The UK construction industry has come a long way in adopting more sustainable practices to reduce landfill waste. There’s still more to do, but progress starts somewhere.
This Earth Day, we want to highlight the efforts already being made and encourage more from the sector to continue doing their part.
Sustainability in Practice on Construction Sites
Sustainable practices go beyond reducing waste. They also help control costs and minimise remedial work. Here’s what that looks like on site:
Use of recyclable materials
A growing sustainable practice in the UK construction industry is using materials that can be recycled at the end of their life.
A good example is temporary protection like scaffold sheeting and floorboards. After project completion, they can be collected and recycled instead of being thrown away.
This reduces the amount of construction waste going to landfill and lowers the demand for new raw materials to help cut emissions.
You’ll also see the use of recycled materials, such as:
- Recycled steel in structural frames
- Recycled aggregates from crushed concrete in roads and foundations
- Insulation made from recycled glass or textiles
Manufacturers often include logos that indicate whether a product is recyclable or recycled. When stocking up online, check the product description where you can confirm the details.
This logo is used across our 100% recyclable product range, including:
- Scaffold sheeting: Classic, Classic FR, Plus, Plus FR, Pro, Pro FR
- Floorgard Corry Board: Standard corry board, handy pack corry board, custom print corry board
Efficient waste management
This starts with segregating waste for recycling. Non-recyclables are separated in different skips and rubble in fitting bags, so they can be properly processed. Wood goes here; metal there, rubble somewhere else.
On well-managed sites, even small bits matter. Offcuts from timber, boards, or metal are set aside in bulk bags like fitting bags and reused where possible instead of being thrown away.
Those ready for collection will be sent for recycling. Here at SP Group, this service is offered on top of your purchase. The collection charge depends on volume and location.
Our team will coordinate directly with your site foreman to gather and collect your used plastic materials. Certification will be issued once they arrive at the recycling facility, where they’ll be processed into new plastic products.
Learn more about our Blue Cycle Recycling Scheme.
Low-carbon material selection
There’s more attention now on choosing materials with a lower carbon impact.
Take engineered timber, for instance. It has a lower carbon footprint than concrete or steel because it requires less energy to produce. That carbon stays stored in the wood, even after it’s made into timber products. This offset emissions from other materials.
Another example is lower-carbon concrete mixes, which replace part of the cement with materials like GGBS. Since cement production is one of the biggest sources of carbon in construction, using less of it lowers emissions from the mix.
Circular economy approach
A circular economy is a broader ‘loop system’ that supports the move towards net zero by keeping resources in use for as long as possible.
From “take, make, dispose” to a more circular approach where materials are designed, produced, used, reused, repaired, and then recovered through recycling before going back into use again.
Construction waste makes up over 50% of total waste in the UK, and materials like concrete and steel account for around 14% of the country’s carbon emissions (UKGBC, 2019).
By applying circular economy through reuse, repair, and recovery, construction waste and demand for new high-carbon materials can be cut down. It’s not standard across the whole industry yet. But the more it becomes part of everyday practice, the bigger the impact it can have.
There are more steps being taken, but these are a great starting point. Earth Day is a great reminder to keep these practices going, but the real work is staying consistent.
Take the next step today! Builders, scaffolders, and resellers can contact our team for recyclable product enquiries and fast quotes via customercare@s-pgroup.com or 028 9411 0032. SP Group is a temporary protection and scaffold supplier based in the UK and Ireland.