How to Make the Construction Industry More Sustainable
Earth has a population of 7.8 billion people, limited natural resources left, and a growing need for sustainable construction. Specifically, sustainable construction is the combination of implementing eco-friendly practices and using environmentally-conscious building materials in order to reduce waste. According to Construction & Demolition Recycling, the volume of construction waste is expected to double to 2.2 billion tons by 2025, and some studies have reported that construction is responsible for up to 50% of climate change, 40% of energy usage globally, and 50% of landfill waste. As the effects of climate change and other environmental issues become more noticeable, it is more important than ever to implement and improve sustainability efforts, such as using alternative materials, working with Just-In-Time production, and trying to become a paperless industry.
Alternative Materials:
When planning to reduce waste in construction, a quick solution is to find alternatives to the industry’s most wasteful resource: concrete. With more than 500 million wasted tons each year, concrete accounts for nearly half of all waste generated by the construction industry. Eco-friendly building materials, such as bamboo, recycled plastic, ferrock, and even hempcrete, are all possible alternatives to traditional concrete. Besides helping the environment, another benefit to using these materials is that structures built from these sustainable materials can last up to 20 more years than if they were built with wood or concrete.
Just-In-Time Production:
Another way to improve sustainability efforts in the construction industry is to implement Just-In-Time (JIT) production. As Lean Manufacturing Tools explains, JIT is a management philosophy that calls for the production of what the customer wants, when they want it, in the quantities requested, where they want it, without it being delayed in inventory. Instead of preemptively ordering excessive quantities of materials, JIT encourages construction companies to be more conscious with their materials. This method eliminates waste in the construction industry by removing overproduction from a project’s lifecycle.
Going Paperless:
While paper waste may not seem as significant as a dump-truck filled with construction debris, it is an important problem that the construction industry can help to address. In the US alone, approximately 67 million tons of paper is thrown away each year. To tackle this issue in the construction industry, sustainable companies utilize construction management software to replace paper plans and files. In addition to helping the environment, going paperless can save your business time and money. One study found that 84 percent of businesses that implement a paperless system see a significant return on investment in less than 18 months.
The Takeaways:
Sustainable construction is a trend that is improving each and every day. As the effects of climate change increase, sustainability becomes even more important. While there may be some challenges to implementing eco-friendly solutions, the benefits involved with sustainable construction can help create a cleaner future. With more private and public developers turning towards greener construction, it is important for your business to prioritize sustainable efforts so you don’t fall behind your competition. By helping the environment, your company can grow and profit in an environmentally and socially responsible way.
