CONSTRUCTION AND WASTE DIVERSION GO HAND-IN-HAND

CONSTRUCTION AND WASTE DIVERSION GO HAND-IN-HAND

Construction companies tend to have large environmental footprints. However, being a certified B Corporation, Chandos aims to reduce its negative impact by creating a more inclusive and sustainable economy; developing diverse supply chains; and protecting the world’s land, water and ecosystems.

Chandos’ waste diversion program, for example, began 20 years ago – well before there were any regulations or standard practices for our industry. Our commitment over the past 10 years has been to divert a minimum of 75% of waste from each project – 80% for 2019 – by recycling as many concrete, wood, paper, plastic, metal, and drywall remnants as possible. Our waste diversion rates over the past four years have been more than 80% in 2015; more than 70% in 2016 and 2017; and close to 80% in 2018.  Chandos was also one of the early adopters of LEED and has integrated the practice into its projects even thought there’s no regulatory requirement to do so. Today, we recycle on approximately 90% of our projects regardless of their LEED status.

A recent example of our environmental commitment is the work we’re doing on the Barrie-Simcoe Emergency Services Campus. The project is near completion and to date has consistently diverted more than 92% of its waste from landfills. For our Blatchford project in Edmonton, AB, we recovered more than 90% of construction waste and used a mobile solar power unit to provide power during construction. This allowed us to divert more than 6,500 litres of diesel and offset 3.5 tons of carbon dioxide from the project site.

As far as sustainable purchasing, Chandos goes above and beyond the minimum ethical, social, and environmental standards. We actively seek to purchase sustainable products and services; only buy what is needed; and choose durable products that will last. We are a leader in Lean Construction, Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), Building Information Modeling (BIM), and Sustainable Construction, and are LEED, Net Zero and WELL certified. We alsohave a partnership with the Canada Green Building Council which works to reduce the environmental impact of buildings by limiting greenhouse gas emissions, improving air quality and saving water.

But environmental sustainability and waste reduction don’t just have to be applied to the construction industry. The automotive sector has also taken a stand on diverting waste and reusing materials. A great example is Subaru of Indiana Automotive (SIA). The automaker hasn’t sent any waste to the landfill for more than 10 years and it reuses everything – its scrap metal is turned into smaller parts and its packaging is re-used frequently – they even recycle their dust! What’s more, their water conservation efforts have made them the only U.S. auto plant to become a Backyard Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. This means that the land and water surrounding SIA is clean and safe to support local wildlife.

This is what can happen when companies align their strategic purpose with a meaningful one – like diverting waste for the good of the environment. Businesses have the opportunity and the resources to step up and make a change. Will you take the lead?