just some of the products that we throw away every day and many of these are only used once. ​​So the Mac​e team at Greenwich Square decided to source project…

At Mace, we launched our ‘Time To Act’ campaign on plastics in 2018. We have company-wide focuses for elimination, reduction, trialling alternatives, and sharing our successes with our other projects to replicate. As part of our construction focus we developed a ‘plastics scorecard’. This is a checklist with a number of prerequisites, along with many additional options for plastic reduction…

The onsite cutting and shaping of EPS board can result in lightweight polystyrene beads dropping on the floor and being blown around in windy conditions, this can result in a build up of these beads in flowerbeds and rainwater gullies, for example. The waste can build up quickly and scatter around a large area due to its lightweight nature making…

We have launched new KpH Reusable Bottles at our Strip Out sites. The initiative came about as a result of the ‘Spotlight on… plastics and packaging’ campaign (to assess how much single-use plastic we were producing on-site) and as part of our wider Waste Management Review. We asked our site at Bishopsgate to save their drinks bottles for two weeks….

When ENGIE was contracted to replace the cladding at Eyot House in Bermondsey, our commitment to be at the forefront of environmentally conscientious construction methods demanded a creative approach to recycling and repurposing the old expanded polystyrene (EPS) removed from the building. The existing EWI system comprised an insulation layer of expanded polystyrene (EPS) board, for which it was important…

GRAHAM-BAM Healthcare Partnership recently hosted 14 girls aged 10–13 from the Women’s Tec Summer Scheme GIRLTEC Academy to raise awareness of environmental considerations in construction projects. The workshop formed part of a practical visit to the GBHP Royal Victoria Hospital site to encourage female pupils to consider future careers in construction. The visit included talks and hands on activities from…

​​​Go-Hoard™ is the new, eco-friendly hoarding system from Blok N Mesh UK. The hoarding panels are manufactured using recycled UPVC and are fully recyclable after use, ensuring a sustainable solution for the environment. The hoarding system has a smooth flat finish which is ready to accept vinyl graphics and can also be supplied in your corporate colours. Custom coloured skirting…

This site has fitted a public water dispenser in a slot within the hoarding. There is also interesting information displayed on the importance of not using single-use plastics. The location of the water dispenser has been put on a national database, which uses an app, so members of the public can find it. The dispenser is also fed from the…

The project team have been the proud sponsor of the Urban Village Fete in North Greenwich since 2017. This fete draws on local suppliers, designers and performers, and provides a forum for top local talent for a community day full of stalls, music, DJs, dance, art and design workshops and food trucks with an international flavour. This year, in addition…

In February 2019, the Scheme launched its latest campaign, ‘Spotlight on… plastics and packaging’, to raise awareness of the issue of plastic pollution in the construction industry. ‘Spotlight on… plastics and packaging’ provides guidance and resources to help the construction industry reduce its consumption of plastics and packaging. The campaign includes statistics, examples of best practice and valuable resources. It…

At South Quay Plaza we are committed to minimise our use of disposable plastics, following the CCS ‘Spotlight on… plastics and packaging’ campaign. As part of this we have developed a plastics and packaging minimising strategy. Our latest initiative challenged us to review the different types of disposable plastic protection we use on site and find an alternative. A major…

This project mostly consists of repairs to the existing masonry walls, using a combination of concrete, structural grouts and mortars, and replacement stone blocks from a local quarry. Scour and erosion to the toe of wall is recognised as a potential source of weakness in the future, so concrete protection is proposed in two areas: the toe beam and the…

The site team wanted to contribute to reducing the use of single-use plastics and give a second life to something that otherwise would be thrown away. They achieved this by implementing a very simple solution, which consisted of re-using plastic bottles and packaging ready to be discarded, and turning them into Eco-Bricks. An Eco-Brick is a re-usable building block created…

The Wellington Place 7 and 8 project team, led by Dan Miller, has shown great leadership and professionalism by using their sphere of influence to achieve the environmental targets set at the beginning of the project. Highlights Include: 59% reduction in CO2 emissions from the following measures: 100% Renewable energy electricity supply, primary and secondary lighting circuits that reduce unnecessary…

Every year, countless crisp packets end up in landfill sites across the UK. To put an end to this enormous loss of resources and the unnecessary impact on the environment, The Crisp Packet Recycling Scheme was launched. On our M25 DBFO project, Connect Plus Services is joining forces with Highways England in the journey to reducing the impact of packaging….

At Borras, we were looking for ideas to better engage with students within the schools that we work in. We touched upon the idea of developing an Environmental Workshop where the children could learn about how the construction industry is working towards sustainable development goals via a series of fun and hands-on learning activities. We have now developed a series…

The site has decided not to use laminated notices due to the fact that these cannot be recycled. Instead, all notices that would ordinarily be laminated are printed on paper that has recycled plastic within it. The sheets look like ordinary paper but have a similar consistency as new sterling notes. They are also recyclable. To find out more, click…

There has been a distinct practice to reduce and try to eliminate single-use plastics, which involves turning plastic waste into ecobricks. Personal use sized commercial water bottles are used to collect waste, and are filled with plastic film from traditional sources such as empty crisp packets, food wrap, plastic bags and many other sources to achieve a specified weight and…

As a responsible business, Mace is reducing the 3,000 tonnes of plastic waste it generates every year and will reduce its consumption of single-use plastics by 20% on sites and corporately by 80%. To do this, we have launched a single-use plastic reduction campaign across the business called ‘Time to Act’ which encourages people to ditch unnecessary plastics. At Mace’s…

Galliford Try have created a sustainability quiz for the school as a new way to communicate environmental issues. The quiz aims to bring awareness and thought to the students in a fun way. The kids had to match up the picture to the estimated time it takes for some everyday items to decompose. Increasing waste volume is a major concern…

The Great British Spring Clean is an event organised by Keep Britain Tidy which calls on #LitterHeroes across the country to help improve their local environment. The aim is to get as many people as possible to collect and safely dispose of litter found on streets, parks and beaches, recycling as much of it as possible. The Great British Spring…

On the London School of Economics CBR Mace project, we have been trying to reduce our use of plastics on site and in the welfare facilities. This is part of a wider Mace initiative and clear environmental benefits. We have introduced beeswax sandwich wraps which are made predominantly from old shirts and are 100% washable and reusable. These have been…

Day-to-day, we all have an influence on the environment we live in. Our ‘Environmental Fact Wheel’ offers interesting facts about the little things we do every day which can have an effect on the environment. We have divided the facts into five main target areas: Resources, Water, Waste, Carbon and People. Examples include: Recycling only one aluminium can saves enough…

Galliford Try has introduced the use of weatherproof paper for site specific exterior notices such as site zoning information, safety campaign displays and PPE reminder notices. The paper is water, oil, fade and tear resistant leaving the site signage looking much more professional for longer. This also reduces the amount of laminating and plastic waste that the site is producing….

The construction industry is estimated to be responsible for around 40% of the UK’s waste. We have been working with our subcontractors to tackle this issue and minimise unnecessary waste. SQP is the first site to use reusable, collapsible boxes for our M&E. These were specially developed for use at SQP and was something the contractor developed as part of…

Laing O’Rourke has been using Yuley’s Overshoes.  Yuley’s Overshoes are a reusable, rigid, hard overshoe that offer superior protection versus the more common, thin plastic single-use overshoes traditionally used on sites. In addition to environmental benefit of being reusable until they become damaged, Yuley’s are also completely recyclable. Yuley’s are a hands-free system, meaning that people are not transferring any…

The site team at the Manchester Metropolitan Arts and Humanities project engaged with the company’s plastic reduction campaign and all committed to a plastic pledge. As a result, several initiatives were introduced on the project including: Every operative at induction is provided with a project branded plastic bottle. The project has switched from purchasing milk in plastic containers to organic…

To coincide with World Environment Day we decided to focus on single-use plastics used across our projects and offices. World Environment Day is the most important day for encouraging worldwide awareness of global environmental issues. The theme this year was around making everyday changes to reduce the burden of plastic pollution. All of our offices were asked to support and…

A sub-contractor on our site has provided a bin for recycling protective glasses that have been damaged. This is sent to a specialist recycling company to separate the plastic and metal elements. This is available for all contractors on site and has been placed on the green route.

As a result of a company re-branding exercise, Castleoak had several dozen insulated, hi-vis jackets surplus to requirements. Instead of sending to landfill, we decide to seek a reuse opportunity for them. Working with Keep Wales Tidy we came up with the idea to re-purpose into hi-vis dog jackets. They are being sold online to raise funds for Keep Wales…

In line with Multiplex’s policy to protect the environment and the UK’s target to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste by the end of 2042, Multiplex’s 48 Carey Street team has taken action to ban single-use plastic from the canteen and offices. The project reached that milestone on the 5th June, celebrating World Environment Day 2018 in accordance with this year’s…

Further to recent emphasis in the media on reducing plastic waste, we have decided to play our part by becoming one of the UK’s first reduced plastic construction sites. One of the initiatives as part of this campaign is around reducing the number of single-use plastic bottles used by our workforce and the local community. To achieve this, we have…

At Greenwich, we are planning how we can get to zero plastics on site. Plastic waste is an epidemic issue across the world and we want to ensure our site is having as minimal impact as possible. Immediate implementation; Reusable bottles issued to all staff (these are also tetherable so not a safety risk) Integrating closed loop recycling scheme into…

On our site we have decided to do something about the amount of plastic bottles being used on site. We have registered with Refill London and promoted the downloadable app and then received a pack in the post and a refill station will be fitted outside site. They also send us stickers and information to put up to tell people…

Following a recent ‘See It Say It’ suggestion from a site operative, it took just a single conversation between Knight Build directors to decide to replace all existing Styrofoam cups and plastic cups on all sites and at our head office. At the drop of a hat, we have been able to stop over 200,000 Styrofoam and plastic cups a…

Did you know that by 2050, the oceans will contain more plastic than fish by weight? As an environmentally savvy company, we pride ourselves on being green and innovative in the reduction of the carbon footprint. At Clearly Renovations, we have decided to follow the national scheme on abolishing single-use plastic bottles in our offices and on our sites. We…

It is estimated that the amount of plastic waste generated annually in the UK is nearly 5 million tonnes, with the UK Government challenging this in their 25 year plan for the environment and the European strategy for plastics in a circular economy. To play our part in combatting this current environmental issue, the Sisk Team on the Blossom Iron…

Costain Skanska JV Paddington C405 held a Winter Hydration Campaign led by the Project Director. Not many people consider hydration to be an issue during the winter months but in fact because of being outside in the cold weather our blood vessels constrict to prevent blood from flowing freely to the extremities allowing the body to preserve the heat in…

We have added a ‘Camelbak’ drinks bottle in the rear of the hi-viz for operatives so that they do not have to walk around the site looking for hydration. This is especially useful for traffic marshals who are on the go, who can quickly hydrate in the summer months, reducing the need for plastic bottles which are becoming a major problem…

Whilst clearing out the welfare changing rooms to remove used PPE from a previous subcontractor and make space for a new subcontractor, ten bin bags full of old PPE and clothing was collected, including hard hats, boots, hi-vis vests, coats and trousers. Instead of throwing the old PPE in the skip, it was upcycled for a new purpose in the…

Recycling is a key way construction sites should try to minimise their impact on the environment. Sites should try to recycle as much material as possible and work with external partners if necessary. See the examples below for how one site addressed this: Hard hats are mainly made of polypropene and should be replaced for health and safety reasons every…

On our site we use floor protection products from Protec who have developed a take-back scheme that collects used proplex sheets as well as other twinwall corrugated plastic sheeting of any size, thickness and colour. They then recycle these sheets, thus providing a ‘closed loop’ solution to a potential waste product. There are just a few simple ground rules on…

There are many different drivers to reducing and eliminating waste on construction projects. A simple way of reducing waste where possible, and significantly reducing the numbers of vehicles coming to and from site from waste removal is a compactor or baler. Cardboard and plastic waste being baled not only saves space on site, but reduces costs in skips and decreases…

By returning HDPE membrane off-cuts from site to Newton headquarters in Tonbridge via backloads, the material is then initially processed in-house. Working closely with the UK’s largest non-profit recycling organisation RECOUP in order to set up the necessary relationships with both a plastics reprocessor and an end-manufacturer who will use the recycled material. Newton is the first waterproofing materials supplier…

Construction projects can create a great deal of waste, which in turn harms the environment. Plastic materials are particularly difficult, but this supplier devised an innovative way of making their business more environmentally friendly. See the examples below for how the supplier achieved this: Launched a waste take back scheme which recycles polypropylene packaging into new packaging material. This reduces…

Sustainable working methods and materials can also be more effective for the job. The example below shows how one site demonstrated this: The site team proposed 100% sustainable/recycled products for ducting; This is made of cardboard made from sustainable sources with recycled plastic for strengthening and joints; It is lightweight and arrives in flat pack and consequently the whole building…

Testing out experimental methods that could possible reduce environmental impact is always a good idea. At worst it will fail and the idea can be scrapped, but it could lead to a company wide innovation. The example below shows how one site achieved this: During the decade since the plastic panels were installed, there was a gradual acceptance that plastic…

As the Lillie Square project was evolving from superstructure and cladding towards utilising fit-out trades, the project held a ‘managing fit-out waste workshop’ with subcontractors. The purpose of the session was to help raise awareness about the importance of waste on the project and to also discuss ways in which waste could be reduced. The workshop covered a number of…

We have recycled our milk bottles and re-used them to plant flowers and make our welfare better looking. Also we have planted extra flowers in front of our cabins and made the site entrance more presentable and welcoming. By doing this we have both improved the appearance of our site to the public, visitors and workforce, as well as improving…

ATC invited eight members of the Salvation Army to a biodiversity engagement event as part of ‘World Climate Week’ at Plumstead railhead. The day began with a site tour, allowing our visitors to engage with our workforce and experience first-hand the workings of an operational railhead. After an informative tour delivered by ATC’s senior foreman the Salvation Army rolled up…

The ‘Spotlight on…’ flyers have been designed for general display in and around site welfare facilities. The Scheme provides a collection of A5 flyers from both past and current ‘Spotlight on…’ awareness campaigns. Each unique flyer contains information on the industry issue and advice on how to tackle it. This resource has proven valuable for display on site and raising awareness amongst…

To help improve compliance with the Waste Duty of Care, we have produced a pocket sized waste card to distribute to all operatives and supervisors involved with waste disposal on sites. This can be printed on water resistant card or laminated and acts as a quick reminder for all involved of the information needed on a waste transfer note. To…

At Structure Consulting’s £7.1 million food production facility project in Park Royal, London, waste plastic cladding trim off-cuts are utilised as an alternative to 1mm plastic packers to pack out door frames & window sills. This is contributing towards our BREEAM target score of three credits by optimising resource efficiency. There are several benefits to using these packers, such as: Re-use…

NetRegs is a partnership between the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). They provide free environmental guidance for small and medium-sized businesses throughout Northern Ireland and Scotland. NetRegs have also recently generated a series of e-learning tools on subjects such as: Duty of care Preventing pollution Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Renewable energy Sinks,…

Environmentally friendly working methods and alternatives should be identified and implemented. One site has used the Jackpad system to support single story buildings. Below is an example of how the site made use of these portable foundations: Jackpads are portable foundations, suitable for most ground conditions, for modular buildings that are made from 100% recycled plastic and steel; They can…

Throughout any construction project, it is essential that contractors give careful consideration to how their work may be impacting on the natural environment. Reducing waste through re-use or recycling is vitally important. Sites should also consider other initiatives to avoid waste. Examples of how waste reduction has been achieved include: The site used a system of bulk paint containers; Paint was delivered…

Sites should be conscious of the impact their project is having on the environment. In order to limit the negative impact, the waste produced on site should be reduced and recycled. Measures to reduce waste should be identified and implemented on site. Below is an example of how sites have achieved this, using recyclable hoardings: Hoarding was constructed using a recyclable…

World Environment Day (WED) is the biggest, most globally celebrated day for positive environmental action coordinated by the United Nations (UN). The first WED was held in 1974 and was created to encourage worldwide awareness and action to protect our environment. Each year, the theme and host country for WED is different, with the 2019 theme being air pollution and…

Waste management is an important environmental factor to be considered for every construction project. Materials on site should be either recycled or re-used as much as possible, to reduce waste to landfill. Reducing waste on site will benefit the environment and could also reduce costs. Examples of how many sites managed and reduced waste include: Timber waste was re-used as shuttering,…