Addressing Climate Change Through Waste Reduction in the Construction Sector

In the face of the urgent issue of climate change, it is essential to pinpoint key contributing factors and develop strategic solutions. According to research by the UK Parliament, the construction, demolition, and excavation sector accounts for a staggering 62% of the total waste generated in the UK. Tackling this waste problem is crucial for moving towards a sustainable future.

Key Strategies to Address Construction Waste. FURNITURE WASTE IN THE INDUSTRY

1. Legislation and Certifications

In several European countries, including Norway and Sweden, governments have taken proactive steps by enforcing legislation that requires businesses to act responsibly. These efforts include:

Mandatory Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs):

• Businesses are required to provide EPDs for their products.
• EPDs outline the environmental impact of a product from cradle to grave.
• This regulation compels companies to minimize their impact to comply with legislation and work towards net-zero emissions targets.
• EPDs are well-recognized and strictly regulated, ensuring credibility in environmental claims.

2. Effective Waste Management

Minimizing landfill waste is essential for reducing harmful outputs. However, the lack of stringent legislation in the UK has allowed “greenwashing” to become widespread.

Greenwashing Epidemic:

• Many companies exploit the absence of regulation to appear environmentally conscious for marketing purposes, without making real changes.
• As Malin Cunningham of Hattrick explains, “Greenwashing perpetuates the status quo because it leads specifiers, end users, everyone in the chain to believe that they are doing better than they actually are from a sustainability point of view.”
• Greenwashing tactics include the use of vague terminology, unregulated certifications, and buzzwords to appear socially conscious.

3. Recycling and Zero-Landfill Schemes

While recycling and zero-landfill initiatives have been introduced, progress is slower than needed to achieve the UK’s 2050 net-zero goals.

Innovative Solutions:

• Concepts like the restitution model at reoffer a glimpse into industry-transforming solutions.
• Conscious waste management at every stage of a project and addressing waste issues within the supply chain represent critical steps forward.

https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5803/cmselect/cmenvaud/103/report.html#heading-4

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57899572#:~:text=The%20construction%20industry%20produces%20a,more%20strategic%20approach%20to%20waste.%22