Latest innovations and products in the sustainability sections of the construction industry.

West Fraser Sustainability Report offers roadmap for future improvements

West Fraser has issued its 2021 Sustainability Report outlining the group’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance over the past year while reflecting on the multiple ways in which respect for the planet and its population has become fundamental to interactions with customers, communities, its supply chain and other organisations.

 

The report details our 2021 sustainability achievements and strategy to meaningfully advance our performance through establishing credible ESG goals and targets. This includes a focus on climate action and decarbonization of our operations, environmental stewardship, sustainable forest management and responsible fibre sourcing practices. In 2022, West Fraser will continue to drive continuous improvement and identify opportunities to improve its climate, biodiversity, forest, land management and water practices. West Fraser aligns with the principles and requirements of the Task Force on Climate Disclosure (TCFD), Global Report Initiative (GRI) and Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), and guided by leading ESG ratings agencies such as Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS), S&P Global, Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI), and Sustainalytics.

 

Constant improvement to its carbon footprint and other sustainability measures is a journey to which West Fraser is fully committed.

CLICK HERE For further information on West Fraser UK

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REPORT SHOWS PLASTIC PIPES HAVE LOWER CARBON FOOTPRINT THAN OTHER PIPE MATERIALS

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A new report from respected independent researchers McKinsey and Company has looked into the impact of plastics on climate change and concluded that plastics actually have a lower total greenhouse gas contribution than alternatives in most applications.

The report covers municipal sewer pipes and residential water pipes in construction as well as other areas such as food, packaging and furniture and summarised that plastics “…play an important role in enhancing use efficiencies and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

 

Lower greenhouse gas emissions

Plastic pipes have become increasingly popular as long-lasting engineered solutions in both below and above ground applications for many technical reasons.  Now their carbon credentials have been significantly boosted by the July 2022 report.  It clearly summarises, after rigorous and extensive research, that “plastics have a lower total greenhouse gas contribution than alternatives in most applications.”

The extensive report compares plastic with other materials in 14 areas within several industries including building and construction, and incorporates HDPE, PVC-U, concrete and ductile iron for below ground applications, and PEX and copper for above ground applications.  It covers greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for the entire cradle-to-grave lifecycle of all materials in the study.

The results are impressive and show, for example, that PVC-U sewer pipe overall has 35-45 per cent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than its equivalent in concrete or ductile iron.  This was partly due to it being able to carry out the same function but with less weight and the associated lower transport and installation costs.  In above ground water pipes, cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) pipe has 25 per cent fewer overall GHG emissions than copper pipe.  Despite copper’s high recycling rates, the ongoing thermal losses from copper pipe are significantly higher than from PEX pipe.

The full report can be accessed on the BPF website at Third Party Publications and Independent Studies (bpf.co.uk)

 

EPDs

Independent studies by the Belgian research organisation VITO measured the environmental footprint of various plastic pipe systems based on life-cycle assessment data from TEPPFA (https://www.teppfa.eu/sustainability/environmental-footprint/epd/).  The work was validated by the Denkstatt sustainability consultancy in Austria.  These EPDs compare greenhouse gas emissions (given by impact category GWP, Global Warming Potential) and use of fossil fuels (given by impact category ADP, Depletion of Abiotic Resources).  For hot and cold water supply inside buildings, the contributions to all seven categories from any of the four plastics manufactured to European Standards (polybutylene, crosslinked polyethylene, polypropylene or multi-layer) are significantly lower than copper systems for the same application.

 

Increased recycling rates

Most plastic pipes can be recycled multiple times.  An Australian report showed 6-7 recycles without any significant reduction in the pipe material quality requirements, giving plastic pipe a potential overall 600-year lifetime if the average life of each plastic pipe is around 100 years (source: DSEWPC, Waste and Recycling in Australia (2011, 2012)).  Many of the original plastic pipes installed back in the 1950s and 1960s remain in the ground today, continuing to perform successfully; proof that this is an extremely robust pipe material with a low carbon footprint.

In recycling terms, data from the European Plastic Pipes and Fittings Association (TEPPFA) shows that 51,980.4 tonnes of PVC-U and 198,932.4 tons of PE/PP recyclate (external pre- and post-consumer) were used in plastic piping systems across Europe in 2021 alone.  This figure is increasing year on year due to the efforts of both plastic pipe manufacturers and end users.  For example, BPF Pipes Group member Genuit Group now uses recycled plastic in 49.4% of its pipe products (2021 figures) and continues to invest in low carbon materials and products.  The plastics industry is further increasing capacity for chemical recycling to break plastics down into petro-chemical feedstocks which enables them to be recycled indefinitely.

More work is being done on standards which allow the extensive use of recycled plastic pipe product and bringing standards into line; for example, National Highways allows the use of 100 per cent recycled material for surface water drainage pipes in their MCHW Series 500 standard.  European standards for PP, PE and PVC-U underground drainage ancillary fittings, shallow chambers, manholes and inspection chambers (BS EN 13598 Parts 1
and 2) and PP and PVC-U stormwater boxes (BS EN 17152-1) allow the use of recycled material from any source.

The BPF Pipes Group produces guidance on installing below and above ground plastic pipes, intended to encourage best practice and circularity across the entire industry.  All guidance documents are available at https://www.bpfpipesgroup.com/support-downloads/guidance-notes/

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BATTERY RECYCLING IN ROTTERDAM

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TES Closes Deal On 10,000 sqm Battery Recycling Facility With Europe’s Largest Seaport – The deal between TES and the Port of Rotterdam will bolster Europe’s capacity to recycle lithium batteries

TES, one of the world’s largest providers of sustainable technology lifecycle services, has announced it has agreed to a deal that secures the future of a 10,000 square metre (approx. 110,000 sq. feet) recycling facility in the Port Of Rotterdam, Europe’s largest seaport.

The facility, strategically located adjacent to the waterways of the port of Rotterdam and with an option to extend onto a neighbouring plot that will increase the site to over 40,000 square metres (approx. 430,000 sq. ft), already has a basic waste license to receive, store and forward lithium batteries and to manage electric vehicle batteries and battery production scrap as well as a license to shred alkaline batteries.

The site extension is planned to be fully operational by late 2022 and will be the first lithium battery recycling plant in the Netherlands, complimenting the two other TES lithium battery recycling facilities in Grenoble (France) and Singapore.

The TES site in Grenoble was one of the first recycling sites to use an inert shredding process that safely crushes lithium batteries and developed a number of key patents for hydrometallurgical processes.

The expertise gained in France played a key role in TES opening Southeast Asia’s first lithium battery recycling facility in Singapore in March 2021. This state-of-the-art facility has the daily capacity to recycle up to 14 tonnes of lithium batteries — the equivalent of 280,000 smartphone batteries.

These existing facilities will support the development of the new, larger-scale site in the Port of Rotterdam. The combined capacities of the three facilities will make TES one of the largest service providers of lithium battery recycling globally as well as one of the largest generators of commodity materials produced from the battery recycling process.

This deal is part of an ongoing commitment from TES to improve the collection and recycling of portable and industrial batteries in Europe and supports the European Union’s goals laid out in the European Green Deal.

It is also a strategic move in preparation for the huge rise in global demand for lithium batteries as car manufacturers increase their electric vehicle outputs — which are predicted to increase 14-fold by 2030 (compared to 2018 levels).

A report from Circular Energy Storage in December 2020 explained that Europe is currently under capacity for sustainable lithium battery recycling, and more capacity is needed to meet waste generation by 2030.

According to figures from the European Commission2, the EU could account for 17% of the global demand for lithium batteries by 2030, the second highest share worldwide.

Thomas Holberg, Global Vice President of Battery Operations at TES commented, “We have a vision to be a global sustainability innovator, and our unwavering ambition to turn the Port of Rotterdam site into a state-of-the-art European battery recycling facility is key in delivering that strategy. Once up and running, we will have up to 10,000 tonnes of shredding capacity per year and a subsequent hydrometallurgical process which focuses on the recovery of nickel, cobalt, and lithium as a precursor feedstock for the battery industry.”

In response to rising demand, the European Commission has proposed modernising EU legislation on batteries as part of its Circular Economy Action Plan3. This includes goals for batteries that are more sustainable throughout their entire life cycle — which is key for the European Green Deal and will contribute to the EU’s zero pollution ambition.

Jean-Christophe Marti, Senior Partner and CEO at Navis Capital Partners, added, “With this investment, TES deepens its commitment to a global network of sustainable battery recycling offerings that addresses the challenges around the lifecycle while positioning TES as a trusted partner in closing the loop for our customer’s battery supply chain.”

Securing the future of this facility is welcomed by the Port of Rotterdam and is another example of their continued focus on supporting the development of circular industries within the port.

Allard Castelein, CEO at the Port of Rotterdam, commented, “We are working not only towards a net zero CO2 emission port and industry in 2050 but also looking at ways to make the industry more circular. Therefore, besides working on projects regarding, for instance, hydrogen and carbon capture and storage, it is important to take significant steps to establish circular production processes. The TES project in Rotterdam is exactly that. This could very well become the largest European facility for recycling batteries from electric cars.”

Holberg concludes, “Our mission at TES is to ‘close the loop’ on lithium battery production by encouraging reuse and improving the collection and recycling of the scarce metals and materials they contain. Our commitment to this facility in the Port of Rotterdam is a clear indication that we are choosing to invest in our future now and to increase capacity in the European battery recycling supply chain.”

www.tes-amm.com

 

 

 

 

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WIND – ARE YOU IN?

Countries around the world need to urgently scale up deployment of wind power in order to address the climate emergency, according to the Global Wind Coalition for COP26, which officially launches today on Global Wind Day.

The world is in a ‘make or break’ decade for climate action, and it is against this backdrop that the wind sector is intensifying its call for urgent climate action leading up to COP26 in November. Holding the most decarbonisation potential of any renewable energy source, wind power is an indispensable part of the solution to climate change while generating significant socioeconomic benefits.

But the world is not installing wind power at the pace needed to achieve net zero, and much more needs to be done to unleash its potential. According to recently released roadmap reports on reaching Net Zero by the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the world needs to be installing wind power at around 3-4 times the level of 2020, which saw a record 93 GW installed.

The wind industry’s new campaign for COP26 asks governments, companies, and people across the world one critical question: Wind. Are You In?
“We need to move from talking to action, and work together to massively scale up wind power around the world if we want to get to net zero by 2050. We need to be installing wind energy three to four times the current pace, which means we need governments to urgently raise their ambition, simplify red tape, invest in grid and revamp energy markets,” said Ben Backwell, CEO at GWEC.

“The wind industry has the technology, and there is huge appetite from investors and companies to switch to clean energy, but we need governments to stop holding us back and be all in for wind”, he added.

Wind power, both onshore and offshore, has expanded significantly in the last decades and is now a cost-competitive, clean energy powerhouse poised to be at the centre of the race to net zero carbon emissions by 2050. There is now nearly 750 GW of global installed wind capacity, which helps the world already avoid 1.1 billion tonnes of carbon emissions – equivalent to the annual carbon emissions of South America.

The record-breaking deployment of global wind energy has been driven by a virtuous cycle of innovation, cost reduction, and increased scale. The result of this immense growth is that wind energy is now a mainstream energy source and has proven to be reliable and affordable while being a sustainable engine for economic growth.


“Investing in wind power is a win-win for countries to create new local jobs and investment today to power a green recovery, while building more resilient infrastructure and economies for tomorrow. Governments are missing their golden opportunity to achieve their parallel goals of climate action and boosting economies after the COVID-19 crisis if they don’t take urgent action to drive wind power growth. We need them to get serious about wind”, commented Rebecca Williams, Director of COP26 at GWEC.

“All eyes are going to be on Glasgow this November as world leaders gather for COP26, and governments need to use this critical moment to put the world on the right track to achieve net zero. We don’t have time left to go on ‘business-as-usual’ – the climate emergency is already here. Luckily, we already have the solution that can significantly reduce the world’s carbon emissions, but we need governments to join us now or risk getting left behind”, she added.

 

 

The Global Wind Energy Coalition for COP26 is an initiative led by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), and is a multi-stakeholder group of leading wind power companies and associations from across the globe committed to ramping up wind power capacity to limit the dangerous impacts of climate change. Members include: Aker Offshore WInd, Akselos, BayWa r.e., DNV, EDP Renewables, Equinor, GE Renewable Energy, Glennmont Partners from Nuveen, Green Investment Group, Mainstream Renewable Power, Orsted, Principle Power, RES, RWE, Siemens Gamesa, SSE Renewables, Vestas, ABEEolica, American Clean Power, Chinese Renewable Energy Industry Association, Chinese Wind Energy Association, RenewableUK, South African Wind Energy Association, and WindEurope.

For more information on the global wind industry’s COP26 campaign, visit the campaign website here.

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5.5 gigawatts of clean energy by 2023

Global wind and solar company, Mainstream Renewable Power, has signed an agreement with the renewable energy investment company Aker Horizons (a wholly owned subsidiary of Aker ASA) which will take a 75% equity stake in the company, subject to regulatory approval. The deal values Mainstream at EUR1 billion (including a potential earn-out of up to EUR 100 million in 2023 and subject to customary adjustments) which represents a significant return for shareholders of up to 5.5 times investment. The agreement paves the way for a rapid acceleration of Mainstream’s global expansion plans to bring 5.5 Gigawatts (GW) of wind and solar assets to financial close by 2023.

The company, founded by Dr Eddie O’Connor in 2008, has significant interests across Latin America, Asia-Pacific and Africa, as well as in the global offshore wind sector, with over 1.2 GW of major capital projects currently under construction. Mainstream has a major market presence in Chile, Africa, and Vietnam, as well as assets in development in other countries including the Philippines, Australia, and Colombia. The company will remain focused on delivering its ~10 GW global development pipeline and growing its portfolio in existing as well as new markets, with the full backing of the Aker ASA group.

Under the terms of the agreement, the company will continue to operate as Mainstream, led by its CEO Mary Quaney and supported by its established and experienced leadership team.  Eddie O’Connor will remain as Chairman, retaining a significant minority interest in the business and all existing shareholders will have the opportunity to reinvest alongside him ahead of a planned IPO of Mainstream within the next two to three years.

Commenting on the deal, Mainstream’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Mary Quaney said:

“We are delighted to have such a highly respected business as Aker Horizons on board, enabling Mainstream to materially accelerate its growth plans to deliver a global portfolio of wind and solar assets. We plan to bring 5.5 GW of renewable assets to financial close globally by 2023, which sets us firmly on track to becoming one of the world’s first pure-play renewable energy majors.”  

Mainstream’s founder and Chairman Dr Eddie O’Connor said:

“This partnership is the crucial next step in the vision we set out for Mainstream in 2008 to lead the global transition to renewable energy and rid the world of CO2 emissions. It means we can widen our scope for entry into new markets and further deepen and expand our leadership position in existing ones, such as in Chile where we will soon be supplying the equivalent of one in seven Chilean homes with power from our wind and solar facilities. Critically, Aker Horizons shares our vision, mission and values, making it the right partner for Mainstream. Together with such an exceptional partner we will strengthen our position as a leader in the global energy transition during this critical decade.”

Kristian Røkke, Chief Executive Officer of Aker Horizons, said:

“We are thrilled to partner with Mainstream as we accelerate our journey of what we call planet-positive investing. Mainstream’s role as a pioneer in renewables and its strong entrepreneurial culture is a good fit as we carve out our path forward in the energy transition. Through the acquisition of Mainstream, Aker Horizons will gain a platform to drive forward its plans in renewable energy and position itself in a growing market for hybrid projects.”

Rothschild & Co acted as financial adviser to Mainstream on the Transaction and Linklaters, Byrne Wallace and Philip Lee acted as legal advisors on the Transaction.

About Mainstream Renewable Power

Mainstream Renewable Power is the world’s only independent developer of utility-scale wind and solar power assets with a global footprint. The company is focused on expanding its current development pipeline of ~10 GW of wind and solar assets across Latin America, Africa, Asia Pacific as well as the global offshore wind sector.

 

 

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Södra diversifies its UK range of flame retardant treated timber products

Södra, one of the UK’s foremost suppliers of sustainable timber, has diversified its range of flame retardant treated timber products available to the UK market, with its C260 and C260 Xterior.  

 For centuries, timber has been used in countless construction products, both indoors and outdoors, but today’s rigorous fire protection requirements run the risk of limiting creative expression. This is the view of Lars Broström, Sales Manager for Special Products at Södra, who believes that Södra’s new C260 and C260 Xterior products offer a much-needed solution to this problem.

Lars further comments: “Whether you’re an architect, developer or contractor, Södra’s C260 and C260 Xterior timber makes meeting fire safety regulations straightforward.”

Södra’s C260 and C260 Xterior are treated in Sweden by Woodsafe, one of Scandinavia’s leading companies in flame retardant treated timber products. The name C260 is a reference to the ignition temperature of wood. Both products are CE-certified in accordance with EN 14915: 2013 and Construction Products Regulation (EU) 305: 2011. When using C260 Xterior, there are no requirements for surface treatments, creating optimal conditions for timber’s natural ageing process.

“For C260, the flame retardant treatment chemical is applied using a high-pressure vacuum process,” explains Lars. “When this fluid is exposed to fire it releases carbon dioxide, which suffocates flames much like a fire extinguisher. This is what makes C260 the best choice for both safety and aesthetics. What’s more, C260 Xterior also requires very little maintenance.”

C260 Xterior provides the same level of flame retardant protection as C260, but the timber is given an additional weatherproofing according to EN16755, making it ideal for outdoor use without any further treatments. The flame retardant treatment fluid is embedded into timber fibres at a cellular level, so it can’t be washed away by rain or harsh weather conditions.

“The C260 Xterior flame retardant treatment can be applied to a wide range of different timber types without the need to apply topcoat,” continues Lars. “Now you can use timbers such as cedar, larch or heat-treated pine to build flame retardant protected structures while preserving the natural grain of the timber.”

Both C260 and C260 Xterior can be used for a wide range of applications; a benefit Lars describes as offering “freedom to be creative with your building projects.” Applications include:

 

  • Cladding for walls and ceilings
  • Sound-absorbing cladding
  • Arenas and sports facilities
  • Lecture halls and auditoriums
  • Music venues and concert halls

 

It can also be applied to a number of attractive timber types, such as Western Red Cedar, heat-treated timber and larch. Södra’s flame retardant treated timber panels can be painted in any solid colour, remaining compliant with fire regulations for: façade cladding, decorative elements, roofs and walls, balconies, and construction work, as long as it meets reaction to fire properties.

www.sodra.com

 

 

 

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Introducing SMARTPLY MAX FR B

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MEDITE SMARTPLY has now launched SMARTPLY MAX FR B, the brand new Euroclass B OSB3, a market innovation bringing increased safety and reliability to an industry contingent on safety and predictability.

 

SMARTPLY MAX FR B is the first Euroclass B board—the maximum Euroclass rating for a timber panel—manufactured in the UK and Ireland to feature wood flakes treated with flame retardant solution before pressing. This ensures its flame retardance is integral and maintains its structural integrity, unlike many post-treated alternatives, making it the safer choice for use within timber frame construction, or projects that will require a large amount of timber product.

“We are extremely excited to introduce SMARTPLY MAX FR B to the marketplace, expanding our already extensive SMARTPLY OSB range,” comments Richard Allen, Sales Director at MEDITE SMARTPLY.

 

 

“In SMARTPLY MAX FR B, customers can expect all the fantastic benefits of a SMARTPLY OSB board, with the addition of ZeroIgnition® solution, a water based and environmentally friendly flame retardant which is added during panel production.

“This is a solution that has potential in a huge range of applications and industries, encompassing many modern methods of construction such as offsite and timber frame construction, light gauge steel and modular construction systems, as well as temporary structures.

“Whatever the sector, all customers can rest assured that this board’s flame retardance will hold to Euroclass B standard, even when cut to size, which makes it different to other FR boards out there.”

Manufactured using advanced resin technology that results in a high performance, no added formaldehyde panel, SMARTPLY MAX FR B can help specifying architects, contractors and fabricators contribute to the creation of safer, healthier environments.

This includes not only the built environments actively created but the natural environments left behind: SMARTPLY MAX FR B is sustainably produced using timber from sustainably managed Irish forests.

 

 

“At MEDITE SMARTPLY, we want to support a safer, wider future for timber buildings, that will enable the wider construction industry to work more sustainably and more efficiently, truly building for the future. This has been one of our main motivations in developing SMARTPLY MAX FR B.”

SMARTPLY MAX FR B also complies with the performance requirements in the Structural Timber Association’s (or the STA’s) FR BUILD “Design guide to separating distances during construction” for timber frame buildings above 600m² total floor area. We refer to this product as SMARTPLY MAX FR/FR BUILD within our range.

SMARTPLY MAX FR/FR BUILD can be used in a timber frame building when mitigation measures are required due to the distance from neighbouring buildings. There are wall and floor systems outlined within the guide which give points towards the overall building, this satisfies any mitigation that may be required. Please refer to the STA guide for more information.

Finally, SMARTPLY MAX FR B meets with the requirements of European Standards EN 300 and EN 13986, while also complying with the European reaction to fire class B-s2,d0 and Bfl-s1. Boards can be manufactured in largescale formats of up to 2.8m wide by 7.5m long, making it ideal for offsite manufacturing, alongside traditional building.

 

For more information of the new SMARTPLY MAX FR B, click here:

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Global building industry leader Kingspan launches plans to tackle climate change

  • 12 ‘Planet Passionate’ commitments to reduce environmental impact by 2030
  • Expansion on Net Zero Energy and ocean clean-up initiatives
  • Kingspan also announced as new member of Circular Economy 100 (CE100) network

3 December 2019: Global building industry leader Kingspan has today launched a major 10-year strategy to play its part in reducing the world’s carbon emissions by 45% by 2030, as determined in the Paris Agreement, and contribute towards the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The Planet Passionate strategy is made up of 12 ambitious targets, addressing the impact of Kingspan’s business operations and manufacturing on the four key areas of energy, carbon, circularity and water, with commitments by 2030 to include:

  • Energy: powering 60% of all Kingspan operations directly from renewable energy with a minimum of 20% of this energy generated on manufacturing sites (up from 5.9% today)
  • Carbon: achieving net zero carbon manufacturing and a 50% reduction in product C02 intensity from primary supply partners
  • Circularity: upcycling of 1 billion PET bottles per annum into insulation products plus zero company waste to landfill across all sites
  • Water: harvesting 100 million litres of Kingspan’s water usage from rainwater

In recognition of its continued sustainability commitments, Kingspan has also today announced membership of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Circular Economy 100 (CE100), the world’s leading circular economy network.

The construction industry is one of the biggest contributors to carbon and greenhouse gas emissions, with construction and buildings combined currently accounting for 39% of all carbon emissions globally.[i] The World Green Building Council estimates that embodied carbon – carbon used in the manufacturing, construction and disposal of building materials – will be responsible for half of the entire carbon footprint of new construction between now and 2050. The construction industry is also responsible for an estimated 30% of all waste to landfill globally.

Kingspan’s Planet Passionate targets are designed to contribute to the world’s renewable energy mix, reduce carbon emissions, divert waste from landfill, conserve water, provide upcycling solutions for plastic waste and help clean the world’s oceans and protect biodiversity.

Gene Murtagh, CEO of Kingspan says, “Climate change is the single most important issue facing the world today and our most urgent priority. At Kingspan, we are committed to driving a more sustainable approach to our business in response to these issues. Energy conservation has always been at the core of our products, and how we run our business. Through Planet Passionate we will reduce carbon and energy in both our manufacturing processes and products, and continue our relentless pursuit of low-carbon buildings that deliver more performance and value, with clear targets to strive for by 2030.”

Combined with the research activities at IKON – Kingspan’s new global innovation centre, the Planet Passionate programme will ensure its products enable a pathway to net zero carbon buildings that contribute to a safer, healthier and more circular world.

Bianca Wong, Global Head of Sustainability at Kingspan, commented: “To protect our planet, carbon emissions need to fall by 45% by 2030, and to net zero by 2050 – but we’re currently on course to miss this goal by at least five-fold. At Kingspan we recognise the need for all businesses to take urgent action. We also know that more sustainable building products, combined with high-performance building envelope design, have the potential to save enormous amounts of energy and carbon. By working in partnership with the industry and striving to be Planet Passionate in everything we do, we are confident we can achieve the goals we have set our business and enable ourselves and our customers to contribute to the global fight against climate change.”

Joe Murphy, CE100 Lead for the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Kingspan Group to the CE100 – the world’s leading circular economy network. The CE100 brings together leaders and innovators from around the world to unlock new opportunities for growth. It is collaboration among our diverse and dynamic community that enables members to move faster and with greater success. Kingspan bring unique expertise and specific capabilities to the network’s strong built environment sector.”

Planet Passionate will not only impact on the environmental footprint of Kingspan’s business, but also aims to enhance the environmental performance of its products by reducing embodied carbon and enhancing circularity, making the buildings where they are used more sustainable too.

In 2011, Kingspan announced a Net Zero Energy programme with a 2020 target to match 100% of its operational energy use with renewable energy. The company is on track to achieve this goal. As part of this programme, Kingspan also joined the Science Based Targets initiative, setting a target of 10% reduction in Scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas emissions. This was a significant first step on Kingspan’s journey towards reducing its carbon footprint, and Planet Passionate is the next horizon.

Kingspan upcycled 256 million PET bottles into its insulation in 2018 and earlier this year committed to a target of upcycling one billion PET plastic bottles per annum by 2025. In addition, Kingspan agreed a three-year partnership with the EcoAlf Foundation to support and expand their project which removes 150 tonnes of plastic waste from the Mediterranean each year, about 10% of which is PET. Ocean PET recovered from the EcoAlf project is added to the upcycled PET bottles and used to make Kingspan’s insulation. Kingspan now plans to support four further ocean clean-up projects by 2025 through Planet Passionate.

For more information, visit www.kingspan.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Could achieving net-zero disrupt business as we know it?

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With government legislating for net-zero by 2050, what does this mean for UK energy markets and business models?

Getting to net-zero will require economy-wide changes that extend well beyond the energy system, leading to rapid and unprecedented change in all aspects of society.

Research published today by the UK Energy Research Centre shines a light on the level of disruption that could be required by some sectors to meet net-zero targets.

With many businesses making strong commitments to a net-zero carbon future, the report highlights the stark future facing specific sectors. Some will need to make fundamental change to their business models and operating practices, whilst others could be required to phase out core assets. Government may need to play a role in purposefully disrupting specific sectors to ensure the move away from high carbon business models, facilitating the transition a zero-carbon economy.

Sector specific impacts

The in-depth analysis presented in ‘Disrupting the UK energy systems: causes, impacts and policy implications’ focuses on four key areas of the economy, highlighting how they may need to change to remain competitive and meet future carbon targets.

Heat: All approaches for heat decarbonisation are potentially disruptive, with policymakers favouring those that are less disruptive to consumers. Since it is unlikely that rapid deployment of low carbon heating will be driven by consumers or the energy industry, significant policy and governance interventions will be needed to drive the sustainable heat transformation.

Transport: Following the ‘Road to Zero’ pathway for road transport is unlikely to be disruptive, but it is not enough to meet our climate change targets. The stricter targets for phasing out conventional vehicles that will be required will lead to some disruption. Vehicle manufacturers, the maintenance and repair sector and the Treasury may all feel the strain.

Electricity: Strategies of the Big 6 energy companies have changed considerably in recent years, with varying degrees of disruption to their traditional business model. It remains to be seen whether they will be able to continue to adapt to rapid change – or be overtaken by new entrants.

Construction: To deliver low-carbon building performance will require disruptive changes to the way the construction sector operates. With new-build accounting for less than 1% of the total stock, major reductions in energy demand will need to come through retrofit of existing buildings.

The report identifies how policy makers plan for disruptions to existing systems. With the right tools and with a flexible and adaptive approach to policy implementation, decision makers can better respond to unexpected consequences and ensure delivery of key policy objectives.

Prof Jim Watson, UKERC Director and Professor of Energy Policy, UCL said “The move to legislate for net-zero is welcome progress, but we need economy-wide action to make this a reality.
This includes policies that deliberately disrupt established markets and business models in some sectors – and address any negative impacts.”

Prof Jillian Anable, UKERC Co-Director and Professor of Transport and Energy, University of Leeds added “The UK transport sector is nearly 100% fuelled by fossil fuels, with only tiny niches of electrified and bio-fuelled vehicles.

Whilst politically challenging, the sector can only hope to reach ‘net-zero’ through whole-scale change that involves reducing hyper-mobility and fuel switching. This will lead to disruption to actors, global networks, governance and lifestyles.”

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New framework unveiled to help industry become net zero carbon by 2050

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Building industry charity, the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) have unveiled an ambitious framework for the UK construction and property industry to help us transition new and existing buildings to become net zero carbon by 2050, in line with the ambitions of the Paris Climate Agreement.

The report follows six months of intense industry engagement, involving over 180 experts and stakeholders from across the built environment value chain, and is supported by 13 trade associations and industry bodies including BPF, RICS and RIBA. It provides an overarching framework of consistent principles and metrics that can be integrated into tools, policies and practices, and aims to build consensus in the industry on the approach to decarbonising buildings.

The new framework offers guidance for developers, owners and occupiers targeting net zero carbon buildings, setting out key principles to follow and outlining how such a claim should be measured and evidenced. Two approaches to net zero carbon are proposed by the framework which can be accurately measured:

  1. Net zero carbon – construction: the embodied emissions associated with products and construction should be measured, reduced and offset to achieve net zero carbon.
  2. Net zero carbon – operational energy: The energy used by the building in operation should be reduced and where possible any demand met through renewable energy. Any remaining emissions from operational energy use should be offset to achieve net zero carbon.

With the report presented as a starting point, the next ten years will see the scope and ambition of the framework increased to encourage greater action. In the short-term, additional requirements will be introduced to challenge the industry, including minimum energy efficiency targets and limits on the use of offsets. In the longer term, the two approaches for construction and operational energy will be integrated into a broader approach for net zero whole life carbon, covering all of the emissions associated with the construction, operation, maintenance and demolition of a building.

The work has been made possible thanks to the generous support of lead partner Redevco Foundation, and partners BAM, Berkeley Group, Grosvenor, JLL and Hoare Lea.

Richard Twinn, Senior Policy Advisor at UKGBC said “The urgency of tackling climate change means that businesses must work together to drive down emissions as fast as possible. But this requires a shared vision for what needs to be achieved and the action that needs to be taken. This framework is intended as a catalyst for the construction and property industry to build consensus on the transition to net zero carbon buildings and start to work towards consistent and ambitious outcomes. It is the first step on a journey towards ensuring all of our buildings are fit for the future.”

James Wimpenny, Chief Executive at BAM Construct UK added “Contractors, clients, supply chains need to work together – and quickly – to radically change the way we procure, design and deliver buildings. Smart use of renewable technologies and efficient use of low carbon materials are a priority. Reducing carbon makes financial sense over the lifecycle of buildings and that means we should not focus solely on capital costs when procuring a building.”

Rob Perrins, Chief Executive at Berkeley Group concluded “This framework is an important step towards defining net zero carbon buildings and helping the industry understand how they can be delivered. We want to help lead this work, which is so important to decarbonising the built environment and protecting our planet for future generations. Sustainability runs through everything we do at Berkeley Group. We have already become a carbon positive business and have committed to creating new homes that can operate at net zero carbon by 2030.”

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