Appendix 5: Sustainable Resource Management Framework Contents 1 Introduction 2 Resource and Materials Framework and Action Plan 3 Roles and Responsibilities 4 Training and Awareness 5 Identifying Lessons Learned and Best Practice Annex A Best Practice Overview Annex B Site Waste Management Plan
Appendix 5: Sustainable Resource Management Framework
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Contents
1 Introduction
1.1 Context
1.1.1 Scottish Government
1.1.2 Transport Scotland
2 Resource and Materials Framework and Action
Plan
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Materials Specification
2.2.1 Background
2.2.2 Objectives and Targets
2.3 Materials Sourcing
2.3.1 Background
2.3.2 Objectives and Targets
2.4 Transportation and Delivery of Materials
2.4.1 Background
2.4.2 Objectives and Targets
2.5 Transportation of Workforce
2.5.1 Background
2.5.2 Objectives and Targets
2.6 Storage and Handling of Materials
2.6.1 Background
2.6.2 Objectives and Targets
2.7 Use of Materials
2.7.1 Background
2.7.2 Objectives and Targets
2.8 Disposal of Materials
2.8.1 Background
2.8.2 Objectives and Targets
2.9 Indicators
3 Roles and Responsibilities
3.1 Introduction
5 Identifying Lessons Learned and Best Practice
5.1 Introduction
Annex A Best Practice Overview
Annex B Site Waste Management Plan
1 Introduction
1.1 General Introduction
This Sustainable Resource Management Framework (SRMF) aims to address the key issues around the supply, management and use of the resources and materials needed to deliver the Forth Replacement Crossing (FRC) Project and reflects a wider drive by Transport Scotland to adopt best sustainability practice within the organisation.
The basis for Government policy on sustainable resource management and sustainable procurement in Scotland has been set out in recent years in the Scottish Government’s Sustainable Development strategy - Choosing our Future (Scottish Executive 2005). This includes a number of principles and commitments particularly in the section outlining what the public sector should aim to achieve.
The Strategy indicated that the Scottish Government intended to introduce a Scottish Sustainable Procurement Action Plan that would identify Key Performance Indicators and benchmarking opportunities to deliver on the Scottish Government's ambition to be a leader in this field. It concludes with the statement:
‘We want the public sector in Scotland to act as exemplars, leading the way in improving the resource efficiency of its operations. This will make a significant contribution to efficient government as well as sustainable development objectives.’
More recently the Scottish Government has published guidance on sustainable procurement. A short informal summary is given to ‘Sustainable Public Procurement’ (Scottish Government 2009e) and this offers an approach that will allow public organisations to develop a sustainable procurement programme in accordance with their own objectives.
Transport Scotland’s Forth Replacement Crossing (FRC) team recognised that the FRC Project provides an opportunity to lead the way in terms of promoting sustainability best practice. Consequently the FRC team developed a Sustainable Development Policy for this project that sets out clear principles and objectives that will endeavour to ensure that sustainability is factored into all stages of the life cycle of the project.
The FRC Sustainable Development Policy has set out two key policy objectives with regard to sustainable resource management these are:
- ‘apply best practice in sustainability in the design,
construction and implementation of the project where
practicable’; and
- ‘encourage contractors to adopt sustainability best practice for the construction industry’.
Implicit within these objectives are a number of key themes that form the basis of the Sustainable Resource Management Framework, these are:
- management of natural resources: which includes the re-use
or recycling of materials;
- responsible sourcing: which includes sustainable sourcing, local sourcing, reducing transportation, efficient logistics;
- supply chain management: including waste minimisation, management systems and site stewardship; and
- climate change and energy: including energy efficiency, fossil fuel consumption, renewable sources of energy.
Annex A includes a brief summary of some of the current best practice in materials sourcing and planning for civil engineering projects obtained from a range of sources including the Highways Agency, the Building Research Establishment and the Civil Engineering Research Association. This Annex has been used as a source of data in the preparation of this report.
Sustainability, allied closely to environmental considerations, should form a core thread throughout all the activities of the project team and stages in the project life cycle. The Contractor should therefore consider sustainability throughout the construction of the project and use this document as a guide for managing sustainability effectively within the contract. The framework is not mandatory. The objectives and targets are aspirational and have been developed to promote sustainability within the FRC project. It is expected that the aspirations of Transport Scotland will be met as far as is reasonably practicable within the context of the contractual relationship.
The following resource and materials framework and associated action plan sets out, under key headings, the aspirational objectives and targets that will be set in order to deliver the above vision while seeking to ensure that the project follows responsible sourcing principles.
2 Resource and Materials Framework and Action Plan
The Framework is based on the following key stages for dealing with resources and materials that are likely to be used during the project:
- materials specification;
- materials and resource sourcing;
- transportation of materials;
- workforce travel;
- storage and handling of materials;
- use of resources and materials; and
- disposal of materials.
Each is discussed in turn with key objectives, targets, requirements and actions set out in the following sections.
Consideration needs to be given to whether the selected materials come from primary, secondary or recycled sources. Primary materials are, in general, a depletion of natural resources, while secondary and recycled avoid depletion. In some cases, such as timber, primary materials may come from a sustainable source. Contractors should consider whether:
- the cost, performance and quality of reusable or recycled product and material is equivalent to that of the primary alternatives;
- there are any durability issues relating to the material selected;
- the potential for products and materials to be recovered at the end of their life has been taken into account in the design including the recyclability/reusability of materials at the end of their life; and
- whether the incorporation of recycled or secondary material into the product could have an affect on its recyclability in the long-term.
Information needed to take performance, durability, longevity and recyclability into account in decision-making will include:
- material performance specifications;
- the life expectancy of the material; and
- the required working life of the material.
When considering material specifications there will also be opportunities to consider the implications of using hazardous materials and to focus on low-environmental impact materials and components.
The contractor should be required to produce a materials register that sets out the key characteristics of materials including durability, recyclability, ease of disassembly, hazardous properties and maintenance requirements. It is anticipated that the successful contractor will work closely with the National Industrial Symbiosis Programme (NISP) to identify opportunities for optimising the use of recycled materials.
There will be opportunities to harmonise materials use with the Site Waste Management Plan (see Annex B) and to therefore maximise the re-use of materials on site.
The following key objectives have been set to address materials specification within the SRMF:
- to minimise the amount of materials used, maximise the
re-use of materials and prevent the unnecessary production of
waste;
- to minimise the contribution made to the depletion of finite resources from the materials used throughout the life cycle of the project;
- to minimise the use of hazardous materials and the impacts of any used; and
- to maximise the use of materials and components that can be readily disassembled and re-used.
To deliver the above objectives the following aspirational targets have been created:
- 100% of all earthworks materials used come from either
re-used or recycled stocks;
- 20% of all other materials used come from either re-used or recycled stocks.
- To minimise the % of materials used that are derived from fossil fuels;
- 90% of material coatings and treatments have a low-VOC content;
- 100% of coatings and treatments for wood-based and other relevant materials are non-persistent and biodegradable; and
- 100% of all coatings and treatments for permanent work materials are factory applied (except for cut ends).
The level of employment and its location is an indicator of a range of social and economic issues for a given area. Using local products supports local livelihoods and keeps the value of goods within the area.
Contractors should demonstrate:
- whether material has been generated within or produced
locally to the site or outside the local area; and
- what are the business practices and social conditions under which potential suppliers operate (e.g. Fair Trade standards, workers rights and conditions etc).
The contractor should work to a responsible sourcing code of practice drawn up in partnership with the FRC Sustainability Team for the Project. This will set out key principles and guidance in relation to a number of areas including ethics, supply chain management, stakeholder engagement, management systems and site stewardship. The construction materials that would need to be considered in this section would include – aggregates, fill material, steel, pre-cast concrete, asphalt, ready mixed concrete and timber products.
The following key objectives have been set to address materials sourcing within the Sustainable Resource Management Framework:
- to source all materials responsibly;
- to source materials locally where reasonably practicable; and
- to source all timber-based products (either temporary or permanent) from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified (or equivalent) sustainably managed forests, where practicable.
To deliver the above objectives, the following aspirational targets have been established:
- To ensure that the following percentages of materials are sourced locally.
Material |
Percentage to be sourced locally |
|---|---|
Earthworks – cut and fill: soils |
100% |
Earthworks – cut and fill: imported materials |
100% |
Earthworks – rock and aggregate |
100% |
Concrete |
100% |
Asphalt |
100% |
Timber |
100% |
- 00% of timber-based products are FSC certified (or equivalent).
2.4 Transportation and Delivery of Materials
In addressing the transportation issues consideration should be given as to whether there are any differences in the impacts of transport options both inside and outside the local area for the different material supply.
In the case of the impacts of transport within the local area consideration should be given to whether there are any differences in the number of road miles generated locally by selecting materials from different sources. This is an issue because of the potential impacts of road traffic on local roads and populations. Options that minimise the amount of road traffic or change the transport mode from road to rail or water would have positive effects on a range of issues including: energy consumption, air pollution (CO, CO2, NOx, SO2, particulates), congestion, highways maintenance costs, accidents and road safety.
In the case of the impacts of transport outside the local area there is the need to compare the supply alternatives in terms of transport modes, from point of production to the boundary of the local area. The distance travelled could be measured in road mile equivalents. This is converting the number of miles travelled by road, rail and water modes into a common scale (this could be achieved through the assumption that 1 tonne road mile has equivalent impacts to approximately 5 rail tonne miles and 6 water tonne miles). Supply options that reduce the number of tonne road miles equivalents will have a positive benefit on energy consumption, air pollution (CO, NOx, SO2, particulates), congestion, highways maintenance costs, accidents and road safety. Road tonne mile equivalents can be reduced by change in mode of transport. Carrying the same amount of material the same distance by rail or water rather than road can have large positive benefits on the impacts.
The contractor will be expected to draw up a Construction Traffic Management Plan (or equivalent) that will ensure that the impacts of transport are kept to a minimum.
Key questions that contractors should address are:
- Where is the material being sourced from?
- What are the quantities being transported?
- What are the modes of transport open to them and what is likely to be used?
- How can more sustainable forms of transport be utilised?
The following key objectives have been set to address the transportation and delivery of materials within the Sustainable Resource Management Framework:
- to promote more sustainable forms of transport for the transportation of all materials and freight; and
- to make sure that consideration is given to more sustainable transport routes (other than road) for all goods and services.
2.5 Transportation of Workforce
Whether there are feasible options for workforce transportation that do not rely solely on car travel and provide more sustainable alternatives (such as buses, car sharing schemes, Park and Ride etc) should be looked into.
Contractors should promote more sustainable forms of transport for site workers through the development of a ‘Green Travel Plan’.
- To promote more sustainable forms of transport for the transportation of the workforce; and
- to make sure that consideration is given to more sustainable transport routes (other than road) for the workforce.
2.6 Storage and Handling of Materials
The storage of materials on site has implications for site design, clearance and preparation. Consideration should be given to how the construction site(s) will be cleared and prepared for future construction purposes. If there is vegetation present then consideration will need to be given to how best to clear and dispose of it.
Contractors should address the following key questions:
- What is the vegetation type?
- Could it be used for habitat?
- Can it be composted, mulched or put to other good use on site (i.e. re-used/recycled)?
- Does it pose complications for disposal (e.g. noxious weeds, Schedule 9 plants?)
Contractors should consider how all earthworks material and aggregates are stored on site. Soils will need to be stripped and stored appropriately (i.e. topsoil separate from subsoil) making sure that spoil and waste materials are not included and that vegetation has been removed.
Contractors should address the following key questions:
- Have soil resources been clearly identified?
- Have designed storage areas been screened for environmental risk?
- Have stockpiles got suitably designed protection (e.g. seeding to prevent erosion for long term storage, etc)?
- Has a suitable use been found for any surplus soils (both topsoil and subsoil)?
Consideration should be given to the appropriate storage of the different grades of earthworks, fill and aggregate materials. Sites should be planned in order to minimise transportation movements on site. Consideration will also need to be given to the appropriate storage of any other construction materials or the suitable location of pre-fabrication compounds.
Thought should be given to the types of vehicle and plant used for the transference of all materials, together with the number and distance of movements, and with regard to earthworks/soils the degree of compaction and waterlogging.
Contractors will be required to develop a soil handling and management strategy to minimise impacts of soil handling on the environment. This can usefully be based on the Code of Practice for the Sustainable Use of Soil (DEFRA 2009a). This clearly sets out a range of soil handling procedures that safeguard soil quality.
Key questions that the contractor will need to be able to respond to are:
- Has the Code of Practice or Method Statement been clearly explained and communicated to the relevant staff?
- Is compliance with the Code being checked and verified (both by the Contractor and also the Client’s Site Representative)?
- Are vehicle movements being kept to a minimum?
The following key objectives have been set within the Sustainable Resource Management Framework to address the storage of materials on site:
- to make sure that topsoil and subsoil are stored correctly for re-use after construction;
- to ensure that all earthworks and other material storage sites are sited with minimum risk to the environment; and
- to keep all vehicle movements to a minimum.
How materials are actually used on site needs to be given consideration here and this will tie in very closely again to the Site Waste Management Plan. For example the optimisation of the cut and fill balance will help to reduce the quantity of material brought on site as well as reducing the amount taken off for disposal or re-use elsewhere. This type of initiative will make sure that materials are used more sustainably, will help to cut polluting emissions (e.g. from unnecessary transport) and also help to cut costs. Decisions as to whether structures involving large amounts of concrete are prefabricated and brought in to site or whether concrete is batched on site or brought in from batching plants in the local area or further a field will all need to be made.
The contractor will have some key questions to address including:
- Has the cut and fill balance been optimised?
- Has the percentage by volume of bulk fill and sub-base material coming from previously used material on-site been maximised?
- Has the amount been maximised from previously used material sourced from nearby?
The following key objectives have been set within the Sustainable Resource Management Framework to address the use of materials on site:
- to optimise cut and fill to reduce the quantity of material
brought on the site and to reduce the quantity of excavation spoil
taken from the site as waste for re-use;
- to minimise the quantity of materials needed to be taken off-site; and
- to maximise the percentage by volume of bulk fill and sub-base material used in the project that comes from previously used material (either from on-site or elsewhere).
To deliver the above objectives the following aspirational targets have been established:
- where practicable, to re-use on site 100% of excavated material; and
- to aim for 100% use of previously used material as bulk fill or other appropriate uses.
The prevention and minimisation of waste and the close link with the Site Waste Management Plan are important features of this part of the Sustainable Resource Management Framework. Consideration needs to be given to preventing any waste being generated in the first place, to re-using any material waste on-site and to divert all waste from going to landfill. The focus on the waste management hierarchy of recover, re-use and recycle should help in this regard.
Contractors should meet the following challenges and address these key questions:
- Can all waste be prevented?
- Can materials be segregated and diverted from landfill?
- Is there planned space for storage and re-use of materials on-site?
The following key objectives have been set within the Sustainable Resource Management Framework to address the disposal of materials on site:
- to divert as much waste as possible from disposal to landfill; and
- to re-use all waste and unused materials.
To deliver the above objectives the following targets have been established:
- to divert 100% of inert and non-hazardous waste from landfill; and
- to re-use 100% of all potential inert and non-hazardous waste where practicable within the site as fill material.
Table 2-1 below summarises the quantified indicators that will be used to address the key objectives for the principal materials to be used within the Project.
Table 2-1: Sustainable Resource Management Framework – Targets/Indicators
| Indicators |
Stage 3 Design |
Tender Design |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials Specification |
Material |
Target |
Material |
Target |
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Currently under consideration |
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Currently under consideration |
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Currently under consideration |
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Currently under consideration |
100 km? |
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Currently under consideration
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Currently under consideration |
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Currently under consideration |
Workforce Travel |
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Currently under consideration |
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Currently under consideration |
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Currently under consideration |
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Currently under consideration |
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Currently under consideration |
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Currently under consideration |
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Currently under consideration |
Tbc = these are currently under consideration
3 Roles and Responsibilities
The roles and responsibilities for the Sustainable Resource Management Framework are divided between the Client and Contractor as follows:
(i) Client
The role of Transport Scotland as the ‘Client’ is primarily one of leadership and in setting out the structure, vision, objectives and targets for the Sustainable Resource Management Framework. This will be effectively communicated to the Contractor.
The Client’s policy requirements on materials will be communicated during the tendering process with the aim of obtaining a Contractor that will meet the requirements and communicate the importance of best practice material logistics to the whole supply chain. The implementation of the Sustainable Resource Management Framework will endeavour to ensure that good practice material management is included in all aspects of the project and the use of targets / requirements in contract documents will help make the Contractor accountable for performance.
As the contract develops, opportunities to improve the management of materials will be identified and pursued. This will be done by a small site team made up of staff from the Client and Contractors’ design team and Site Management staff. It will be expected to pool knowledge and experience in identifying where materials are being wasted through e.g. design, project programming and damage.
The Client will be responsible for leading the project review process at the conclusion of the construction project and ensuring that any ‘lessons learned’ are communicated to appropriate stakeholders.
(ii) Contractor
The Contractor will be responsible for delivering the Client’s requirements by implementing clear procedures to manage materials through the supply chain. The procedures will be based on estimated material quantities and comparing these to the actual quantities used. The Contractor will provide a regular report on the progress in delivering targets.
4 Training and Awareness
A training and communications programme should be developed by the Main Contractor to ensure all parties understand how they are to report the quantities and types of materials they will use throughout the duration of the project.
The training should include making sure that everyone is aware of any site-specific issues and logistic strategies. Training can be delivered via bespoke courses or incorporated into existing training sessions such as induction and toolbox training.
5 Identifying Lessons Learned and Best Practice
This section of the Sustainable Resource Management Framework will be developed further as the Project moves into the construction phase. The successful contractor will be expected to maintain a project log that will identify any lessons learned as the Project evolves and also will monitor best practice in resource management and materials planning. Regular reviews will encourage procedures and strategies to be modified and updated as required.
Data gathering and management will be an important part of the continuing CEEQUAL assessment, verification and certification process.
Annex A Best Practice Overview
Highways Agency (HA)
The HA report Building Better Roads: Towards Sustainable Construction (2003), sets out the Agency’s approach in relation to the construction and maintenance of trunk roads and motorway networks. This document sets out the main areas where the Agency is seeking to improve its environmental performance. In terms of resources management, the following summarises the HA approach:
(i) Management of Natural Resources
The Agency seeks to promote the re-use and/or recycling of highways materials as well as encouraging the use of secondary and waste materials where practical. Examples of newly developed recycling techniques are the ‘linear quarry’ method and the ‘crack and seat’ technique for concrete pavements. Both involve the in-situ reuse of existing pavement materials during reconstruction. This not only reduces the requirement for new materials but also does away with the need for the associated transport movements.
The Agency also encourages design for minimum waste; this includes consideration at an early stage in design how waste from the project can be minimised over its entire life cycle and how any residual waste arising will be treated and disposed of. Furthermore, the Agency seeks to achieve lean construction – essentially this means getting rid of activities that do not actually add value and are therefore wasteful.
(ii) Reducing Emissions
HA aims to reduce the release of substances or noise that can cause nuisance or harm to humans and other animals and plants. For example, it recognises that noise pollution is a major concern for communities living close to road networks and aims to take practical steps to minimise disturbance due to noise. This includes specifying low noise surfaces as standard where new roads are to be built or existing roads improved.
(iii) Reducing Energy Consumption
Fossil fuels, the current main source of energy, are a finite resource and must therefore be used as efficiently as possible whilst also seeking to develop renewable sources of energy. Energy is consumed through the use of lighting for roads and signs, and the use of communications equipment such as flow monitoring cameras, messaging signs and emergency phones. The construction and maintenance of highways also consumes energy through the extraction, processing, manufacturing and transport of construction materials and products. The Agency is also encouraging the use of local materials for road construction, thereby reducing transportation requirements.
WRAP
The WRAP Construction programme is working to set standards for good practice in waste and resource management for the construction industry sector. WRAP has produced a suite of guidance material to assist in achieving good practice. WRAP’s document Achieving good practice Waste Minimisation and Management outlines the principles of good waste management practice and these are illustrated in Figure A1.1 below.
WRAP recommends the implementation of a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) on construction projects. This is not just a tool for managing waste on-site but is also used during earlier project phases to inform the development of design by identifying potential waste streams to minimise and targeting appropriate rates of recovery.
Figure A1.1 Good practice in waste minimisation and management (Source: WRAP)
WRAP is also working with the construction industry to promote more efficient logistics. It has been reported that some 15% of material delivered to construction sites is wasted. The cost of material wastage on a project not only relates to the material cost but also productivity losses associated with multiple handling of materials and inefficient construction practices that arise from poor logistics.
WRAP has produced a report entitled Efficient Construction Logistics, which identifies the range of current methods and techniques of construction logistic being used, both traditional and alternative, and the role they can play in reducing material waste. The report identifies the logistic methods where immediate and long-term gains can be made.
Building Research Establishment (BRE) – BRE BES 6001: Framework Standard for the Responsible Sourcing of Construction Products
BRE Global has prepared a new framework standard for the responsible sourcing of construction products. The standard addresses aspects of responsible sourcing such as stakeholder engagement, labour practices and the management of supply chains serving materials sectors upstream of the manufacturer. The framework comprises a number of criteria setting out the requirements of an organisation in sustainably managing the supply of construction products. Assessment against the standard is divided into three section: (i) organisational management; (ii) supply chain management; (iii) environmental and social requirement. The document gives a set of principles reflecting what is considered good practice in making purchasing decisions. These are summarised in Table A1.1 below:
Table A1.1 Principles of responsible souring (Source: BRE BES 6001)
Ethics - recognise the need to adopt and apply standards of ethical behaviour appropriate to the purpose and activities of the organisation |
Resource use - recognise the need to use all materials in the most appropriate and sustainable manner |
Legal compliance - comply with all applicable laws and regulations |
Site stewardship - be responsible stewards of sites used by preventing pollution and recognising the importance of national heritage, ecological value and biodiversity during use and after the end of life of each site |
Management systems - have systems in place to operate in a legal, efficient and financially sustainable manner with continual improvement in the management of quality, health and safety, the environment and human resource |
Water - use water efficiently to minimise demand on potable water supplies, and treat process water and site run-off effectively to mitigate against pollution risks |
Supply chain management - communicate and work constructively with the supply chain to deliver sustainable policies and practices |
Waste management - manage all waste streams effectively by adopting the waste reduction hierarchy and minimise waste incinerated and disposed of to landfill without energy or material recovery |
Stakeholder engagement - identify stakeholders affected by the activities of the organisation and its supply chains and be responsive to their needs |
Transport impacts - recognise the social and environmental impacts of transportation and the need to adopt appropriate strategies to reduce adverse impacts |
Complaints and prosecutions - operate with transparency and record and report all complaints and prosecutions and associated corrective actions |
Employment and skills - continue to support sustainable communities by providing employment and economic activity through fair operating practices, and recognise the importance of developing a skilled and competent workforce |
Fundamental rights at work - respect international norms concerning human rights and labour practices and recognise fundamental rights at work including the abolition of child labour, forced or compulsory labour, the rights of freedom of association and collective bargaining, and the elimination of discrimination |
Local communities - liaise effectively with the local community and strive to develop mutual understanding and respect |
Health and safety - operate in a responsible manner to protect employees, contractors and visitors |
Contribution to the built environment - develop products that improve the quality and sustainability of the built environment |
Climate change and energy - use energy efficiently in the production of materials and products and minimise the emission of greenhouse gases associated with these processes. Reduce fossil fuel consumption and utilise renewable sources of energy |
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National Industrial Symbiosis Programme (NISP)
Industrial Symbiosis is about companies working together for mutual benefit. It is based on the principle that "one company’s waste is another company’s raw material". Through collaboration companies can improve resource efficiency and competitiveness.
NISP aims to promote and apply the use of industrial symbiosis within the UK. It works by putting companies with available wastes and resources in touch with other organisations that are looking for these materials. NISP acts as an independent facilitator, bringing together companies of all shapes and sizes across traditional sector and industry boundaries. NISP was launched as a national programme in 2005 and is growing fast with 8000+ member organisations across the UK. The programme is funded by Defra through landfill tax payments.
Civil Engineering Environmental Quality Assessment and Awards Scheme (CEEQUAL)
Section 8 of the CEEQUAL manual deals with the responsible sourcing and use of construction materials. The assessment asks whether a materials plan has been produced and if it has been implemented. The plan should make recommendations for material use to minimise impacts on the environment such as the potential for pollutants leaching into the environment, transport impacts and design for waste minimization.
Minimising material use and waste
Over-specification can result in unnecessary material consumption and can be avoided through careful design and planning. CEEQUAL gives a number of examples of positive steps that can be taken, including: the selection and use of prefabricated units (e.g. pre-cast concrete units); optimization of cut and fill to reduce the quantity of excavated material to be taken off site; re-use of excavated material on-site; and the correct separation of subsoil and topsoil and storage for re-use after construction.
(iv) Responsible sourcing of materials
The sourcing, manufacture, use and disposal of construction materials can have a significant impact on local and global environments from which they are obtained or in which they are produced.
Using standard designs and specification clauses can lead to the exclusion of acceptable locally sourced and more-sustainable material choices. CEEQUAL encourages the designer and contractor to actively seek out sustainable local materials on a site-by site basis.
(v) Using re-used and/or recycled materials
The appropriate re-use of structures and parts of structures can significantly reduce the demand for new construction materials and other environmental burdens resulting from a development. CEEQUAL identifies a number of opportunities to re-use or recycle materials, including the re-use or recycling of materials already on site in the new works (which also minimises transport impacts); bringing in reclaimed or recycled materials from off site without imposing high transport impacts; seeking opportunities for use elsewhere of reclaimed or recycled on-site materials that cannot be used on site (also without imposing high transport impacts); ensuring that opportunities for the re-use and recycling of materials at the end of the structure’s lifetime are maximised.
(vi) Minimising use and impacts of hazardous materials
This is closely linked with health and safety considerations and assessments undertaken to comply with safety regulation (COSHH) can be extended to cover environmental aspects of those materials being assessed.
(vii) Durability and maintenance
Extending the lifetime of a structure is likely to have considerable environmental benefits as it avoids the environmental impacts associated with later refurbishment or the building of a new structure. In the same way, a low maintenance structure reduces the environmental impacts relating to maintenance and is also likely to enhance the structure’s lifetime.
(viii) Future de-construction and disassembly
Designing for de-construction or disassembly will ensure that as many as possible of the components from a works or structure that has come to the end of its useful life can be re-used or recycled. Structures and components that can be easily dismantled will yield more materials for high-grade reclamation.
Annex B Site Waste Management Plan
Site Waste Management Plans (SWMPs) aim to address two key issues:
- improving materials resource efficiency, by promoting the economic use of construction materials and methods so that waste is minimised and any waste that is produced can be re-used, recycled or recovered in other ways before disposal options are explored; and
- reducing fly-tipping, by restricting the opportunities available for the illegal disposal of waste by ensuring compliance with existing legal controls and providing a full audit trail of any waste that is removed from the construction site.
In England it is a legal requirement to write and implement a SWMP, however the advantages in producing this kind of plan are becoming well recognised across the sector and it is becoming part of good practice in construction projects. FRC will require a SWMP.
A major advantage of preparing SWMPs is the recognised cost savings that are likely to be achieved as a result of the consideration of materials resource efficiency that will be a necessary part of the preparation, before the SWMP is drafted.
The flowchart below shows how this might work during the various stages in a construction project.
