One of the first Midlands construction companies to secure the acclaimed environmental standard ISO14001 is now making significant strides towards reducing its carbon footprint.
Chase Norton Construction's carbon footprint is 480 tonnes a year and the company plans to reduce this by 50 per cent before 2012. Mike Geoghegan, director at Chase Norton, has spearheaded the company's ISO14001 achievements and keeps the targets under constant review.
He said: "Twelve months into ISO14001 and Chase has made excellent progress, with the emphasis now focused on "continual improvement". Considering that the built environment accounts for nearly half of UK carbon emissions, a third of landfill waste and 13 per cent of all raw materials used in the UK economy, the construction industry generally has a vital role to play in reducing emissions.
"Rather than secure a quick fix, Chase prefers to look at long term solutions that will eventually change attitudes and beliefs. The campaign to reduce our carbon consumption will therefore begin by introducing ecofriendly measures at head office and targeting our employees and suppliers.
"For example, we are committed to reducing fuel cost and using recycled paper for all documentation. We are also considering the possibility of hosting meetings via web conferencing facilities, to be used for site and client meetings and thus saving substantial amounts of time, travel and fuel costs.
"Finally, with the new waste action plan due to come into force in 2008, Chase is already working in conjunction with a major skip supplier and hosting seminars on effective waste management to our employees."
Mike added: "No one is saying that the changing the mindsets of individuals is going to be easy, however, there is no doubt that all of us have a responsibility to reduce our carbon footprint and reduce our impact on the environment. If we do the groundwork now, then the results will follow and by working together to achieve these aims, the significant challenges currently facing our society can eventually be overcome."
In addition to encouraging staff to embrace the new environmentally friendly measures, Chase Norton Construction is also starting to set down some ground rules for suppliers and is investigating new materials.
Chris Peach, Chase Norton's purchasing manager, explained: "We will not work with any supplier that isn't working towards, or has not already secured, ISO14001 accreditation.
"We have already established formation agreements with our supply chain with regard to the materials they buy. These require them to provide alternatives that cause minimal impact to the environment and have been manufactured in an eco-friendly way."
For example, Chase Norton has a long standing relationship with Ibstock Brick Ltd whose 24 sites are ISO14001-accredited. In answer to increased calls for sustainable materials, the brick manufacturer has developed an unfired Earth Brick known as EcoterreTM. These bricks have low energy input and use recycled heat from brick kilns, with very low manufacturing waste. This ensures a low environmental impact over the material's life cycle.
Chris continued: "By considering environmentally friendly materials such as Ibstock's Earth Bricks, we are able to provide our clients with a choice and hopefully encourage them to make the right choice.
"However, as with anything in its early stages, eco-friendly materials are more expensive to come by. Hopefully, as the initiatives gain momentum mindsets will change, more clients will opt for the sustainable alternative and prices will come down."
