United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals
Climate change is the greatest challenge humanity has ever faced.
Communities worldwide confront immediate threats from floods, fires, and resource destruction. In the long term, unless we make significant changes now, the outlook remains bleak.
Confronting these issues means facing some uncomfortable truths. The reality is that the construction industry causes significant environmental damage. Concrete has been called ‘the most destructive material on earth’, with a carbon footprint that would surprise many airline passengers.
Construction and the built environment account for approximately 40% of the UK’s total carbon footprint (UKGBC, 2019) and produce 40% of the country’s waste (RICS, 2020).
Additionally, it has profound effects on biodiversity, air pollution, and habitat destruction.
It is long overdue for the construction sector to recognise these harsh realities and start making meaningful changes
We are committed to becoming as sustainable as possible in every aspect.
We try our hardest to work in a manner that does not compromise the needs of future generations. To support this, we’ve aligned ourselves with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
We can make the biggest difference by focusing on goals 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15. Here’s how:
Goal 9 - Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
What it is: Goal 9 focuses on creating resilient and inclusive infrastructure for future generations. It also promotes sustainable industrialisation to encourage innovation and support healthy communities and economies in the years ahead.
What we’re doing:
- Our self-healing concrete is durable and resilient, making it an ideal material for developing more sustainable infrastructure.
- We promote innovation through partnerships with universities and agencies, both internally and externally. For instance, our current collaboration with the Ecostructures Project aims to develop nature-based solutions to construction challenges.
- We share our expertise with government agencies and construction and engineering firms.
- We are committed to using nature-based solutions while simultaneously enhancing the durability and resilience of our precast concrete products. We hope they will serve the planet for many generations.
- Our designs are smarter and more sustainable than traditional options. They have a significantly lower carbon footprint and less environmental impact.
- Our tree-planting initiative will sequester millions of tonnes of carbon over time, helping to create a cleaner, safer planet for future generations.
Goal 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
What it is:
Sustainable cities and communities are safe, inclusive, reliable, and resilient. Achieving this requires accessible support for skill development, access to technology, and inclusive urban development.
Increasing the amount of nature in urban areas also helps achieve this goal. This is one area where we can make a real difference. By working with nature in our designs, we can boost biodiversity, offset global carbon emissions, and enhance the environment for both humans and wildlife.
What we’re doing:
- We are collaborating with the Environment Agency to repair and construct infrastructure like coastal defences that align with their sustainability goals.
- Our living walls bring structures to life. Also known as ‘green walls’, our grey walls are covered with plant life. They provide habitat, enrich the environment, and look fantastic into the bargain. Our living walls can be retrofitted to structures or added to existing precast products.
- Sensicrete is low-carbon. We manufacture a range of precast concrete products that cut embodied carbon by 50% per m3 compared to a typical CEM1 mix.
- Sensicrete is also self-healing. Powered by award-winning technology, our ultra-durable self-healing concrete extends the lifespan of structures and eliminates the need for repairs. It reduces maintenance costs substantially and provides an extra layer of protection for steel reinforcements.
Goal 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production
What it is:
Our current patterns of production and consumption are rapidly depleting resources. If we don’t adopt more responsible and sustainable construction methods, future generations will have nothing left.
What we’re doing:
Our low-carbon concrete significantly reduces cement usage without compromising performance or structural design.
Adding self-healing additives to the concrete mix greatly enhances its durability and sustainability.
We use reusable steel moulds, which can be employed hundreds of times before being responsibly recycled.
We collect rainwater and recycle contaminated water for reuse.
We promote sustainable consumption both within and outside the company. At all levels, we strive to do more with less and to minimise waste.
Goal 13 – Climate Action
What it is:
Climate change is causing serious issues such as hurricanes, wildfires, flooding, and more.
Using renewable energy sources in building plans, energy-efficient techniques, and advanced engineering can help slow down climate change.
Climate change is an urgent problem, and immediate action is required. However, by working together and making swift changes, the construction industry can reduce global energy consumption and cut emissions to create a greener planet for everyone.
What we’re doing:
We are lowering carbon emissions across our organisation. For example, we aim to become paperless, use water filters at work, and consider the carbon impact of commuting.
We adopt, design, and promote low-carbon construction options. Our Sensicrete mix has a significantly reduced carbon footprint and marks an important step towards sustainable, low-carbon building.
Goal 14 – Life Below Water
What it is:
The ocean isn’t just beautiful; it’s also one of the planet’s most vital resources. Oceans, coastal, and marine resources play a key role in human well-being and social and economic development worldwide.
Oceans are especially important to coastal communities, which accounted for 37% of the global population in 2010. Protecting and enhancing our oceans and coasts is crucial for a sustainable future.
What we’re doing:
When building submerged structures, we adjust the pH of our concrete to make it safe for marine life.
Our submerged structures use biomimicry to support, rather than damage, habitats. The designs mimic natural shapes, enabling them to serve as viable habitats and work harmoniously with nature rather than hindering it. Many construction challenges have already been addressed by nature – so why not emulate them?
Through TreeNation, we invest in repairing and conserving mangrove swamps in coastal regions. These not only enrich the environment but also supply valuable resources to local communities.
Goal 15 – Life on Land
What it is:
We must restore and safeguard terrestrial ecosystems. This includes ensuring that land is used sustainably.
To address desertification, halt and reverse degradation, and combat biodiversity loss, we need to make significant changes in how we view, utilise, and develop our land.
What we’re doing:
We conserve resources by casting products in reusable and recyclable steel moulds.
When we need wood for bespoke products, we make sure it comes from sustainable sources and is reused or recycled afterwards.
Our ambitious tree-planting initiative aims to plant enough trees over the next thirty years to absorb six million kilograms of CO2 throughout their lifetime.