ALL TALK AND ALL ACTION – WINVIC’S COMMITMENT TO A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
Sustainability remains the hot topic in construction, and we promote action and collaboration to reach Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals. We’re working tirelessly across every area of our business to not only deliver sustainable projects that exceed our client’s expectations, but also to become a Net Zero Carbon business by 2025.
We want to raise the bar for delivering sustainable buildings and infrastructure for our clients, while also leaving a lasting positive, social, environmental, and economic legacy and our long-standing ‘Doing It Right’ ethos helped to inform our Sustainability Strategy, which is at the heart of our decision making and is driving best practice across all activities. Our strategy is agile so we can deliver against the evolving needs of our clients as well as deliver year-on-year progress, and in 2023 we built on our 2020 Strategy with consideration of impact to date and lessons learned.
Our Sustainability Strategy comprises four pillars – People, Innovation, Planet and Community – which are underpinned by six goal areas that inform a roadmap for us to work towards our sustainability goals which support the United Nations Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It provides a framework for our commitments and encompasses all of our business operations as well as all aspects of project design and delivery.
We’re delighted that our clients have the utmost confidence in our foresight, and they appoint us – time and again – knowing that we’re in the best position to support them to achieve their own sustainable business goals. Furthermore, our pledge to delivering Net Zero projects comprises a duty to a building’s life as well as local legacy initiatives and ensuring the carbon offsetting schemes have sustainability at their heart. The quality of the carbon offsetting is imperative, so we only use Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and Gold Standard carbon credits.
- Our expertise, technologies and forward-thinking approaches to construction supports the Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) commitments made by our clients - see pages 6 and 7
- We are working on multiple Net Zero projects in construction and operation - see pages 6 and 7
- Our Sustainable Procurement Framework is assisting to source materials more sustainably, ethically and, where possible, locally - see page 11
- Our Green Supply Chain forum allows us to collaboratively create innovative and sustainable product solutions in order to deliver quality, low carbon and Net Zero assets - see page 5
- We have been working with our longstanding clients, SEGRO, Panattoni and Mountpark to develop new ‘green’ specifications which outline the criteria to reduce the environmental impact of a development through realising energy efficient and low embodied carbon materials.
BREEAM Outstanding buildings delivered in last 12 months
“We remain committed to our ambition to become a Net Zero business by 2025”
OUR APPROACH TO LOW AND NET ZERO CARBON PROJECTS
Over the last two years, Winvic’s reputation for impeccable green processes and delivery of low and Net Zero carbon schemes that are line with the UKGBC Framework has grown. We have completed 14 Net Zero projects, and another 10 are underway – this comprises 2 civils and infrastructure schemes and 22 industrial projects that total 35 individual facilities.
We realise our client’s sustainability aims through a number of processes and measures across the areas of site set up, material efficiencies, Green Supply Chain and team education. Crucially, we have always measured the carbon output for the whole project – not just from the base build up; we include all earthworks, drainage and foundation works in our measurements, and we are able to assess approximately 97 per cent of our bills of quantity for embodied carbon on each project.
bills of quantity assessed for embodied carbon
- Measurement – we use off-the-shelf carbon footprint assessment software to measure the output alongside our own Carbon Calculator – AI System for Predicting Embodied Carbon in Construction (ASPEC) – which was developed through an Innovate UK funded project.
- Research – we have a continuous research programme where we aim to uncover like-for-like materials that have less intensive carbon footprints.
- Working local – sourcing materials that originate from places local to the particular project as well as engaging local labour is a key activity, for example obtaining stone from local quarries.
- Green Supply Chain – our green suppliers list is continually expanding, especially within those project areas that are carbon intensive, such as steel production, and mechanical and electrical.
- Offsetting – any remaining carbon output on a project is offset against several schemes, focusing on a split across ecology, social value and renewables. Whenever possible, we avoid utilising overseas carbon offsetting schemes and our pledge to delivering Net Zero projects comprises a duty to a building’s life as well as local legacy initiatives.
Net Zero Carbon buildings
PROTECTING THE PLANET
Winvic started measuring its operational Greenhouse Emissions in 2013 and successfully achieved year-on-year reductions in carbon emissions whilst growing employee numbers and onsite operations. We have now achieved Achilles Carbon Reduce Certification in line with ISO 14064 - this a globally recognised, third-party verified certification aligned with industry best practice – during our eleventh year.
Reporting business operation data from all our sites and head office is part of the transparency required to take proactive leaps to reduce our carbon footprint and follow the pathway to Net Zero. We are minimising our environmental impact and carbon footprint to protect the planet by:
- removing carbon hungry materials in BIM-led design stages
- reducing waste and transport emissions
- evaluating and assisting subcontractors with their environmental performances
- offsetting carbon through ‘on-site self-generation’ across buildings’ maturation and meaningful community initiatives
Our on-site temporary accommodation utilises PV solar panels and battery back-up generators, we select green energy tariffs and use alternative fuels and energy sources. Materials made from recycled content or that have lower carbon footprints – including drainage pipes, alternative concrete mixes and modular solutions, manufactured off-site – are incorporated into designs whenever possible.
of our waste is diverted from landfill
We promote a circular economy through reducing and eliminating waste and maximising resource efficiency and by working as one with our supply chain, we’ve maintained industry leading figures; over 97 per cent of our waste is diverted from landfill through re-use, recovery and recycling initiatives. Our Digital Strategy also feeds in to this area and optimising operations, systems and processes has enabled us to be more efficient and we use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to measure recyclable waste as well as calculate embodied within projects. We don’t just focus on educating our team through communications, initiatives and training to drive progress, but we also have four working groups, one each for our Sustainability Strategy pillars. Together the members reviewed and stretched our sustainability performance KPIs with a focus on new initiatives to meet our goals. For example, our Planet group investigated waste on a completed scheme along with ‘take-back’ initiatives and new recycling opportunities, which resulted in additional solutions being found, and we have a car sharing scheme.
Arun Thaneja, Winvic’s Technical Services and Sustainability Director
“We’re extremely proud of the robust processes and sustainable operations that we’ve established to help Winvic achieve its vision to become a Net Zero business and to raise the bar for delivering Net Zero assets for our clients and occupiers. Our updated Sustainability Strategy and renewed roadmap builds upon our progress, impact to date and lessons learned. Through innovative and sustainable procurement and project delivery, we are helping our clients to achieve their ambitious ESG goals, and we hope our schemes become a source of inspiration for Net Zero in the construction industry.”