Spotlight on… plastics and packaging raises awareness of the impact of plastics and packaging on the environment and provides the construction industry with guidance for tackling this issue...
Spotlight on… plastics and packaging raises awareness of the impact of plastics and packaging on the environment and provides the construction industry with guidance for tackling this issue...
Plastics and packaging are unavoidable in modern society, with the global market driven by consumerism and convenience, the demand for plastic is only increasing. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, more than 8 billion tonnes of plastic has been produced since the early 1950s, and around 60% of that plastic has ended up in either landfill or the natural environment.
For decades, society has ignored the environmental risks associated with plastics and packaging. However, recent scientific studies and documentary exposés such as David Attenborough’s Blue Planet have revealed just how detrimental plastics and packaging are to the environment and to human health.
The following statistics illustrate the severity of this environmental issue:
Plastics and packaging
Packaging is defined as any material used to hold, protect, handle, deliver and present goods. Such materials might include cardboard, paper, timber and most notably, plastic.
Despite the environmental risks associated with plastic, the construction industry is reliant on plastic in its working practices. This is because plastic is cheap, lightweight, water-resistant and chemically inert, making it an ideal resource for the industry to use.
In fact, the construction industry is the second largest consumer of plastic in the UK:
Plastic pollution
Over 8 million tonnes of plastic ends up in our oceans every year. As plastics degrade, the fibres release toxic chemicals and hormone disrupters which contaminate the water and increase the risk of pollution. According to Orb Media, plastic contamination has been discovered in over 90% of bottled water samples. It is important to remember that this not only affects our oceans, but our human health and marine wildlife also.
Plastic pollution kills a number of fish, marine mammals and seabirds every year. Plastic debris has already harmed over 700 marine species worldwide, with fatalities deriving from ingestion, suffocation and entanglement. At present, plastic kills over 100,000 sea creatures every year, and by 2050, there will be more plastic (by weight) than fish in the ocean.
The production of plastic is also reliant on fossil fuels. Specifically, more than 99% of plastics are produced from non-renewable resources. This is dangerous for the environment because fossil fuels emit greenhouse gases and dioxins into the atmosphere, contributing to the rise in global warming. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation suggests that by 2050, the plastic industry could account for 20% of the world’s total oil consumption and 15% of the annual carbon budget.
Likewise, the volume of plastic consumed has created substantial waste management issues, with unsustainable levels of plastic accruing in landfill and the environment. Rather than being reduced, reused or recycled, plastics are often disposed of to landfill or local ecosystems. This degradation of plastic is dangerous because it generates hazardous toxins which increase the risk of ecotoxicity.
The Considerate Constructors Scheme
The Scheme’s Code of Considerate Practice states that all registered sites, companies and suppliers are expected to protect the environment where possible. The checklist used by Scheme Monitors asks the following questions: ‘Are environmental issues identified, communicated, managed, and promoted?’, ‘Is waste avoided and the use of resources and energy minimised?’ and ‘How is a positive contribution being made to the natural environment?’
To support this campaign, the Scheme issued a survey which was taken by nearly 900 construction industry professionals to gauge attitudes on this topic. Key findings include:
Considerate Constructors Scheme Chief Executive, Edward Hardy said:
“As construction is the second largest consumer of plastic in the UK, our industry has one of the greatest responsibilities to society, and to the environment, to ensure that we are working tirelessly to improve our standards in minimising waste from plastics.
“The Scheme’s ‘Spotlight on… plastics and packaging’ campaign provides resources, practical support, and guidance helping everyone to take effective measures to tackle this issue. While considerable progress is being made – with over 76% of Scheme-registered construction sites setting targets to reduce, reuse, and recycle waste – it is clear that a concerted effort to raise further awareness, and to provide the necessary support, is needed to achieve this drastic reduction in waste from plastics and packaging.”
Nonetheless, there is still more work to be done if the industry is to tackle the issue of plastics and packaging. The following sections of this campaign showcase examples of best practice and in-depth case studies, while the resources section brings together organisations that are raising awareness of the environmental risks associated with plastic pollution.
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Preserving the environment is a central part of UK environmental law. The following legislation establishes policies and regulations in place to reduce plastic and packaging waste and consumption.
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There are a number of organisations and resources available to help the construction industry understand the environmental risks associated with plastics and packaging.
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The Scheme aims to improve the image of construction through sharing examples of best practice with the industry. Below are a number of examples of best practice that have been witnessed by our Scheme Monitors on their visits, or that have been submitted directly to the Hub by registered sites, companies, and suppliers.
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The Scheme collaborated with various contractors, suppliers, and organisations which are leading the way on tackling plastic pollution, to produce case studies outlining their approaches to this important issue.
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While plastics and packaging are valuable resources, far too much is disposed of to landfill and the natural environment. It is imperative that the construction industry reconsiders the way in which it consumes and disposes of plastics and packaging to protect the environment and human health.
Sites, companies, and suppliers of all sizes can do something to reduce their consumption of plastics and packaging. Although some guidance may apply to larger organisations, there are suggestions applicable to all constructors which can be modified for their own purposes.
Create a comprehensive Site Waste Management Plan
Formulating a Site Waste Management Plan is no longer a legal requirement in England. Nevertheless, a Site Waste Management Plan could be incorporated into every site’s waste management and logistics plan to reduce waste being disposed of to landfill.
A Site Waste Management Plan can be developed before construction commences. The plan describes how materials, including plastics and packaging, will be managed and disposed of and explains how the reuse and recycling of waste will be maximised.
Although the Scheme’s survey results found that 91% of construction industry professionals have a Site Waste Management Plan in place, over 50% said the plan is inefficient for managing waste produced on site. To build an effective Site Waste Management Plan, the following should be considered:
Using a Site Waste Management Plan not only protects the environment, but can significantly reduce financial costs. Sites could even consider implementing a Site Waste Management Plan solely for the purpose of plastic waste.
Introduce circular economy principles
The circular economy is an alternative to the traditional, linear economy of make, use, and disposal in which we keep resources in use for as long as possible, extract the maximum value from them while in use, and then recover the resources through reuse and recycling.
In construction, circular economy principles focus on designing out waste, reducing the volume of unsustainable materials consumed, and maximising the value of materials used.
Implementing a full scale circular economy is a challenging task. However, most sites, companies and suppliers can introduce some circular economy principles which will not only help to preserve the environment, but also drive financial savings by reducing the cost of handling and disposing of waste.
Ways in which circular economy principles can be introduced could include:
Use sustainable materials
Often, contractors use plastic packaging because this is what they receive from suppliers. In fact, during most projects, 34% of waste produced on site is packaging. Contractors and suppliers must take responsibility and collaborate to ensure sustainable alternatives to plastic packaging are used where possible.
Ways in which suppliers can minimise plastic packaging might include:
Ways in which contractors can reduce plastic packaging might include:
Avoid consuming single-use plastics
Although plastic is a useful resource, most plastic products are single-use, with an estimated 50% of plastic used once and thrown away.
Measures that could be introduced to reduce single-use plastics are as follows:
Educate the workforce
To reduce plastics and packaging waste, Site Managers should educate the workforce about the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling plastics and packaging.
Educating the workforce encourages operatives to be proactive and is an effective way for them to learn how to segregate, reuse, and recycle plastics and packaging, which in turn, will prevent waste being disposed of to landfill.
Site Managers should consider introducing the following strategies to educate the workforce:
Set an example
Reducing plastics and packaging at site level is an important way in which the industry can work towards protecting the environment. Even small steps can make a huge difference and will set a precedent for environmentally conscious behaviour.
Site Managers can set an example by implementing the following measures:
This campaign has shown that the construction industry is making considerable progress and is working hard towards reducing its consumption of plastics and packaging. However, the industry must now continue to make long term commitment to tackling plastic pollution as an entire sector.
Alongside the information above, it it also advised to use the resources provided in the ‘External resources’ section of the campaign which identifies valuable information from other organisations.
The Scheme aims to improve the image of construction through sharing examples of best practice with the industry. Below are a number of examples of best practice that have been witnessed by our Scheme Monitors on their visits, or have been submitted directly to the Hub by registered sites, companies, and suppliers.
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 Mace 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…
The Broadway project have taken steps to eradicate single use plastics on site, and have therefore banned the use of plastic blue over shoes, replacing them with MukGuard overshoes. MukGuards are a re-usable, washable and durable over shoe, with sole grips to prevent slips. To find out more, click the link below.
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…
Everyone in the construction industry needs to take appropriate measures to minimise their impact on the environment. This includes recycling where possible and making efforts to reduce waste. See the examples below for how one supplier addressed this: The company supplies and installs furniture and equipment to construction site cabins. They worked with a local corrugated packaging manufacturer to reuse the…
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,…
The Scheme collaborated with various contractors, suppliers, and organisations which are leading the way on tackling plastic pollution, to produce case studies outlining their approaches to this important issue.
Preserving the environment is a central part of UK environmental law. The following legislation establishes policies and regulations in place to reduce plastic and packaging waste and consumption.
The Control of Pollution Act (1974)
Under this Act, it is a criminal offence for any individual or organisation to cause or to permit the deposit of waste on any land or form of natural environment.
This Act imposes a Duty of Care on all organisations to ensure that any waste produced is handled efficiently to reduce reliance on landfill as a disposal option.
The Landfill Tax Regulations (1996)
Under these regulations, a landfill tax was introduced at which the current rate stands at £88.95 per tonne.
The regulations aim to encourage organisations to produce less waste, dispose of less waste, and recover value from the waste produced.
The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations (2007)
These regulations were introduced to reduce the amount of packaging waste disposed of to landfill. The regulations affect any organisation with a turnover exceeding £2 million and handles more than 50 tonnes of packaging waste each year.
The organisation must complete an annual submission detailing the volume and type of packaging handled, and how much packaging has been recovered or recycled.
In 2019, the regulations will be updated to increase the responsibility of manufacturers and suppliers to reduce packaging waste.
The Waste (England and Wales) Regulations (2011)
Under these regulations, it is a legal requirement for organisations to implement the waste hierarchy.
The waste hierarchy gives priority to waste prevention, followed by reuse, recycling, and other forms of recovery, and last of all, landfill disposal.
In January 2018, the EU released the European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy. The strategy strives to protect the environment from plastic pollution and to transform the way plastic products are designed, produced, used, and recycled in the EU. Under this strategy, all plastic packaging on the EU market will be made recyclable by 2050, the consumption of single-use plastics will be reduced, and the intentional use of microplastics will be restricted.
In October 2018, the European Parliament voted for a complete ban on a range of single-use plastics. While in January 2019, the EU proposed a ban on 90% of intentionally added microplastics in products to prevent an estimated 400,000 tonnes of plastic pollution.
All existing EU legislation will be retained in the UK via the European Union (Withdrawal) Act (2018).
In October 2018, the UK government pledged to tax all plastic packaging with less than 30% recycled plastic. This tax will come into effect from April 2022.
There are a number of organisations and resources available to help the construction industry understand the environmental risks associated with plastics and packaging.
Published 28 September 2020
Spotlight on… coronavirus aims to raise awareness of the health and safety risks and issues associated with the coronavirus pandemic and provide the industry with guidance to stop the spread, protect the workforce and the wider community.Published 2 September 2019
Spotlight on… worker fatigue aims to raise awareness of the health and safety risks associated with fatigue and provides the industry with guidance for addressing this issue…Published 4 February 2019
Spotlight on… plastics and packaging raises awareness of the impact of plastics and packaging on the environment and provides the construction industry with guidance for tackling this issue...Published 8 August 2018
Spotlight on… the next generation provides information and resources to help tackle the skills shortage and encourage young people into construction.Published 23 January 2018
Spotlight on… air pollution raises awareness of the impact of air pollution and provides the industry with advice on tackling the issue...Published 18 September 2017
Spotlight on… women in construction aims to demonstrate why the construction industry should be addressing the issue of attracting more women into the industry...Published 28 March 2017
Spotlight on… illegal workers aims to increase understanding of the risk posed by illegal construction workers, and identify what can be done to tackle the problem...Published 22 June 2016
Spotlight on… drugs and alcohol aims to raise awareness of the health and safety risks associated with the topic and how it impacts the construction industry...Published 8 September 2015
Spotlight on… occupational cancers aims to raise awareness of the health risks involved in construction work, specifically those relating to occupational cancers within the sector...Published 23 March 2015
Spotlight on… mental health aims to raise awareness of how mental health can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, religion or ethnicity and can cause stress, anxiety and depression...Published 14 October 2014
Spotlight on… language focuses on inappropriate, offensive and foul language used in the construction industry and how it could cause offence to both those working on site and anyone passing-by...Published 7 March 2014
Spotlight on… apprenticeships intends to highlight the importance of apprenticeships, and the benefits to employers, the individuals and the wider community...Published 1 July 2013
Spotlight on… cycle safety aims to raise awareness of cycle safety and reduce accidents between cyclists and construction traffic...