Strategies for social impact and sustainability in the construction industry

The construction industry is a significant contributor to environmental challenges and we can no longer view infrastructure and buildings as mere physical structures separate from their impact on society. The United Nations Environment Programme reports that construction activities are responsible for nearly 37% of global carbon emissions, consuming vast amounts of raw materials and energy. The industry is witnessing a shift with sustainability being a necessity for our planet and communities.

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) in construction considers environmental impact, social responsibility, economic viability and long-term community benefits. These considerations affect how we design, construct and operate built environments. Climate crisis awareness, changing consumer expectations and economic incentives are driving the construction sector toward more responsible practices. By adopting innovative approaches and making conscious efforts, construction businesses can work toward a sustainable future. Below are the strategies that demonstrate that sustainability in construction is not a distant ideal, but an achievable goal:

1. Prioritizing eco-friendly materials and methods

The choice of materials and techniques is crucial to sustainable building practices and businesses can make conscious choices to minimize their environmental footprints. Traditional construction materials, which have significantly contributed to global carbon emissions, are now being replaced and reimagined through innovative solutions.

• Groundbreaking sustainable materials are being developed. These materials not only reduce environmental impact but also contribute to ecological restoration. For instance, bamboo is a renewable, strong and carbon-efficient material that is being utilized to provide long-lasting structures. Grown from fungal networks, mycelium-based building materials are biodegradable. Similarly, locally sourced materials with minimal processing can also contribute to reducing transportation emissions.
• Recycled and upcycled materials are becoming mainstream in construction projects. Significant amounts of energy and resources are required to produce materials from scratch. Making use of recycled steel reduces mining impact and reclaiming wood prevents deforestation and reduces waste.
• Prefabrication and modular construction are other significant advancements in promoting sustainability in the construction industry. Prefabrication and modular techniques promote building components or modular units off-site and then transporting and assembling them wherever required. These methods reduce on-site waste and minimize construction time.

2. Managing water and resource consumption

Construction projects consume a lot of water and energy resources. To combat this problem, making innovative management strategies is essential for preserving the resources.

• One of the methods to mitigate excessive water wastage is rainwater harvesting systems that collect and store rainwater for non-potable uses. Similarly, grey water recycling treats and reuses water from appliances. Businesses can also utilize intelligent plumbing designs to minimize water wastage.
• Energy efficiency in construction is an essential contributor to reducing environmental impact. Integrating sustainability into buildings could be as simple as building natural ventilation designs. Excellent ways to use renewable energy include solar panel installations, geothermal heating and cooling technologies and micro-grid connectivity for energy sharing.

3. Minimizing construction waste and emissions

Construction and demolition activities generate tons of waste that accounts for global carbon emissions. This environmental footprint is both a critical challenge and an opportunity for change. Organizations have come a long way to discover ways to deal with these challenges.

• One of the useful waste reduction strategies is implementing circular economy principles in construction, promoting reduction, reuse and recyclability. Precise material quantity calculation should be practiced in the initial phase of projects to minimize excess. Additionally, on-site waste segregation and recycling systems are effective ways to deal with waste.
• Building infrastructure generates significant emissions. To manage this, carbon footprint tracking should be encouraged throughout the construction process. Moreover, efficient transportation and logistics planning can help with reducing emissions. Carbon offsetting programs are an excellent option for projects where emissions control strategies cannot be applied. Offsetting programs include investing in any technologies and projects that mitigate carbon emissions.

4. Designing for durability and resilience

The built environment is no longer just about building structures that stand for a few decades. Modern construction activities should prioritize resilient and adaptable designs in addition to being environmentally sustainable. Attaining sustainability in design requires a holistic approach that considers long-term performance.

• Structural health monitoring systems are being set up to determine the real-time state of engineered structures. Additionally, climate-adaptive building strategies are being implemented to address changes in the environment and climate. Integrating self-healing materials that can repair early-stage structural damage helps avoid critical material damage.
• Multi-purpose spatial planning supports evolving social and environmental needs, serving a wide range of uses. It’s also equally essential to future-proof architectural designs to accommodate technological advancements.

How we can help

The boundaries between technology, nature and human-made environments continue to blur. IFS Cloud is a modern enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform that helps construction businesses achieve sustainability by delivering unique use case support, including functionalities like supply chain management and emissions tracking. Baker Tilly, along with IFS can provide you the technological and strategic support needed to embed sustainability into construction processes.

Source: BakerTilly