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Finding the right materials
02 Jun 2009
Topics: Construction, Sustainability
In June 2008, the Strategy for Sustainable Construction was launched in the UK. This was a joint industry and government initiative that was "intended to promote leadership and behavioural change, as well as delivering benefits to both the construction industry and the wider economy", according to the UK government.
It's no small task: the UK Department of Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) calculates that the UK's construction industry is worth over £100bn a year and accounts for eight per cent of GDP. Introducing any major changes to this sector was never going to be easy. As a starting point, BERR points to the business case for the sustainable construction agenda. According to the government's Strategy, this is based on:
- increasing profitability by using resources more efficiently;
- firms securing opportunities offered by sustainable products or ways of working; and
- enhancing company image and profile in the market place by addressing issues relating to corporate and social responsibility.
Over the last two years, BSI has led the development of standards providing guidance on essential aspects of sustainability. BSI has also worked with a range of industry experts to develop standards to promote sustainability and innovation within the construction sector.
"The UK's aspirations on issues such as sustainability can only be delivered if there are clear, transparent and reliable ways of measuring performance. I believe that this is best achieved through national and European Standards," says Colin Loveday, chairman of BSI's Advisory Committee on Construction Products and chairman of the Committee for Responsible Sourcing. "I am very pleased with the progress we have made on a standard for the content and governance of sector schemes, and feel that we are setting the scene for future developments."
BSI is also working to develop standards for responsible sourcing including one on responsible sourcing of construction products. A committee drawn from all sides of the construction sector has been working since October 2008 and expected to bring a standard for responsible sourcing sector schemes to public comment during April.
It is planned to follow this with a standard for the organizational delivery of responsible sourcing soon after.
The standard will draw on existing industry practice and knowledge, with the objective of providing a commonly-agreed, widely-applicable specification for responsible sourcing of all construction products.
"The Construction Products Association has been extremely keen for a responsible sourcing framework standard to be introduced and has been engaged in this process for much of the year," says Jane Thornback, of the Construction Products Association.
"Many companies in the industry have already put good working practices in place, or are doing so now, and they will want some recognition for this. I am pleased that the framework standard will help to deliver this."
UPCOMING CONFERENCES:
Finding the Right Materials
2nd Annual Conference
Life Cycle Costing
15 September
London
www.bsigroup.com/lifecyclecosting
and
Eurocodes Conference and Workshop
Managing the Change
20-21 Oct
London
www.bsigroup.com/eurocodesconference
Business Standards © 2010. Editorial produced by Caspian Publishing in association with The British Standards Institution. Editorial opinions expressed on are not necessarily those of BSI Group or Caspian Publishing. Neither Caspian Publishing nor BSI Group accept responsibility for advertising or editorial content, nor for that appearing on linked third-party websites. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden without written permission from BSI Group or Caspian Publishing.
BSI is planning an informal free lunchtime roundtable in central London on 10 December 2009 to explore how small businesses and their trade bodies can work more effectively with standards. Places are limited so to register your interest or request more information, please email bsi.survey@bsigroup.com or call +44 (0)20 8996 7750.
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