UK Construction: Sustainability (Still) Matters

The start of the new decade has seen Covid-19 turn the world on its head, altering life in a way not much of the global population has seen before. Many businesses haven’t had a choice but to vacate their offices and turn their homes into workspaces. The challenge everyone is facing when workforces return comes in adapting work areas for life after covid-19.

To offer a clearer picture of what a post pandemic office might look like, we have outlined the key design trends we predict to appear as businesses make their way back into workspaces.

During the chaotic start of a new decade climate change, sustainability and the environment seem to have dropped off everyone’s agenda. But with the coming months now deemed to be the calm after the storm, and building sites beginning to reopen post lockdown, industries like construction have been given a golden opportunity to turn their attention back toward building green.

Estimated to be responsible for around 35 – 45% of CO2 released into the atmosphere, the construction industry is still a major contributor to global warming. Given the commitments of countless governments to reduce this over the last few years, the sector needs to urgently adopt more sustainable processes and methods.

Can prefabrication help?

Manufacturing components offsite can cut emissions by up to a reported 60% versus conventional construction. As well as minimising waste, prefabricating components also reduces the need for constant traffic and deliveries to site, meaning less vehicles on the road.

Modern prefab elements are also designed with long term sustainability in mind as standard, including the use of in-depth data analytics to design commercial and residential buildings with optimal energy use and maximising space in mind.

Upcycling Materials

Each year, the UK construction industry uses around 400 million tonnes of material. Of that, around 100 million tonnes of waste are produced, and around a quarter of that waste ends up in landfill.

At a basic level, the stereotypical ‘over ordering’ process in construction needs to stop.

Any material that isn’t used will more than likely get thrown away, contributing to the 25 million tonnes already ending up in landfill.

Processes such as deconstructing buildings rather that demolishing them can also increase the amount of materials that can be reused and salvaged rather than discarded.

Purpose made reusable products are also a much eco-friendlier alternative to single use products. Using Glass rather than plastic for example, although comes with a higher initial cost, will be cheaper long term due to its longevity and adaptability.

Sustainable Innovation

By definition, Sustainability is the ‘avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance’, and with the earth well and truly showing it has a finite number of resources available it’s only a matter of time before next generation materials and improved manufacturing processes - designed to slow the consumption of natural resources and fight climate change - become mainstream.

On the outside, sustainable materials such as green concrete which uses recycled plastic instead of sand, or pollutant absorbing bricks which suck in polluted air and release fresh filtered air help to counter act and replace the earths depleting resources.

While multiuse, eco-friendly, and durable materials such as sustainable & certified glass or timber, combined with adaptable spaces allow buildings to become versatile and interchangeable on the inside.

At the Glass Wipe Board Company, we’re passionate about sustainability, making eco-friendly choices and protecting our environment. Our policies as a business are constantly evolving to ensure we’re able to help our clients create an environmentally friendly workspace delivered using recyclable materials and with sustainability in mind.

At the Glass Wipe Board Company, we’re passionate about sustainability, making eco friendly choices and protecting our environment. Our policies as a business are constantly evolving to ensure we’re able to help our clients create an environmentally friendly workspace delivered using recyclable materials and with sustainability in mind.

For more information on how we can help you create the perfect home office, speak to one of our sales team on 01303 674364 or email us at sales@theglasswipeboardcompany.com.