Did you know the UK construction industry produces around 100 million tonnes of waste each year according to Defra (the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)?
Organisations working in the industry are legally required to follow the waste management hierarchy, which prioritises preventing waste, reusing it, recycling it, recovering it and finally disposing of it. Integral Cradles approach to its scope of works on our project delivery is carefully tailored to support this hierarchy.
During our work on access systems installations and maintenance, Integral Cradles and our maintenance partner GIND UK are committed to sustainable construction practices and strives to minimise waste throughout our projects.
Our approach incorporates innovative strategies such as BIM-led design, factory acceptance testing, and equipment refurbishment to reduce our environmental footprint:
- BIM-Led design for optimised solutions: By utilising Building Information Modeling (BIM), we create project-specific design solutions that ensure the equipment provided is perfectly suited to the task. This eliminates the need for unnecessary changes on-site, reducing waste and minimising delays.
- Factory Acceptance Testing for quality assurance: We conduct rigorous factory acceptance tests on all our equipment before delivery. This ensures that the equipment is compliant, defect-free, and ready to perform optimally on-site, reducing the likelihood of breakdowns and minimising waste.
- Efficient transportation and logistics: Our transportation practices are designed to optimise space utilisation and reduce waste. By loading equipment without unnecessary packaging and reusing transport materials, we minimise our environmental impact and improve efficiency. Just-in-time deliveries further reduce waiting times and unnecessary transportation.
- Equipment refurbishment for extended lifespan: Whenever possible, we prioritise the refurbishment of our equipment rather than replacing it. This extends the lifespan of our assets, reduces waste, and contributes to a more sustainable approach to construction.
Discussing the company’s approach to waste management, Integral Cradles and GIND UK managing director Kevin Walton said:
“It’s no secret that the construction industry is a major generator of waste. We believe it’s vitally important we take measures to reduce our environmental impact. By implementing BIM-led design, factory acceptance testing, and equipment refurbishment on our projects, we are taking significant steps to reduce waste and provide a better environment for future generations.
Kevin added: “Looking ahead, we’re exploring further measures for carbon reduction and other methods of improving sustainability when delivering our projects.”
